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Habitat Restoration Project: Objective

Bird Endowment and our partner, Asociación Armonía, are actively restoring the savanna–forest island ecosystem within the newly expanded Laney Rickman Blue-throated Macaw Reserve in Bolivia’s Beni Savanna. With Armonía now owning this critical tract of land, we are taking meaningful steps to return the habitat to its natural state, creating a thriving environment for the IUCN Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw and countless other native species.

The Laney Rickman Reserve safeguards the most critical breeding habitat for the Blue-throated Macaw. In the wild, the species depends on the presence of large, mature trees, particularly those with natural cavities used for nesting. Unfortunately, more than 150 years of intensive land use across the Beni Savanna have led to the near-total loss of these old-growth trees, severely limiting available nesting sites.

Our goal is to fully restore this vital habitat, cultivating a healthy and biodiverse ecosystem that includes old-growth trees and other native species that have been overharvested. These efforts will help provide the food, shelter, and nesting opportunities needed for the Blue-throated Macaw and other threatened wildlife to survive and thrive for the long term.

In this video, Bennett Hennessey of Armonía highlights the natural regeneration of motacú palm trees at the Barba Azul Nature Reserve, which was purchased in 2008, ten years before the creation of the Laney Rickman Reserve. Cattle ranching in the Beni Savannas has severely damaged many motacú palm islands, leaving only aging trees (60–70 years old) with little to no natural regeneration. If this trend continues, only 10% of motacú palms may remain in the region within the next 100 years. Efforts are underway to restore motacú palm populations. Their fruit is the primary food source for the Blue-throated Macaw, making this work essential to the species’ survival.

VIDEO: Motacú Palm Regeneration

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Habitat Restoration: Overview and Timeline

This critical project began in late 2022 with comprehensive surveys to document the current diversity, structure, and composition of the remnant forest—an essential first step in understanding the ecosystem and determining the actions needed for effective habitat restoration. Armonía staff worked closely with a botanist to map the reserve and assess the varying levels of environmental degradation.

The data collected now form the foundation of the Reforestation and Monitoring Plan for the Laney Rickman Blue-throated Macaw Reserve.With Armonía now owning this key piece of land, long-term planning is underway, including defined 5-year and 10-year goals, as well as visionary targets set for 100 and 200 years into the future.

The next immediate phase is the Greenhouse Project, designed to identify which native plant species need to be reintroduced. The motacú palm (Attalea phalerata), whose fruit is the primary food source for the Blue-throated Macaw, is a top priority. The macaws also feed on fruits from a variety of other trees. Once the necessary species and seed sources are determined, seeds will be sown and carefully cultivated in the greenhouse. Research will also focus on the most effective planting and maintenance techniques to ensure the seedlings grow successfully into mature, fruit-bearing trees.

Once planting begins, Armonía will establish firebreaks to protect the restoration zones from wildfires. In parallel, conservation and restoration workshops will be held at the reserve to share best practices with local landowners, cattle ranchers, government officials, and university students and faculty.

Based on the results of the surveys, other native tree species identified for forest enrichment include:

Swietenia macrophylla (Big-leaf mahogany – IUCN Vulnerable)
Calophyllum brasiliense (a fruit-bearing evergreen)
Dipteryx odorata (a flowering tree known for producing tonka beans)
Cedrela odorata (Spanish cedar)
Ormosia spp. (known for striking black and red seeds)

These efforts reflect a deep commitment to restoring a biodiverse, resilient habitat that supports the Blue-throated Macaw and countless other species for generations to come.

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