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September 16, 2025In force

Agreement 026-2025

  • Decree: 026-2025
  • Published: September 16, 2025
  • Gazette: 36,943
  • Category: Environmental

Summary

AIThis summary was generated by AI and may contain errors. Always verify against the original law text below. Not legal advice. Learn how we use AI

This law permanently prohibits keeping red and green macaws as pets in Honduras because they are endangered species. The ban applies to all citizens and businesses, except legal breeding facilities that raise these birds in captivity. The National Forest Conservation Institute will monitor compliance with this measure to protect these emblematic species of the country.

Considerations

Whereas, the Regulation of the Forest Law, Protected Areas and Wildlife in article 409 states: "Based on updated technical studies, the ICF shall issue declarations of threatened species or in danger of extinction, as well as declarations of closures, hunting or permitted capture seasons and other pertinent measures, being able to take into consideration the provisions of international treaties and agreements on the matter."

Whereas, the Institutional Agreement number 045-2011 published in the Official Gazette La Gaceta on March 3, 2012 under number 32,763 in its article 34 describes Closures; It is a period of time that is established in which a certain species of flora or fauna cannot be utilized, closures can be municipal, departmental and national, which can be temporary or permanent.

Whereas, in the Official Gazette La Gaceta dated September 17, 1993, number 27,150 through Decree number 36-93 the Constitutional President of the Republic in Council of Ministers decrees: First: Declare the bird named SCARLET MACAW (ARA MACAO) and the mammal WHITE-TAILED DEER as sacred symbols of our fauna in order to create in our country a positive attitude of preservation and conservation of the same, for the maintenance and control of the ecological system.

Whereas, Agreement 936-13 dated December 23, 2013 which agrees to approve in all and each one of its parts the following: REGULATION OF PROCEDURE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA ACCORDING TO THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES), likewise the agreement continues to indicate that in its Appendix I shall include all species in danger of extinction that are or may be affected by trade. Trade in specimens of these species shall be subject to particularly strict regulation in order not to jeopardize their survival further and shall be authorized only under exceptional circumstances. In Chapter II in article 9 as scientific authority the following institutions are designated: e) Department of Wildlife attached to the National Institute of Conservation and Forest Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (DVS), article 10 functions, The scientific authority shall have the following functions f) To advise the Administrative Authority in the adoption of pertinent measures to limit the issuance of export permits, when the situation of the population of a species so requires.

Whereas, in the RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES OF HONDURAS is found within the list of evaluated threatened bird species:

Whereas, in the NATIONAL DIAGNOSIS OF EX SITU CONSERVATION CENTERS / DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CONSERVATION AND FOREST DEVELOPMENT, PROTECTED AREAS AND WILDLIFE, through which it establishes that its study area was conducted in 10 of the 12 regional offices and 03 local offices of the ICF in the country, 47 centers were evaluated distributed in three major categories, zoos, zoobreeding centers, private collections and nurseries, RESULTS: The order of the Psittaciformes (Macaws, parakeets and parrots) is the most numerous with 557 individuals in captivity, this order is made up of a family Psittacidae which is reported for Honduras 17 species of which 12 are present in captivity.

Whereas, in the document of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Psittacids in Honduras 2024-2029 which has as General Objective to propose actions and processes in situ and ex situ to ensure the conservation and protection of the 17 psittacids that occur in our country, seeking to establish all necessary alliances with other government institutions, NGOs, International Cooperation, projects and communities. Likewise, said strategy establishes the lines of action for the conservation of the Scarlet Macaw, among which are: 1) habitat protection, 2) research and monitoring, 3) environmental education and community participation, 4) Ex Situ Conservation.

Whereas, in the data from the wild pet registry of the Department of Wildlife of the ICF, being a summarized representation of the pet database, said table contains the number of individuals of Ara Macao and Ara ambiguus that were registered in the period 2017-2018, making a total of 667 Ara Macao and 77 Ara Ambiguus.

