IBAMA PRESS RELEASE DATED 17 JULY 2002

Editor's Note and Background Information: 

This press release from IBAMA was distributed to the Brazilian media on July 17 2002, while the holders of the Spix's macaw were not notified until July 23, 2002. Unfortunately, the press release is rather misleading in that  it implies that the holders of this species are not willing to collaborate with the Brazilian government. That is not the case. Unfortunately the government has taken a position (at the pressure from numerous environmental advocates) that it wishes the return of the the ownership of all of the Spix's macaws to Brazil and groups should " pressure the holders to return the property of the birds to Brazil." This is an unreasonable and serious demand as these are legally held birds, and have been captive-bred to the second generation (F2). This policy by a country would set a precedent for range states requesting the "ownership" of other endangered captive-bred species. It is hoped that this position, which was only recently adopted for political reasons will be reversed soon. In the meantime, the holders will continue to safeguard the species for breeding and eventual reintroduction in its native habitat. (More information will be posted on this website later.)

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IBAMA dissolves the Committee for the Recovery of the Spix's Macaw

The Brazilian government wants sovereignty over the destiny  of  all the Spix’s macaws that are in captivity in the world

IBAMA decided to dissolve the Committee for Recovery of Ararinha-Azul (Cyanopsitta spixii), created in 1990 with the objective to establish strategies of recovery of the species, one of the most threatened of with extinction in the world and endemic to the caatinga habitat in Bahia (Bahian caatinga). The dissolution of the group is due, among other factors, to the lack of collaboration and the attitudes taken regards the committee by some of the members.

What precipitated the internal crisis of the committee was the fact of the Brazilian government not to have the sovereignty on the destination of the birds that are outside of Brazil, this being a grave danger to the recovery program of the species. Of about 60 existing birds in captivity around the world, Brazil has the ownership of only eight of them. The rest are under the power of holders that participated in the group and of private collectors.

In the last few months, IBAMA tried to restructure the committee but it did not get the positions of the majority of the members in relation to new the proposal, based on the principle of that the Brazilian government must have the sovereignty over the destiny of all of the birds. It is understood and agreed by the specialists, that the captive Spix’s macaws must be managed as only one population due to genetic and demographic factors. The last known wild specimen of this species that it inhabited the region of Curaçá, in the hinterland of the Bahia, disappeared in October of 2000.

“The dissolution of the committee does not represent the end of the efforts of Brazil to save the species” affirms Iolita Bampi, coordinator-general of Fauna for IBAMA. From now on, it will be up to the institute (IBAMA) the ensure the continuity of the program of recovery of the Spix’s macaw. “Without the cooperation of the holders, it will be impossible to recover the Spix’s macaw and we will have to assume that it will mean the tragic extinction of one more Brazilian species” said Iolita Bampi.

Besides the extinction of the committee, IBAMA and Itamaraty have asked the authorities of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) to intervene with the foreign holders so that they state their position in relation to the Brazilian proposal. IBAMA is also expecting the support of environmental groups, both national and international to pressure the holders to return the property of the birds to Brazil.