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Parrot Status Under Review

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The Parrots International Position Statement
From the perspective of Parrots International, a parrot conservation organization, there is no arguable substantial scientific value to adding these 14 parrot species to the Endangered Species Act.

An examination of the potential value (conservation) of the addition of additional exotic   species to ESA:

Will the addition of these species to the ESA decrease illegal trade?    No.

Listing under the U.S. ESA will not decrease illegal trade in these species. The Wild Bird Conservation Act and CITIES are the proper vehicles to decrease illegal trade. Of the 14 proposed species additions, ten are CITIES Appendix I listed, the highest protection afforded by CITIES, which presently requires both import and export permits for international trade and commerce. Furthermore, under current CITES resolutions, all commercial trade in these species is prohibited.


Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis)
Blue-headed Macaw (Primolius couloni)
Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus)
Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)
Military Macaw (Ara militaris)
Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia)
Red-crowned Parrot (Amazona viridigenalis)
Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
Thick-billed Parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha)
Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea)

The remaining four species are CITIES Appendix II (which only allows sustainable trade). But virtually all commercial trade in these CITES Appendix II species is still prohibited under our own Wild Bird Conservation act of 1992.

However, the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (WBCA) prevents the importation in all 14 species into the US. Therefore, addition of these species to the U.S. ESA will  provide no additional trade restrictions.

Will the ESA provide protection on lands under United States control?  No.

None of the 14 proposed species are endemic to lands controlled by the US. Nor is the US likely to control these foreign lands in the distant future.

Will the ESA provide funding for recovery of these 14 species? No.

There are no appropriations or funding for exotic species listed under the U.S. ESA. Congress had failed, since 1972, to provide funding for this law to protect, enhance, or otherwise conserve exotic, listed, species.

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