The Green Macaw was once prevalent throughout the entire Caribbean slope but is critically endangered with only 500-1,000 birds left in the wild, with between 400-600 in Costa Rica. As part of its Active Artivism program, the Inspiration Art Group International(IAGI) sponsored a wild Yellow Almond tree in Sarapiqui in the north of Costa Rica. This action is a part of the local “Adopt a Nest” project, under the auspices of Centro Científico Tropical (CCT) to save the wild macaws. The artists and friends took direct action as part of the “artivism” concept, uniting to save the environment with a step beyond creating art to actively and directly confront the issues facing our planet. The members and friends who contributed to this boots-on-the-ground direct action understand that to preserve species, we must protect their habitat. National boundaries are irrelevant. In this case, we had a perfect opportunity because we found the perfect partner to engage in grass-roots direct action, a small effort of international cooperation to protect our planet and our fellow species.
The IAGI member Frank Matheis met the renowned environmental activist, jungle guide and conservationist and Alex Martinez, one of the most respected rainforest and birding guides in Sarapiqui. He dedicated his life over the last 30 years working to protect the rainforest as a volunteer ranger, and especially the macaws. He fought poachers, loggers and pet traders to protect the flora and fauna of Costa Rica. He still actively cooperates as a volunteer with the Centro Científico Tropical (CCT) to save the macaws. As a “boots-on-the-ground” activist, he is often the first to identify to location of the vital Yellow Almond trees, the preferred nesting tree of the endangered macaws. He personally conceived the “Adopt a Nest” project, now a highly successful program of the CCT. Sponsors literally “buy a tree” from the owners, who pledge to permanently protect the trees.
Alex Martinez identified a tree Number 33, with a nesting pair of Green Macaws. The IAGI members and friends raised $1,000 to protect this tree from loggers, as the owners pledged to the Centro Científico Tropical to preserve the tree and to protect the natural treasures of Costa Rica. He and crew dedicated a plaque on Oct. 17, 2024, designating the IAGI as sponsors.
This giant tree, with the Green Macaw nesting site, will hopefully become a “high rise apartment building” where many generations of macaws, other birds and native animals will multiply.
Read more about Alexander Martinez – Saving the Macaws of Costa Rica, One Tree at a Time.