Current Lear's macaw conservation projects are managed under the authority of Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources. The Committee for the Conservation and Management of the Lear's Macaw advises the institute on the conservation of Lear's macaw. The committee includes Brazilian and international organizations and individuals. In 2009, the conservation status of the species was downgraded to endangered from critically endangered by the IUCN. This was prompted by an increase in the population, which based on annual 2009 counts at the Toca Velha and Serra Branca roosting sites is estimated to be 1000 individuals.