The A&H Foundation partners with Onçafari to protect the Pantanal and safeguard the endagered Hyacinth Macaw

The A&H Foundation is proud to announce a long-term conservation partnership with Onçafari to support the protection of the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland and one of the most important biodiversity hotspots on the planet.

The partnership centres on a 66,000-hectare reserve located on the Brazil-Bolivia border, where The A&H Foundation and Onçafari are working to secure permanent protection for a strategically vital landscape. The reserve forms a keystone link in a wider transnational conservation corridor, supporting ecological connectivity across the Paraguay Basin and strengthening long-term ecosystem resilience.

Home to jaguars, giant anteaters, tapirs, and the endangered hyacinth macaw, the Pantanal plays a critical role in climate regulation and water systems across South America. Yet it is increasingly threatened by habitat fragmentation, agricultural expansion, and the growing intensity of wildfires driven by climate change.

Founded in 2011 by former F1-driver Mario Haberfeld, Onçafari has become one of Brazil’s leading and award-winning conservation organisations by combining scientific research with hands-on conservation and deep engagement with local communities. Its work spans wildlife monitoring, habitat protection, rewilding, fire management, education, and ecotourism, with programmes active across multiple Brazilian biomes.

A defining feature of this partnership is its targeted focus on the conservation of the hyacinth macaw, the world’s largest parrot and one of the Pantanal’s most threatened species. Habitat degradation and the loss of nesting trees have placed sustained pressure on macaw populations. Through this collaboration, the Foundation is supporting habitat restoration, nest protection, and scientific research in partnership with Instituto Arara Azul and other academic institutions.

This partnership is further strengthened through collaboration with UBS and the UBS Optimus Foundation, whose philanthropic advisory and matching contributions amplify The A&H Foundation’s support and the sustainability of the initiative. Through this structure, philanthropic capital is strategically deployed to support the long-term protection of the Pantanal while accelerating targeted conservation programmes, including hyacinth macaw habitat restoration and scientific monitoring in partnership with Instituto Arara Azul. UBS Optimus Foundation’s involvement reinforces the emphasis on measurable outcomes, rigorous governance, and multi-year impact, helping to achieve permanent land protection, species recovery, and long-term monitoring.

From the outset, the partnership has been structured around measurable outcomes. During the initial foundation phase, covering the first two years, progress will be tracked through concrete conservation indicators. These include the number of natural nests safeguarded or restored, the installation and occupancy rate of artificial nest boxes, and the scale and survival rate of native tree planting across restored habitats.

Fire prevention and climate resilience form another core pillar of the work. The partnership will monitor and report on the number of fire prevention actions executed, alongside the development of local capacity to respond to and mitigate wildfire risk. At the same time, baseline scientific research will establish the foundations for long-term monitoring, including genetic, reproductive, and ecological studies, the number of nests or individuals sampled, and the creation of a dedicated long-term biodiversity database.

As the partnership moves into its expansion phase in years two to three, evaluation will focus increasingly on biological outcomes. Metrics will include changes in wild macaw population numbers, breeding success rates, and juvenile survival rates, providing a clear picture of whether conservation interventions are translating into population recovery.

Beyond species and habitat, the partnership places strong emphasis on culture and community impact. In subsequent years, progress will be assessed through engagement indicators such as the number of schools participating in conservation programmes, students reached each year, local communities involved, and community-led conservation initiatives launched. Longer-term outcomes will also include increases in protected or sustainably managed habitat across the landscape.

For The A&H Foundation, the partnership reflects a broader philosophy of conservation rooted in science, accountability, and long-term stewardship. Rather than short-term projects, The A&H Foundation prioritises sustained collaborations capable of delivering durable impact across generations.

By combining rigorous measurement with local partnership and ecological ambition, the collaboration with Onçafari aims not only to protect the Pantanal, but to demonstrate how conservation at scale can be both accountable and enduring.