25+
Year partnership
$1.4 M+
Invested in Dominica
3
Endemic parrot species
2000
Morne Diablotin National Park -- first national park of the millennium
8+
Partner organizations
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Guardians of the Caribbean's Rarest Parrots
The Eastern Caribbean is home to some of the world's most imperiled Amazon parrots, birds found nowhere else on Earth, each serving as the living emblem of their island nation. RSCF has been working in this region for nearly three decades, supporting in-field research, conservation policy, disaster response, and habitat protection.
Our programs currently focus on two islands: Dominica, the Nature Island of the Caribbean, home to the Imperial Amazon (known locally as the Sisserou) and the red-necked Amazon (known locally as the Jaco); and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where the flamboyant St. Vincent Amazon faces threats both from habitat loss and natural disaster.
These aren't just birds — they are conservation flagships for entire rainforest ecosystems. Protecting them means protecting the forests, the communities, and the island identities tied to their survival.
Island Program — Dominica
Dominica: The Nature Island
Since 1997, RSCF's support for wildlife conservation on Dominica has been unrivaled and unconditional, recognized worldwide as one of the most progressive and successful parrot conservation endeavors in the region.
January 21, 2020 — 20th Anniversary of Morne Diablotin National Park
The world's first new national park of the millennium — made possible by RSCF with over $1M in international funding
$1.4 M+
Invested over 25 years
1997
Partnership founded
22,000+
Acres protected in MDNP
GPS/GIS
Modern survey methods deployed
2
Endemic species recovered
Research & Field Work
Science Front and Center
Program Overview
Over the past half-century, Dominica's endemic Amazon parrots, the Sisserou and Jaco, have proven to be powerful conservation flagships for the island's diverse oceanic rainforest ecosystem. The Sisserou, Dominica's national bird and emblem, anchors one of the most comprehensive parrot conservation programs in the Caribbean.
Continuous conservation and public-education efforts have achieved broad public awareness, significant habitat protection, and the formation of the oldest preserved forest stands on the island — all centered on the recovery of this iconic species.
"The Sisserou's comeback is again underway, and we are inspired by new sightings across Morne Diablotin National Park, the Northern and Central Forest Reserves, and adjacent forests."
— RSCF Program Update
Program Timeline
25 Years of Partnership
Current field-research activities deploy GPS/GIS survey methods to quantify parrot distribution and abundance, a significant advance over conventional ornithological estimates. Research teams use camera technology to monitor reproduction and document parental care, while also conducting botanical inventories of critical parrot nesting and foraging habitats.
RSCF's investment is ongoing: in-situ and ex-situ technical training, protected land acquisition, equipment, and facility support ensure the program's long-term sustainability.
The Dominica parrot-conservation program has stimulated novel research and enhanced protected-area policies island-wide, ensuring a future for the Nature Island's vast montane forests and its winged ambassadors.
⚠ Wildlife Trade Alert: Parrot Controversy
RSCF, along with 40+ national and international researchers and conservation leaders, continues to raise grave concerns about the March 2018 transfer of endemic parrots from Dominica to Germany in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. RSCF has communicated these concerns to the UN, CITES, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the EU.
1997
RSCF–Dominica partnership established
with Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division. Multi-decade commitment to parrot research and habitat protection begins.
2000
Morne Diablotin National Park created
the world's first new national park of the millennium. Over $1M in international funding coordinated by RSCF.
2017
Hurricane Maria devastates Dominica.
RSCF coordinates emergency response and long-term recovery support for wildlife and the Forestry Division.
2018
Parrot trafficking controversy emerges.
RSCF leads international coalition challenging unauthorized export of endemic parrots to Germany.
2020
20th anniversary of Morne Diablotin National Park.
New sightings of Sisserou across protected areas signal continued recovery.
Now
Recovery measures ongoing.
Minister's Commitment Letter reaffirms Dominica's partnership with RSCF and international NGOs on anti-trafficking and research.
Island Program — St. Vincent & the Grenadines
St. Vincent: Rising from the Ash
St. Vincent is home to the St. Vincent Amazon (Amazona guildingii), one of the Caribbean's most spectacular parrots, found nowhere else on Earth, and the island's national bird. When disaster strikes, RSCF responds.
Species Profile
The St. Vincent Amazon (Amazona guildingii)
The St. Vincent Amazon is one of the Caribbean's most visually striking birds — a symphony of green, yellow, bronze, blue, and white that has made it a celebrated icon of its island. As the national bird, it occupies a special place in Vincentian culture and identity. It is found only on St. Vincent, making its protection an irreplaceable conservation priority.
Prior to the 2021 volcanic eruption, the species faced ongoing pressure from habitat loss and the illegal pet trade. La Soufrière's eruption added catastrophic new stress: ash fall, displacement of foraging and nesting areas, and a sudden influx of injured birds requiring veterinary care, demands the Forestry Division was not equipped to meet alone.
RSCF's rapid response, coordinated with a coalition of international NGOs, brought relief supplies and technical expertise to the island within days of the eruption. The rainforest clinic effort, documenting and treating ash-injured wildlife, became a model for disaster response in island conservation contexts.
"We will do all we can to help the people and wildlife endemic to this incredible island."
— RSCF Statement, April 2021
April 9, 2021
La Soufrière Eruption
The island's largest volcano erupted for the first time in 40 years, sending ash plumes six miles high and blanketing communities island-wide. RSCF mobilized immediately alongside partner NGOs to deliver emergency relief for Forestry staff and injured wildlife.
RSCF Emergency Response
-
✓Coordinated relief supplies for Forestry staff
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✓Veterinary and aviary supplies for injured wildlife
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✓Rainforest field clinics for rescued Amazon parrots
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✓Ongoing capacity support for Forestry Division
Response Partners
Birds Caribbean · Fauna & Flora International · Houston Zoo · Higgins Premium Pet Foods · Dr. Susan Clubb, DVM
Program Resources
IUCN Red List: St. Vincent Amazon →
Contact us about this program →
Caribbean Program Partner Organizations: Dominica Forestry Division, Birds Caribbean, Tropical Conservation Institute, Fauna & Flora International, Houston Zoo, Higgins Pet Foods, Dr. Susan Clubb, DVM