Nicaragua Scarlet Macaw Conservation
Another Lap for the Lapas at Cosegüina Volcano
With funds donated by One Earth in 2013 and again in
2014, this project greatly advanced. A dedicated
group of volunteer biologists have explored this steep terrain, studying the
habitat health for macaw foraging and nesting.
They found 3 active scarlet macaw (lapa) nests. They were able to estimate the population to
be approximately 10, which is dramatically low especially because this is a
fragmented habitat far from any other wild flocks of macaws. Furthermore this
is the last area on the Pacific Slope of Central America where this subspecies
of scarlet macaws exists, so the world should not want to see this small
population disappear. Unfortunately the
biologist team also documented that poaching occurs. To combat poaching and the
illegal logging in the park, the biologists teamed up with a coalition of
partners and received funding from other sources for education programs in the
surrounding communities. They also have funds for patrols that will protect the
nests. We will continue to support their
monitoring efforts during the 2015 breeding season with funds carried over from
2014. Dr. Joyner will also continue to
support them with consultation and networking.
An update of this project can be found here, and a preliminary report here.
