Costa Rica is globally recognized for its leadership in biodiversity conservation, with over a quarter of its territory under protected or conserved areas. The Caribbean lowlands are a stronghold for the endangered Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus), a flagship species whose survival depends on well managed protected areas and surrounding landscapes. Longterm conservation efforts have led to encouraging signs of population stabilization and local recovery. However, habitat availability remains a key limiting factor, with persistent knowledge gaps on movement patterns, seasonal habitat use, and reliance on specific tree species for feeding and nesting, which are critical to effectively target habitat restoration and tree planting efforts.
The Tech4Nature Costa Rica satellite is strengthening the conservation of the Great Green Macaw by enhancing species monitoring and informing habitat restoration and management actions through innovative technologies. The project is designing and testing digital solutions based on passive acoustic monitoring using AudioMoth devices in in priority protected areas in Costa Rica’s Caribbean region, including Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Refugio de Vida Silvestre Barra del Colorado, as well as additional private and community managed reserves supported by the Macaw Recovery Network and the Tropical Science Center.
The Tech4Nature Costa Rica satellite focuses on protected areas within the Caribbean region that are strategically important for the conservation of the Great Green Macaw. Capacity building activities and Green List awareness will be delivered across the following sites:
At least one of these protected areas will be prioritized for a full self-assessment using the IUCN Green List Standard, supporting site managers and key stakeholders to identify strengths, gaps, and concrete actions to improve management effectiveness and long-term conservation outcomes for the species and its habitat.
PA category: Parque Nacional (IUCN Category II)
Site area: 76,937 ha total (26,653 ha terrestrial; 50,284 ha marine)
Ecosystem type: Tropical humid and very humid forests; wetlands, rivers and canal systems; coastal and marine ecosystems
Species dependent on the site: Species dependent on the site:
Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus, Critically Endangered), West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus, Vulnerable), jaguar (Panthera onca, Near Threatened), and four species of marine turtles: Green turtle (Chelonia mydas, Least Concern), Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea, Vulnerable), Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata, Critically Endangered), and Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta, Vulnerable).
IUCN Green List status: None
PA category: National Wildlife Refuge (Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Mixto) (IUCN Category VI)
Site area: 81,177 ha (terrestrial)
Ecosystem type: Lowland tropical rainforest; wetlands, rivers, lagoons, flooded forests, coastal ecosystems, and forested hills
Species dependent on the site: Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus, Critically Endangered), West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus, Vulnerable), jaguar (Panthera onca, Near Threatened), Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii, Endangered), and diverse aquatic species.
IUCN Green List status: None
PA category: National Wildlife Refuge (Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Mixto) (IUCN Category VI)
Site area: 51,855 ha
Ecosystem type: Tropical humid to very humid forests; wetlands, floodplains, rivers, lagoons, and forested hills
Species dependent on the site: Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus, Critically Endangered), West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus, Vulnerable), jaguar (Panthera onca, Near Threatened), gaspar fish (Atractosteus tropicus, Least Concern), and almendro tree (Dipteryx panamensis, Vulnerable).
IUCN Green List status: None
The Tech4Nature Costa Rica satellite applies a technology driven approach to support the long-term conservation of the Great Green Macaw through enhanced species monitoring and spatial analysis. The project deploys passive acoustic monitoring using AudioMoth devices installed at strategically selected locations across key landscapes within the species’ range. These devices continuously record environmental soundscapes, enabling the detection of Great Green Macaw vocalizations across different seasons and habitat types.
Acoustic data are processed using artificial intelligence–based algorithms to efficiently identify species specific signals and manage large volumes of recordings. Confirmed detections are integrated with geographic information systems (GIS) and complementary spatial datasets to generate maps and analytical outputs describing patterns of presence, activity, and habitat use throughout the year.
This technology pipeline enables the identification of critical sites for the species at different stages of its annual cycle, including key nesting areas during the breeding season and important roosting or movement areas during migratory periods. By revealing temporal and spatial patterns that are difficult to capture through conventional field methods, the project supports the refinement of habitat models and the prioritisation of areas for conservation and restoration. Overall, the initiative demonstrates how scalable, cost-effective digital technologies can strengthen ecological knowledge and inform evidence-based conservation actions for threatened species.
