“What gives me hope is the dedication of everyone working here,” says Heriberto González, Park Ranger for Asociación Armonía’s Laney Rickman Reserve. “When you see so many people working together in conservation, it makes you realise you’re not alone. Positive change is possible and this reserve is creating incredible results for nature”.
Since launching our autumn appeal, we’ve shared stories highlighting the history of our partner Asociación Armonía’s work in Bolivia’s Beni Savanna and how, supported by their efforts, the Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) is making a remarkable recovery.
But today, we want to focus on the people who are delivering this work on the ground. We caught up with two of Laney Rickman’s Park Rangers, Heriberto González and César Floria Hilera, to learn more.
From a young age, Heriberto has always loved nature and wanted to protect it. Credit: ©Asociación Armonía
“Protecting nature is part of who I am”
Heriberto struggles to remember a time when nature wasn’t important to him. “I learnt from a very young age that nature is something to value. I grew up in a healthy natural environment, and I’ve continued to live beside it, forming a part of it. Protecting and strengthening nature has been a key motivation in my life and has become part of who I am.”
Born in the municipality of Apolo in northern Bolivia – famed for the mountainous Madidi National Park, Heriberto grew up surrounded by some of the country’s most extraordinary landscapes: vast Andean plateaus and lush cloud forests which surely left a deep impression on him.
When he arrived at the Laney Rickman Reserve, it was with over 15 years of experience working for other protected areas and national parks. He remembers his arrival vividly.
“When I arrived, it was just at the end of the nesting season for the Blue-throated Macaw. We were monitoring a chick in one of the nest boxes and I remember watching it grow until it eventually flew from the nest.”
To this day, the behaviour of these enigmatic parrots continues to surprise and impress Heriberto.
“It’s amazing to see how they adapt to the nestboxes, modifying the structure and size of the nests to fit inside these human-made devices. They are very intelligent.”
The behaviour of the Blue-throated Macaw still impresses and surprises Heriberto. Credit: ©Asociación Armonía
“Every day is different”
No two days are the same for Asociación Armonía’s rangers. Out in the field, you may find them doing anything from repairing damaged fences to climbing up ladders fitting nest boxes and carefully monitoring the macaws.
“Some of the work is planned, but sometimes we must be reactive,” Heriberto adds. “The wider protected area is extensive, and there is a huge range of activities, cultures and ways of living within it. There is agriculture, farming, mining and hunting. For the reserve itself, being a smaller protected area, the biggest threat is fire. In the dry season, the vegetation is very susceptible to breaking out into fire.”
Heriberto describes how they tackle these threats in their daily work at the reserve.
“We create and maintain firebreaks throughout the reserve with the help of special equipment, keeping the breaks in the vegetation as long and straight as possible.
We also engage with neighbouring communities, raising awareness, making recommendations and working together to reduce fire risks. We also want them to understand the importance of the reserve and protecting biodiversity.”
Protecting the Laney Rickman Reserve includes engaging with everyone in the local community, as well as days out, binoculars in hand. Credit: ©Bennett Hennessey/Asociación Armonía
“Years ago, we never saw or heard Blue-throated Macaws”
As we discuss their work, César Floria Hilera tells us how he grew up in the small rural town of Loreto, very close to the Laney Rickman Reserve. Once a cattle rancher, he has witnessed firsthand the changes conservation has brought to this landscape.
“My whole family has been involved in this work. My parents own land near Loreto and years ago, we never saw or heard Blue-throated Macaws there. But we now have a macaw roost near the village. Hearing them around Loreto shows that our efforts are producing real results.”
Cesar joined Asociación Armonía to support their nestbox programme. Credit: ©Asociación Armonía
Your opportunity to continue their hard work
This autumn, WLT’s appeal is raising funds to expand the Laney Rickman Reserve by 636 ha.
Your donations will help safeguard this extraordinary place for generations to come, while also funding an additional reserve ranger to join Heriberto and César in protecting the Beni Savanna’s unique wildlife.
Two Threatened Landscapes. One Urgent Mission
In Bolivia, agricultural expansion is threatening to destroy vital habitat. We have a small window to save one of last strongholds for the Blue-throated Macaw – currently only 700 remain in the wild.
