Efforts Protecting Lear's Macaw Help Biodiversitas Foundation Win Major Conservation Award

Contact: Robert Johns, 202-234-7181 ext.210,

Angelo Machado, the President of the Biodiversitas Foundation, receives the Hugo Werneck Award from former Minister Jose Carlos Carvalho by Ecológico Journal

(December 21, 2011) Conservation efforts surrounding the Lears Macaw were a key to The Biodiversitas Foundation being named one of the institutions honored in the II Hugo Werneck Award of Sustainability & Love for Nature sponsored by the Journal Ecológico.

In a November 30 ceremony held in the President Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Auditorium, at the Administrative City, the Minas Gerais State headquarters, the President of Biodiversitas Foundation, Professor Dr. Angelo Machado, received from the hands of the former Brazilian Environment Minister and former Environment Secretary of Minas Gerais, Jose Carlos Carvalho, the prize that bears the name of one of the founders of Biodiversitas – Dr. Hugo Werneck. Biodiversitas was selected as the winner in the “Best Example of the Third Sector”.

Lear's Macaws by Ciro Ginez Albano

The Biodiversitas Foundation was chosen among other institutions in recognition of its outstanding performance throughout its history of promoting the conservation of Brazilian biological diversity, and especially due to the results of Lear's Macaw – Anadorhynchus leari – conservation projects developed in the Ecological Station of Canudos, owned by Biodiversitas.

Considered one of the world's most endangered birds, the Lear's Macaw was on the verge of extinction when the Biodiversitas began to work in the region of Canudos, in the wilderness of Bahia State. At that time, 16 years ago, it was estimated that the Lear's population may have numbered as few as 65 individuals.

Today, Biodiversitas Foundation and its partners, including American Bird Conservancy, continue very successful efforts to conserve this species, with the population now numbering an estimated 1,200 Lears Macaws free in nature. The result of these efforts is that this once “critically endangered” species has been placed in the reduced conservation threat status of endangered.

The Biodiversitas Foundation shares with all the partners, associates and friends this award that recognizes our work to conserve biodiversity in Brazil.