They will be meeting next week at Praia do Forte to discuss Strategies for the conservation of the species

The Committee for the Conservation of the Lear's Macaw set up by IBAMA at the end of May (see below for report) will be meeting on Tuesday, 23rd and Wednesday 24th September at Praia do Forte, 70 km (45 miles) from Salvador, the main city of the north-eastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Strategies for the conservation of the species will be discussed. IBAMA Director, Rômulo Mello, defined the priorities as monitoring the macaw in its natural habitat, continuing census activities, which recently indicated that the wild population had increased to 455 macaws (see below) as well as studying reproduction biology. He added "the challenge for the scientists is to obtain data on the productivity of the nesting sites".

Also under discussion will be the recovery of the species in captivity. A quarantine facility is being constructed under the supervision of Cemave, the National Centre of Science for the Conservation of Wild Birds, at Praia do Forte for captive breeding of both the Lear's Macaws and Spix's Macaw for introduction to the wild. This project is expected to be completed later this year.

Finally plans for expanding eco-tourism allowing close observation of the Lear's macaws in the wild without undue disturbance to them will be developed, again under the supervision of Cemave.