The news from Manaus in the Amazon has been worrying. Fires broke out in the Pied Tamarin Reserve, established just two years ago as the first-ever reserve dedicated to the conservation of the “monkey of Manaus”. Covering 13,000 hectares to the north-east of Manaus, this is a vital area of pristine forest, providing precious habitat for one of the Amazon’s most threatened primates.

The good news is that, as we write this update, the fires have been put out. This is a huge relief, and we want to pay tribute to the incredibly brave firefighting team from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), who have been doing such important work on the front line to protect this precious forest.

However, the danger is far from over. There is still a great deal of work to do to ensure the fires do not start again, and the coming months could be particularly challenging. The Amazon is experiencing exceptionally dry conditions, exacerbated by the extreme El Niño, and the risk of further fires is very real. Vigilance will be essential to make sure that any new outbreaks are tackled as quickly as possible.

At the same time, we need to start restoring the areas that have been damaged. This is where Marcelo Gordo, who leads the tamarin conservation project in Manaus, is already making a difference. Marcelo has established two tree nurseries and has thousands upon thousands of young trees ready to be planted in the affected areas.

Tamarin Trust’s Dom Wormell visited the project in August, and you can read more about it here.

But planting trees is only the beginning. These young saplings will need careful attention, watering and ongoing care if they are to survive and become established. Volunteers and resources will be essential to help make this restoration work a success.

This is front-line conservation, dedicated people working tirelessly to protect endangered primates and the forests on which they depend. It is about much more than saving one species. These forests are vital to the communities who live there and rely on them, and they play an essential role in stabilising the global climate. We all depend on the Amazon.

The people working on the front line are real heroes. They are fighting to save the pied tamarin, to protect the forest and to safeguard something that matters to all of us. They deserve our support.

For now, we can be thankful that the fires are out. Our priority must be to keep them out, protect the remaining forest and help bring life back to the areas that have been damaged.

We will keep you updated as we learn more, but this is a critical moment for the pied tamarin and its habitat. The work being done in Manaus needs our support, now more than ever.

If you would like to help us support these vital conservation efforts, please consider becoming a Friend of Tamarin Trust. Your support can help make a real difference to the people working tirelessly to protect these extraordinary primates, and some of your donation will go towards planting and protecting a tree in pied tamarin habitat every year.

Thank you.