Introduction to the Organization AQUASIS is a Brazilian NGO, founded in 1994, with the principle goal of protecting coastal habitats in northeastern Brazil. Since that time, the NGO’s mission has expanded to include preventing vertebrate extinctions and protecting biodiversity of the Northeast biomes: Caatinga and Atlantic forest ecosystems. An internationally recognized conservation leader, AQUASIS operates through three main programs: Protected Areas Creation and Management, Marine Mammal Conservation, and Threatened Bird Species Conservation. AQUASIS is recognized by BirdLife International’s Preventing Extinctions Program as the Species Guardian for two of the most critically endangered bird species in the world, the Araripe Manakin (Antilophia bokermanni) and the Grey- breasted Parakeet (Pyrrhura griseipectus) (Figure 1).


The three programs work in concert with state and local conservation authorities to inform and aid in the ongoing creation of appropriate management strategies and action plans for species conservation in Ceará State.


Pyrrhura griseipectus Project and Achievements


The Critically Endangered Grey- breasted Parakeet (Pyrrhura griseipectus) is presently known in only three localities in Ceará State, NE Brazil, with a historical record of fifteen sites in four different states, and is considered the most critically endangered parakeet species in Brazil. Current localities are the Baturité Mountains, where the largest population resides, Quixadá, and Ibaretama. It is important to note that when this project began in 2005, only the Baturité Mountain site was known,


Manatee (trichechus manatus manatus) 1: Pictures on this page and opposite are focal species that AQUASIS is involved with.


06 10


BIRD SCENE


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