Araripe Manakin Antilophia bokermanni, first discovered in 1998, has now been recorded at three locations on the north-eastern slope of the Chapada do Araripe, south Ceará, Brazil, where a population of about 800 individuals survives within 28 km² of remaining suitable habitat. Its known range is extremely small and subject to continuing pressures from agriculture and recreational development. In particular, the moist forest that it favours is being cleared for crops.

Aquasis, the BirdLife Species Guardian, is working to conserve the species. It participates in key local forums and councils to ensure that Araripe Manakin is included in discussions about natural resource use and planning. The Araripe National Forest is classified as a Federal Sustainable Use Conservation Unit and has been protected since July 2000. Aquasis is now a member of the Advisory Board for the Araripe National Forest.

Work continues to create a new Conservation Unit that would result in full legal protection of the total known area of occurrence of the species. The federal government is expected soon to approve the formal proposal for the species’ conservation plan.