Protecting and Building Connectivity Within the Highly Threatened Ecuadorian Chocó-Andino Landscape

The Ecuadorian Chocó is one of the most threatened hotspots in the world and the forests of the Ecuadorian Chocó-Andino have some of the highest deforestation rates in the country. 

‍

Despite the many urgent threats to this region – development and urbanization, cattle ranching, agriculture, mining – there are still large areas of cloud forest with still-thriving biodiversity in this region, in addition to many degraded areas that can be restored over time.

‍

That’s why our focus is on rapidly protecting this imminently threatened land, to prevent its ecosystems, biodiversity, and critical water sources from disappearing entirely. 

‍

We will establish private reserves to ensure lasting protection of standing forests and watersheds, allow for natural regeneration of degraded areas, implement land management and restoration plans for each reserve, and increase connectivity between protected areas, key for conserving the habitats of the region’s incredible biodiversity.

‍

By also collaborating with organizational, community, and governmental actors in the region, this project will increase connectivity between existing and new protected areas, create bio corridors that protect as much of the landscape and biodiversity as possible, facilitate scientific conservation-oriented field research, and strengthen conservation and management of all protected areas and conservation zones.

‍

• Reserva Las Gralarias 
• Conservación y Desarrollo

‍

Scientific assessments

• Conducting biodiversity research assessments on the ground to identify the most strategic areas to prioritize in terms of high biodiversity and forest health 

Legal evaluations

• Legal investigation into the land in the region of interest to determine specific sites to establish as private reserves 

‍