Whereas, in the report on the EVALUATION OF THE SPECIES SELECTED IN MEETINGS 15 AND 16 OF THE WILDLIFE COMMITTEE, that document was prepared by the CITES Secretariat. Concluding that the review of the Taxon Ara Macao demonstrates

Whereas, in the NATIONAL DIAGNOSIS OF EX SITU CONSERVATION CENTERS / DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CONSERVATION AND FOREST DEVELOPMENT, PROTECTED AREAS AND WILDLIFE through which it establishes that its study area was conducted in 10 of the 12 regional offices and 03 local offices of the ICF in the country, 47 centers were evaluated distributed in three major categories, zoos, zoobreeding centers, private collections and nurseries, RESULTS: The order of the Psittaciformes (Macaws, parakeets and parrots) is the most numerous with 557 individuals in captivity, this order is made up of a family Psittacidae which is reported for Honduras 17 species of which 12 are present in captivity. CONSIDERING (11): that in the document of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Psittacids in Honduras 2024-2029 which has as General Objective to propose actions and processes in situ and ex situ to ensure the conservation and protection of the 17 psittacids that occur in our country, seeking to establish all necessary alliances with other government institutions, NGOs, International Cooperation, projects and communities. Likewise, said strategy establishes the lines of action for the conservation of the Scarlet Macaw, among which are: 1) habitat protection, 2) research and monitoring, 3) environmental education and community participation, 4) Ex Situ Conservation.

Whereas, in the data from the wild pet registry of the Department of Wildlife of the ICF, being a summarized representation of the pet database, said table contains the number of individuals of Ara Macao and Ara ambiguus that were registered in the period 2017-2018, making a total of 667 Ara Macao and 77 Ara Ambiguus.

Whereas, in the report on the EVALUATION OF THE SPECIES SELECTED IN MEETINGS 15 AND 16 OF THE WILDLIFE COMMITTEE, that document was prepared by the CITES Secretariat. Concluding that the review of the Taxon Ara Macao demonstrates that the population today is rare or uncommon in most countries where it has its natural distribution range, which supports the idea that this species should remain in Appendix I. The available information on global trade, as well as illegal trade in countries of origin, shows a trend in exploitation that exceeds the carrying capacity of the wild macaw population in a region or country, which could lead to its depletion or local extirpation as is already occurring in most of Central America and Mexico.

Whereas, the TECHNICAL OPINION ICF-DVS-005-2025 prepared by the Department of Wildlife of the ICF issued on January 27, 2025 and within its conclusions are found 1) It corresponds to the ICF the protection, management and administration of wildlife flora and fauna throughout the country and the management and administration of marine, fluvial and lacustrine species found within protected areas corresponds to the ICF (ART. 115 of the Forest Law) 2) The species Ara macao (Scarlet Macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Great Green Macaw) are species of special interest at the national and global level, since they are in danger of extinction and in critical danger of extinction respectively in our country. 3) …, 4) the species Ara macao (Scarlet Macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Great Green Macaw) are species that currently occur only in a few natural spaces and Honduran indigenous territories, and specifically in some protected areas of SINAPH such as: Rio Plátano and Tawahka Biosphere, so their protection and conservation is of vital importance to the State, 5)…., 6) it is necessary to increase research and monitoring efforts on these two species in Honduras in order to further understand their biology and ecology; and with this proposes actions for their conservation. 7) establish a permanent closure for the use as wild pet of the species Ara macao (Scarlet Macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Great Green Macaw), this technical measure is urgent and very necessary to ensure the existence and survival of these two rare and important wild species in the country. 8) Excepted from this measure are individuals of Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao) and Great Green Macaws (Ara ambiguus) that come from and have been reproduced in legally established zoobreeding centers in the country or abroad. For this reason and after having analyzed the importance, conservation status and current situation of these two emblematic Psittaciforme bird species in the country the technical department suggests and recommends to the Executive Direction to decree a permanent Closure Taxonomic Classification National Category IUCN Criterion IUCN Category Common Name Order: Psittaciformes, Family: Psittacidae ARA AMBIGUUS CR A2cd+3cd+4cd; c1 LC Great Green Macaw ARA MACAO EN A2cd+3cd+4cd; C1 LC Scarlet Macaw

