July 19 and 20, more than ten communities from Torotoro National Park gathered to take part in the first Red-fronted Macaw Futsal Championship: “Playing for its Conservation.” This unique event brought together sport, local identity, and biodiversity. Its aim was to raise awareness about the conservation of the Red-fronted Macaw (Ara rubrogenys), a Critically Endangered Bolivian endemic species, using sports to foster community engagement and help prevent its extinction.
The event was organized by Asociación Armonía, in coordination with Torotoro National Park, with support from Play for Nature—an international organization that promotes sport as a tool for biodiversity conservation. The championship date was chosen to coincide with the park’s anniversary, celebrated every July 26th.
“This activity is valuable because it helps build awareness in local communities around the importance of conserving this species and other native birds. Seeing players wearing jerseys with the colors of the birds they chose themselves helps build a personal connection with conservation. Sports evoke emotion, strengthen community pride, and help embed practices that protect territory,” said Guido Saldaña, Coordinator of the Red-fronted Macaw Program at Armonía.
The championship was held in Torotoro, located within the Caine River watershed—Bolivia’s third most important nesting area for the Red-fronted Macaw. Other watersheds where the species breeds include Mizque (home to the Red-fronted Macaw Community Reserve), Pilcomayo, and Río Grande, in the El Palmar region.
El Palmar hosted the first edition of this championship earlier in 2024, during the anniversary of the Protected Area. It is also the only known site where Red-fronted Macaws nest in palm trees—specifically the trunks of the endemic and threatened Janchicoco palm (Parajubaea torallyi)—rather than in cliffs, which is typical for the species.
Local birds, team names, and community pride
Each team, male and female, selected a local bird species as their name and wore jerseys reflecting the bird’s colors. Among the birds represented were the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus), Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas), and Green-barred Woodpecker (Colaptes melanochloros). From the stands, families cheered every match in a festive atmosphere full of pride and commitment to conservation.
Zenobio Juchasara Orihuela, a player from the Andean Condor team representing the Estrellani community, shared the story behind their name: “There’s a place called Cóndor Qaqa (‘Rock of the Condor’ in Quechua), where condors come every afternoon. That’s why we chose the name. We even have a tourist route to see them. Before, people didn’t care—they even harmed them. Now, the community is interested in protecting them.”
Photo: Women compete during the Torotoro futsal championship. Marizol Huarachi, Armonía
After an intense match, a member of the Giant Hummingbird team said: “We represent the bird that lives in Ciudad de Itas. It’s one of the largest hummingbirds. Thanks to this championship, we’re also learning about other birds in the park.” Ciudad de Itas is a highland area of Torotoro National Park, known for its rocky landscapes and caves, and is home to this striking hummingbird.
This year’s winning female team was Inca Corral, representing the Glittering-bellied Emerald (Chlorostilbon lucidus), while the male champions were Huayra Q’asa, representing the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). As in the El Palmar edition, the Red-fronted Macaw Cup was awarded as a rotating trophy—fostering friendly competition among communities and encouraging continued efforts for bird conservation. “We hope this championship continues. The trophy will rotate, and that’s the beautiful part: each year, another community will take it home and strive to conserve the birds that make this park so unique,” added Saldaña.
Celebrating conservation through sport
Recognized for its paleontological richness, dramatic rock formations, and biodiversity, Torotoro is becoming a flagship destination for nature tourism in Bolivia. The promotion of birdwatching, driven by Armonía and local partners, is helping position the park as a space where conservation and community development go hand in hand.
For Rolando Zapana, Director of Torotoro National Park, this initiative is a concrete way to connect park management with everyday community life. He emphasized that activities like this help strengthen ties with local people and integrate conservation with sports, education, and territorial stewardship.
Photo: Group photo of teams wearing bird-inspired jerseys. Romeo Rojas-Estrada, Armonía
More information
- Torotoro is entering the birdwatching scene with the launch of new circuits in the communities of Matanseria–Jala Jala and Julo Grande, both located in the Toro Toro municipality of Potosí. These new routes offer visitors the chance to observe the Red-fronted Macaw and other inter-Andean Dry Valley bird species.
- In 2021, Asociación Armonía identified approximately 160 Red-fronted Macaw nests across its distribution range in Bolivia, estimating a population of about 1,200 individuals.
- Armonía has worked on Red-fronted Macaw conservation for over 15 years. One of the most successful experiences has been the establishment of a birding lodge in the Red-fronted Macaw Community Reserve, managed by the local communities of San Carlos, Perereta, and Amaya. This reserve protects Bolivia’s most important nesting cliff for the species. Tourism revenue is shared among the three communities and helps sustain the area and protect the macaw.
Photo: Flock of Red-fronted Macaws perched in a Soto tree. Teodoro Camacho, Armonía
Cover photo: Women proudly wear jerseys representing the bird species chosen by their team. Romeo Rojas-Estrada, Armonía
Text by: Marizol Huarachi, Armonía