A visit to a Green Macaw Rescue Centre in Costa Rica introduced Bender to another crisis — the disappearance of the Great Green Macaw from Panama, driven largely by the deforestation of its nesting tree, the mountain almond (almendro). Known as the “Tree of Life” for supporting thousands of species, the almendro had nearly vanished from parts of the archipelago.

Partnering with local conservationists and the Panamanian government, Bender launched a mass reforestation initiative. In its first year, more than 5,000 almendro saplings were planted across the islands — with the hope of seeing the first fruiting trees by 2028 and Great Green Macaws soaring over Bocas once again by 2030.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.
The second-best time is now.”