Whereas, the TECHNICAL OPINION ICF-DVS-005-2025 prepared by the Department of Wildlife of the ICF issued on January 27, 2025 and within its conclusions are found 1) It corresponds to the ICF the protection, management and administration of wildlife flora and fauna throughout the country and the management and administration of marine, fluvial and lacustrine species found within protected areas corresponds to the ICF (ART. 115 of the Forest Law) 2) The species Ara macao (Scarlet Macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Great Green Macaw) are species of special interest at the national and global level, since they are in danger of extinction and in critical danger of extinction respectively in our country. 3) …, 4) the species Ara macao (Scarlet Macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Great Green Macaw) are species that currently occur only in a few natural spaces and Honduran indigenous territories, and specifically in some protected areas of SINAPH such as: Rio Plátano and Tawahka Biosphere, so their protection and conservation is of vital importance to the State, 5)…., 6) it is necessary to increase research and monitoring efforts on these two species in Honduras in order to further understand their biology and ecology; and with this proposes actions for their conservation. 7) establish a permanent closure for the use as wild pet of the species Ara macao (Scarlet Macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Great Green Macaw), this technical measure is urgent and very necessary to ensure the existence and survival of these two rare and important wild species in the country. 8) Excepted from this measure are individuals of Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao) and Great Green Macaws (Ara ambiguus) that come from and have been reproduced in legally established zoobreeding centers in the country or abroad, For this reason and after having analyzed the importance, conservation status and current situation of these two emblematic Psittaciforme bird species in the country the technical department suggests and recommends to the Executive Direction to decree a permanent Closure for the species Ara Macao (scarlet macaw) and ara ambiguus (great green macaw); in which the registration and use as wild pets in the national territory is definitely prohibited.

Whereas, article 405 of the Regulation of the Forest Law, Protected Areas and Wildlife; It corresponds to the ICF, the regulation, protection, administration and management of wildlife throughout the country. Likewise, article 407 of this Regulation establishes that It corresponds to the ICF to determine the restrictions on use and exploitation of wildlife through the provisions of the Law, the Regulation and the regulations it issues at the appropriate time.

Whereas, the Department of Wildlife conducted a SWOT Analysis to determine the establishment of the Closure.

Articles

Article 34.-

describes Closures; It is the period of time that is established during which a determined species of flora or fauna cannot be exploited. Closures may be municipal, departmental, and national, and may be temporary or permanent. WHEREAS (07): That in the Official Gazette La Gaceta dated September 17, 1993, number 27,150, by means of Decree number 36-93, the Constitutional President of the Republic in Council of Ministers, decrees: First: To declare the bird called RED MACAW (ARA MACAO) and the mammal WHITE-TAILED DEER, as sacred symbols of our fauna in order to create in our country a positive attitude of preservation and conservation of the same, for the maintenance and control of the ecological system. WHEREAS (08): That Agreement 936-13 dated December 23, 2013, which agrees to approve in all and each one of its parts the following: REGULATIONS FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA ACCORDING TO THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES), and the agreement likewise continues indicating that its Appendix I shall include all species in danger of extinction that are or may be affected by trade. Trade in specimens of these species shall be subject to particularly strict regulation in order not to place their survival in even greater danger and shall be authorized only under exceptional circumstances. In Chapter II, in Article 9, the following institutions are designated as scientific authority: e) Wildlife Department attached to the National Institute for Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (DVS), Article 10 functions, The scientific authority shall have the following functions f) To advise the Administrative Authority in the adoption of appropriate measures to limit the issuance of export permits, when the situation of the population of a species so requires. WHEREAS (09): That in the RED LIST OF ENDANGERED SPECIES OF HONDURAS is included within the list of threatened bird species evaluated:

