The Sarapiquí Rainforest Reserve spans over 1,000 acres of lush Caribbean lowland rainforest. Although officially established in 2023, MRN’s story with this land began years earlier. Once a working cattle ranch, the property was discovered in 2019 to be a key stronghold for Great Green Macaws—with several active nests and roosting sites used year after year.
With the permission of the landowner, José Antonio Herrero, we set up our first Great Green Macaw field station right on the property, using the old farmhouse as our base. From that moment, we began a new chapter of hope and restoration for these critically endangered birds.
In 2023, José Antonio sold the property to MRN, marking our first land acquisition project and a major milestone in our mission to protect Great Green Macaw habitat. The agreement also granted us rights of first refusal to the neighboring property, which we were able to purchase the following year. Together, these two properties form the foundation of the Sarapiquí Rainforest Reserve—a thriving sanctuary for wildlife and a cornerstone of our long-term conservation vision.
Today, the Sarapiquí Rainforest Reserve is teeming with biodiversity. Alongside the Macaws, we’ve spotted endangered Baird’s Tapirs, pumas, ocelots, coyotes, endangered Geoffrey’s spider monkeys, howler monkeys, and so much more. Through the protection of this Reserve, we secure a future for Great Green Macaws and all of the incredible species that call this forest home.
“For over thirty years, we at ABC have partnered across the Americas to prevent bird extinctions and reverse population declines, but every success begins with a single opportunity. In 2023, we had the chance to support MRN in establishing the Sarapiquí Rainforest Reserve to protect two Great Green Macaw nesting trees—an essential step for a species on the brink. Just a year later, the reserve doubled in size, securing another nesting tree and providing vital habitat for over 25 migratory bird species from North America.” -Marcelo Tognelli, American Bird Conservancy
HEALING HABITATS IS URGENT WORK
Across Costa Rica, forests have long been cleared for cattle grazing and agriculture. Today, while regulations protect certain tree species like the Mountain Almond—a vital food source for Great Green Macaws—those protections often fail in practice. Isolated trees left standing after selective logging quickly become vulnerable to disease and decay without the surrounding forest that sustains their microhabitat.
The expansion of pineapple monocultures poses an even greater threat. In the past 30 years, over 16,000 hectares of land in this region have been converted to pineapple production (Echavarría and Prunier 2021). These plantations are ecological deserts—sterile, toxic zones where no wildlife can live or even pass through. The use of up to 50 different agrochemicals during production (Tilman et al. 2002) exacerbates soil and water contamination, driving biodiversity loss and contributing to global climate change (Mosier 1998).
That’s why our work in habitat protection and restoration is more urgent than ever. Through our Habitat program, we’re rebuilding a future for countless species, restoring ecological balance, and strengthening the bond between these biodiverse forests and the communities that live alongside them.
“I’m inspired to be part of a team that believes in a love for life and transforms it into restoration every day. To plant without the certainty of ever seeing the forest is the purest act of that love.” -Maria Elena Munguia, Woman Ranger
WOMEN RANGERS PROGRAM
We believe conservation is strongest when it’s inclusive and when the communities who live closest to biodiversity are the ones empowered to protect it. That belief is the foundation of our Women Rangers Program, launched in 2020 to unite species conservation with gender equity, poverty reduction, and community empowerment.
Based in the rural communities of Boca Tapada and Pangola, our Women Rangers are redefining what conservation leadership looks like. These incredible women serve as environmental educators, habitat stewards, and local ambassadors for the Great Green Macaw.
HEALING HABITATS
In 2022, driven by the concern that food availability may be a barrier to the Great Green Macaw’s population recovery, the Woman Rangers based in Boca Tapada built their own plant nursery, Casa del Titor. This nursery has become a vital part of our habitat restoration efforts and a welcoming space for the local community to learn about conservation. Over 1,000 different species of plants are germinated and tended to in Casa del Titor until they are ready for planting in at the Sarapiquí Rainforest Reserve.
On the Reserve, plants from the Casa del Titor nursery are planted by the Pangola Women Rangers, volunteers, and MRN staff. We take a holistic approach to habitat restoration, making sure to plant trees that will attract seed dispersers who will assist with natural regeneration. Click here to learn more about our habitat restoration process.
Costa Rica Rainforest Fund
While habitat restoration is an essential part of our mission, it is even more critical to prevent the further loss of primary rainforest. Great Green Macaws rely on ancient, hardwood trees for nesting. In fact, it can take centuries to form a cavity deep enough to support a Great Green Macaw family. But the Macaws aren’t the only ones who would be devastated by the loss of these forests. Primary rainforest support an abundance of life, from year-round residents like the Macaws, pumas, and howler monkeys, to seasonal migrants like the Scarlet Tanager and Broad-winged Hawk.
That’s why we started the Costa Rica Rainforest Fund, an initiative to protect existing rainforest and properties that are identified to be key habitats for Great Green Macaws. For more information, you can contact our Director of Development Aubrey at aubrey@macawrecoverynetwork.org.
Sponsor a Woman Ranger
Through our symbolic adoption program, you can sponsor the Women Rangers and the important work they are doing to heal habitats.
Give hope to parrots today! When you make a one-time gift, become a Beak Buddy, symbolically Adopt a Macaw, or become a partner, you make a lasting impact for the comeback of these magnificent birds.
