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The species is endemic to Caatinga, a UNESCO designated biosphere reserve in northeastern Brazil. In 2022, the Brazilian government and the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP) joined forces to establish and manage captive populations for breeding and eventually reintroduce it to the wild.

However, reintroduction of the species alone is not enough. To ensure the species’ long-term survival, initiatives such as , a youth-led project, integrate ecological restoration, environmental education, and socio-economic development to create sustainable and transformative impact on ecosystems and communities.

The Spix’s macaw reintroduction efforts took place in the municipality of Curaçá, Bahia. 

The region, despite recent improvements in the population’s social conditions, have historically been challenged by harsh conditions. Prolonged droughts limits access to water for agriculture and daily use, hindering possibilities of social and economic development.

Reflecting on the principles of biosphere reserves, which must coordinate environmental conservation with sustainable development, scientific research and education, a group of young activists created Coopera Flora Azul. 

Supported by funding partners, such as Youth Climate Justice Fund, Fundo Casa Socioambiental, FADURPE, and the UNESCO Global Youth Community, the initiative started to work on several fronts. 

To promote ecological restauration, it established community nursery, equipped with a fully equipped nursery, complete with a modern irrigation system. This nursery serves a dual purpose: restoring degraded areas around the habitat of the critically endangered Spix’s macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) and creating income opportunities for over 80 families.

Local farmers are at the heart of this effort. Through comprehensive training in sustainable practices, they are empowered to take an active role in conservation, transforming their relationship with the land while enhancing their livelihoods.

Meanwhile, the initiative also focuses on children from local schools. From April to November 2024, it conducted over 15 educational activities, directly engaging 1,256 children across local schools, in activities like workshops, expeditions, and tree-planting sessions.

“We teach children what the environment is and why its preservation is essential,” explains Damilys Maria da Silva Oliveira, an environmental technician and community member. “These children will not only become tomorrow’s guardians of our natural world but are already spreading this message to their families today,” adds Vitoria Ribeiro, the project's Coordinator of Educational Activities.

The project now is focusing on scaling up with the establishment of the Coopera Flora Azul Institute, strengthening the collaboration with local school and emphasis on creating more opportunities beyond farming, such as tourism and research. The goal is to prioritize historically marginalized communities, including Quilombolas, Indigenous Peoples, and rural populations.