WHEREAS (10): That in the NATIONAL DIAGNOSIS OF EX SITU CONSERVATION CENTERS/ WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR FOREST CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT, PROTECTED AREAS AND WILDLIFE, by means of which establishes that its study area was conducted in 10 of the 12 regional offices and 03 local offices of the ICF in the country, 47 centers were evaluated distributed in three major categories, zoos, breeding centers, private collections, and nurseries, RESULTS: The order of Psittaciformes (Parrots, parakeets, and macaws) is the most numerous with 557 individuals in captivity, this order is composed of a family Psittacidae which is reported for Honduras 17 species, of which 12 are present in captivity. WHEREAS (11): That in the document of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Psittacids in Honduras 2024-2029, which has as its General Objective to propose actions and in situ and ex situ processes to ensure the conservation and protection of the 17 psittacids that occur in our country, seeking to establish all necessary alliances with other government institutions, NGOs, international cooperation, projects, and communities. Likewise, said strategy establishes the lines of action for the conservation of the Red Macaw, among which are; 1) habitat protection, 2) research and monitoring, 3) environmental education and community participation, 4) Ex Situ Conservation. WHEREAS (12): That in the data from the registry of wild pets of the Wildlife Department of the ICF, being a summarized representation of the pet database, said table contains the number of individuals of Ara Macao and Ara ambiguus that were registered in the period 2017-2018, making a total of 667 Ara Macao and 77 Ara Ambiguus. WHEREAS (13): That in the report on the EVALUATION OF THE SPECIES SELECTED IN MEETINGS 15 AND 16 OF THE FAUNA COMMITTEE, that document was prepared by the CITES Secretariat. Concluding that the review of the Taxon Ara Macao demonstrates that the population today is rare or uncommon in most countries where it has its natural range of distribution, which supports the idea that this species should remain in Appendix I. The information available on global trade, as well as illegal trade in countries of origin, shows a trend of exploitation that exceeds the carrying capacity of the wild macaw population in a region or country, which could lead to its depletion or local extirpation as is already occurring in most of Central America and Mexico. WHEREAS (14): That the TECHNICAL OPINION ICF-DVS-005-2025 prepared by the Wildlife Department of the ICF issued on January 27, 2025, and among its conclusions are 1) It corresponds to the ICF the protection, management, and administration of flora and wildlife throughout the country and the management and administration of marine, fluvial, and lacustrine species, which are found within protected areas corresponds to the ICF (ART. 115 of the Forest Law) 2) The species Ara macao (Red Macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Green Macaw) are species of special interest at the national and global level, since they are in danger of extinction and in critical danger of extinction respectively in our country. 3) …, 4) the species Ara macao (Red Macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Green Macaw) are species that currently occur only in a few natural spaces and indigenous Honduran territories, and specifically in some protected areas of SINAPH such as: Río Plátano and Tawahka Biosphere, so their protection and conservation is of vital importance for the State, 5)…., 6) it is necessary to increase research and monitoring efforts on these two species in Honduras in order to further understand their biology and ecology; and with this propose actions for their conservation. 7) establish a permanent closure for the use as wild pets of the species Ara macao (Red macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Green Macaw), this technical measure is urgent and very necessary to ensure the existence and survival of these two rare and important wild species in the country. 8) The individuals of Red Macaws (Ara macao) and Green Macaws (Ara ambiguus) that originate from and have been reproduced in legally established breeding centers in the country or abroad are excepted from this measure. For this reason and after having analyzed the importance, conservation status, and current situation of these two emblematic species of Psittaciform birds in the country, the technical department suggests and recommends to the Executive Direction to decree a permanent Closure. Taxonomic Classification National Category IUCN Criteria IUCN Category Common Name Order: Psittaciformes, Family: Psittacidae ARA AMBIGUUS CR A2cd+3cd+4cd; c1 LC Green Macaw ARA MACAO EN A2cd+3cd+4cd; C1 LC Red Macaw

