On 6 June 2024, President Lula da Silva of Brazil signed a new 15,000 hectare reserve into law. This reserve will protect part of the remaining population of the pied tamarin, and is a huge achievement for Brazilian conservationists working with this critically endangered species.

Lula signed the decree on International Environment Day, and at the same time created five other conservation areas. This is tremendous news for conservation in Brazil. The new Pied Tamarin Wildlife Refuge will help to protect this critically endangered species.

Professor Marcelo Gordo of the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), said that the fact that this area is one of the more remote in the pied tamarin’s distribution means that genetic diversity in addition to that of groups living closer to Manaus might be preserved.