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Of the 77 species of parrot in Indonesia, 13 are treated as threatened and another 12 as near threatened (BirdLife International, 2000). This total represents one third of the threatened psittacines in the Asia-Pacific region, making Indonesia the country of most importance in this region in terms of the number of threatened parrot species.
In the past years, the LPF has been involved in a large number of parrot conservation projects in Indonesia -on the islands of Halmahera, Seram, Sangihe-Talaud, Sumba and Tanimbar- of which some were brought to an end successfully, and some experienced considerable delay or even had to be discontinued due to civil unrest in the country (for example in Seram with the Moluccan Cockatoo Cacatua moluccensis). Several of the areas important for parrot conservation continue to be conflictive, however the LPF has tried to maintain its presence in the country.
Given that the Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park was declared in 2004 on the island of Halmahera -subsequent to survey work supported by the LPF- the Tanimbar Islands are presently regarded as the highest priority in eastern Indonesia in the need for protected area gazettement. In 2000, the LPF financed a project, implemented by our collaborator BirdLife Indonesia aimed at determining the status, habitat use and traffic in Goffin's Cockatoo Cacatua goffini and the Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata. Whereas the results showed that the populations of both species are stable, seemingly being able to compensate the loss of numbers both from natural mortality and from illegal trade, the project implementors emphasised that pressure exerted by external logging companies has started to take effect on the island, and that urgent action was required to secure a portion of the island's remaining natural habitats.
In consequence, the LPF in 2002 approved a larger-scale awareness and advocacy campaign that aims to promote the protection of Tanimbar's Endemic Parrots and their habitats, in collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders.
Financial support: US$31,800 + €58,992