Araripe Manakin has a highly resticted range within Brazil (Andy & Gill Swash www.worldwildlifeimages.com)

Known to science for just ten years, the Araripe Manakin was first described in 1998 and is confined to a small, 28 km² area of moist forest on the north-eastern slope of the Chapada do Araripe, south Ceará, Brazil, where a population of only 800 is believed to exist. Its population and habitat are subject to continuing pressure from agriculture, housing development and the intensification of other recreational facilities. Proposals for the revival of local sugar cane cultivation are also adding to the odds currently stacked against this highly attractive bird and threatening the riverside 'gallery' forest it depends on.

This species is one of the six birds chosen by this year's Birdfair to highlight the plight of the world's 190 Critically Endangered birds. The British Birdwatching Fair is the first Global Programme Sponsor of the BirdLife ‘Preventing Extinctions Programme' which is identifying the individuals and organisations best equipped to carry out the work to save each of the world's 190 Critically Endangered birds. These ‘Species Guardians' are then matched with ‘Species Champions' - individuals, organisations or institutions able to provide the money to enable the work to be carried out. For more information go to www.birdlife.org/extinction.

Adding his weight to the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme by becoming a 'Species Champion', Sir David Attenborough said, "We have no right to exterminate the species that evolved without us, we have the responsibility to do everything we can to preserve their continued existence." As well as the work of protecting and restoring the 'gallery' forest, Sir David will be supporting a campaign to reach rural communities and local government officials with the power to grant or refuse development licences for the area. There is a long way to go. Brazil has the highest total of Globally Threatened birds for any country with 141 species there falling into this category.