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Cliff Parakeets Myiopsitta luchsi credit: Corey Raffel
The Plight of Wild Parrots in the World
The Plight of Wild Parrots in the World
Parrots are in trouble.
Hundred of thousands are caught for the illegal and unsustainable trade of wild birds. Human incursion on native habitat limits their food, water, and nesting ability. They are increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Disease from agriculture, humans and the pet trade threatens birds with epidemics. Invasive species kill or squeeze out vulnerable populations.
AND IT IS ALL HAPPENING AT ONCE.
Nearly ⅓ of 410 parrot species are threatened with extinction
All but 4 species are listed on CITES, indicating risk of international trade for pets
Parrots are ‘inherently’ vulnerable to threats:
many species have naturally restricted ranges
there is large scale habitat loss
some are single-country/island endemics
many species of parrots are specialist feeders or nest cavity dependent
parrots have low reproductive rates and cannot replace the losses
Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot Micropsitta pusio© Phil Benstead
Palm Cockatoot Probosciger aterrimus© calochilus_heath
Why do parrots need a specialist group?
Why do parrots need a specialist group?
From a tiny Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot to a Palm Cockatoo, any member of the Order Psittaciformes is immediately recognizable as a parrot. In spite of being the most recognized and sought-after group for pets, relatively little is known about them. Parrots are an ancient group of birds, and their needs are complex and specialized. The IUCN SSC has recognized that they need their own specialist group for conservation.
IUCN (international Union for the Conservation of Nature) SSC (Species Survival Commission) provides the umbrella under which the WPaSG is commissioned.
Parrots are among the most threatened of all groups of birds with close to one in three classified as Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
This diverse group comprises close to 400 species spread across Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Neotropics. The IUCN SSC Wild Parrot Specialist Group aims to support and facilitate a coordinated response to the complex and multifaceted challenges that face parrots through creating synergy between the various institutions and subject matter experts working to protect parrot populations in the wild.
Bald Parrot Pyrilia aurantiocephala© NINA WENÓLI
Our goals
Our goals
bring together diverse expertise to tackle the problems facing the parrots in the wild
preventing the extinction and deterioration of conservation status of parrots around the world
assess the needs and knowledge gaps in wild parrot conservation
plan activities to address the multifaceted and complex problems
act to mitigate and halt the threat of extinction of this beautiful and interesting taxon
Who is the Wild Parrot Specialist Group?
Who is the Wild Parrot Specialist Group?
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) provides the umbrella under which the Wild Parrot Specialist Group (WPaSG) is commissioned.
With a broad-based, diverse membership drawn from the global parrot research and conservation community, the newly established Wild Parrot Specialist Group (WPaSG) is uniquely situated to detect, monitor and manage, advise and inform decision-makers, funders, scientific communities and interested members of the public, communities, and other stakeholders about the perils impacting this taxonomic group world-wide.
The WPaSG is inclusive and welcoming of a diversity of skills, experiences, and specializations, including both in situ and ex situ expertise. It provides a cohesive structure to address the many needs of parrots in peril as it is set to support conservation risks assessments for wild species and populations, prioritize planning needs, initiate, enable, and facilitate appropriate and inclusive conservation planning. Given the diverse expertise currently represented in the WPaSG, the Group aims to explore all available conservation tools to encourage and support conservation action in alignment with the IUCN’s Species Strategic Plan 2021-2025 (Assess-Plan-Act, Network, Communicate cycle) and the One Plan Approach.
Enquiries about the newly created WPaSG can be directed to WPaSG.info@gmail.com.
Why "Wild Parrots" ?
Why "Wild Parrots" ?
Parrots have a unique relationship with people, having been kept in captivity for millennia. Incorporating “wild” within the group name reflects the group's focus on the conservation of populations in the wild, and recognises the importance of conservation breeding and the One-Plan-Approach.
Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis©Corey Raffel
Our goals
Our goals
he IUCN SSC Wild Parrot Specialist Group will bring together expertise and experience from around the world to support a coordinated response to the most pressing problems facing parrots in the wild
bring together diverse expertise to tackle the problems facing the parrots in the wild
preventing the extinction and deterioration of conservation status of parrots around the world
assess the needs and knowledge gaps in wild parrot conservation
plan activities to address the multifaceted and complex problems
act to mitigate and halt the threat of extinction of this beautiful and interesting taxon
What we do
What we do
Hope for the Future
Hope for the Future
Links
Links
Partners
Partners
iucn iucn ssc other orgs
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