that the population today is rare or uncommon in most countries where it has its natural range of distribution, which supports the idea that this species should remain in Appendix I. The information available on global trade, as well as illegal trade in countries of origin, shows a trend of exploitation that exceeds the carrying capacity of the wild macaw population in a region or country, which could lead to its depletion or local extirpation as is already occurring in most of Central America and Mexico. WHEREAS (14): That the TECHNICAL OPINION ICF-DVS-005-2025 prepared by the Wildlife Department of the ICF issued on January 27, 2025, and among its conclusions are 1) It corresponds to the ICF the protection, management, and administration of flora and wildlife throughout the country and the management and administration of marine, fluvial, and lacustrine species, which are found within protected areas corresponds to the ICF (ART. 115 of the Forest Law) 2) The species Ara macao (Red Macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Green Macaw) are species of special interest at the national and global level, since they are in danger of extinction and in critical danger of extinction respectively in our country. 3) …, 4) the species Ara macao (Red Macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Green Macaw) are species that currently occur only in a few natural spaces and indigenous Honduran territories, and specifically in some protected areas of SINAPH such as: Río Plátano and Tawahka Biosphere, so their protection and conservation is of vital importance for the State, 5)…., 6) it is necessary to increase research and monitoring efforts on these two species in Honduras in order to further understand their biology and ecology; and with this propose actions for their conservation. 7) establish a permanent closure for the use as wild pets of the species Ara macao (Red macaw) and Ara ambiguus (Green Macaw), this technical measure is urgent and very necessary to ensure the existence and survival of these two rare and important wild species in the country. 8) The individuals of Red Macaws (Ara macao) and Green Macaws (Ara ambiguus) that originate from and have been reproduced in legally established breeding centers in the country or abroad are excepted from this measure. For this reason and after having analyzed the importance, conservation status, and current situation of these two emblematic species of Psittaciform birds in the country, the technical department suggests and recommends to the Executive Direction to decree a permanent Closure for the species Ara Macao (red macaw) and Ara ambiguus (green macaw); in which the registration and use as wild pets in the national territory is definitively prohibited. WHEREAS (15): That Article 405 of the Regulations of the Forest Law, Protected Areas and Wildlife; It corresponds to the ICF, the regulation, protection, administration, and management of wildlife throughout the country. Likewise, Article 407 of this Regulation establishes that It corresponds to the ICF to determine the restrictions on the use and exploitation of wild fauna through the provisions of the Law, the Regulation, and the regulations it issues from time to time. WHEREAS (16): That the Wildlife Department conducted a SWOT Analysis to determine the establishment of the Closure.

FOR SUCH REASON: The Executive Direction of the National Institute for Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife, using its powers, taking into consideration the Technical Opinions issued by the different Departments of this Institute and the documentation attached to the file on merit and based on Articles 80 and 340 of the Constitution of the Republic, Articles 1, 2, 3, of the Forest Law, Protected Areas and Wildlife, Articles 1, 405, 407, 409 of the Regulation of Forest Law, Protected Areas and Wildlife, 1, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 72 of the Administrative Procedure Law, Agreement 045-2011. AGREES: FIRST: TO DECREE PERMANENT CLOSURE FOR THE SPECIES ARA MACAO (RED MACAW) AND ARA AMBIGUUS (GREEN MACAW), BEING DEFINITIVELY PROHIBITED THE REGISTRATION AND USE AS WILD PETS IN THE NATIONAL TERRITORY, without prejudice to compliance with Agreement 045-2011 "Manual of technical-administrative norms for the management and sustainable use of wildlife in Honduras" and in compliance with the Forest Law, Protected Areas and Wildlife and its Regulation, adding to the foregoing the technical opinion issued by the Wildlife Department and being one of the attributions of the National Institute for Forest Conservation, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF) to make the declaration of threatened species or in danger of extinction as well as the declaration of Closures. SECOND: THIS CLOSURE EXCEPTS THE INDIVIDUALS OF RED MACAW (ARA MACAO) AND GREEN MACAWS (ARA AMBIGUUS) that originate from and have been reproduced in legally established breeding centers in the country or abroad. THIRD: THE WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT IS INSTRUCTED TO CONDUCT CONTINUOUS MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE on the protection of the individuals subject to this Closure. FIFTH: THIS AGREEMENT OF THE PERMANENT CLOSURE FOR THE SPECIES ARA MACAO (RED MACAW) AND ARA AMBIGUUS (GREEN MACAW) shall be published in the Official Gazette of La Gaceta and on the ICF website.- LET IT BE COMPLIED WITH: Done in Comayagüela, municipality of the Central District, on the seventh (07) day of the month of April of the year two thousand twenty-five. ING. LUIS EDGARDO SOLIZ LOBO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ICF ABG. RODOLFO ANTONIO ZAMORA GALEAS GENERAL SECRETARY ICF

Notes

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