Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The population size has not been quantified. The species can be locally common in parts of its range, both in primary and mature secondary forest (Collar et al. 2020, O. Ottema in litt. 2020). The geographically disjunct population in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest was found to be genetically distinct from that in the greater Amazon Basin (Hellmich et al. 2021); therefore the species forms at least two separate subpopulations.
Trend justification
The population is undergoing a decline caused by habitat loss and the impacts of hunting and trapping (Collar et al. 2020). Since 2000, tree cover within the range has been lost at a rate equivalent to roughly 13% over three generations (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Rates of deforestation vary between the range; forest loss is historically more severe in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil (Fernandes et al. 2019, Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein), while forests in parts of the Amazon Basin and Guinanan Shield remain largely pristine (O. Ottema in litt. 2020, Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). The species appears to tolerate some habitat degradation, but it is susceptible to hunting and trapping (Collar et al. 2020, D. F. Cisneros-Heredia in litt. 2022). Based on this evidence, population declines are placed in the band 10-19% over three generations (28.8 years).
Amazona farinosa is widespread from eastern Panama, south and east through Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil (del Hoyo et al. 1997). Large populations are said to persist in the less disturbed parts of its range.
This species inhabits extensive tracts of lowland tropical evergreen forest, also occurring in palm stands, deciduous and gallery woodland and secondary growth near forest (del Hoyo et al. 1997). It feeds on a variety of fruit and seeds, also taking buds, flowers and nectar. Breeding in south-central Brazil has been noted in November-February (del Hoyo et al. 1997).
The primary threat to this species is accelerating deforestation in the Amazon Basin, as land is cleared for cattle ranching and soy production, facilitated by expansion of the road network (Soares-Filho et al. 2006, Bird et al. 2011). Currently, large parts of the range are still pristine, e.g. in Suriname (O. Ottema in litt. 2020). However, the subpopulation in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil may be more severely affected by habitat loss, as deforestation in this part of the range is higher than in other areas, proceeding at a rate equivalent to 21% over three generations (Fernandes et al. 2019, Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Changes to the Brazilian Forest Code reduced the percentage of land a private landowner is legally required to maintain as forest (including, critically, a reduction in the width of forest buffers alongside perennial steams) and include an amnesty for landowners who deforested before July 2008 (Bird et al. 2011). This new environmental policy is seemingly incentivising farmers to clear more land, and deforestation rates and wildfire intensity in the Brazilian Amazon have increased drastically since 2018 (S. Dantas in litt. 2020). The species is heavily hunted for food in French Guiana and persecuted as a crop pest in Ecuador (Collar et al. 2020, D. F. Cisneros-Heredia in litt. 2022). Trapping pressure for domestic and international trade is assumed to be much more widespread, with trade levels in this species described as generally moderate, but heavy in some countries and increasing in recent years (del Hoyo et al. 1997, S. Bruslund in litt. 2022, D. F. Cisneros-Heredia in litt. 2022).
Conservation Actions Underway
The species is listed under CITES Appendix II. It is listed as Near Threatened at the national level in Ecuador. Some of its habitat is protected, such as in Manu National Park (Peru), Central Suriname Nature Reserve (Suriname) or Parc Amazonien de Guyane (French Guiana) (del Hoyo et al. 1997, GEPOG 2020, O. Ottema in litt. 2020). The genetically distinct subpopulation in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil is listed as Critically Endangered at state level in São Paulo and Minas Gerais, and as Vulnerable in Bahia and Rio de Janeiro (Fernandes et al. 2019).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Quantify the population size. Quantify the impact of hunting and trapping on the population size. Carry out surveys to monitor trends in the species's population. Monitor rates of forest loss through remote sensing. Monitor trade levels. Manage the subpopulation in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil as a separate conservation unit. Increase the amount of suitable habitat that is formally protected. Conduct awareness-raising activities to reduce hunting, trapping and trade.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Bruslund, S., Butchart, S., Cisneros-Heredia, D.F., Claessens, O., Ekstrom, J., Ottema, O., Pelletier, V., Phalan, B., Stattersfield, A., Symes, A., Taylor, J., Wright, T. & de Melo Dantas, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Southern Mealy Amazon Amazona farinosa. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/southern-mealy-amazon-amazona-farinosa on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.