Partner
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Protecting Ecuador's rich biodiversity 

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Challenge

Ecuador is the smallest of the 17 “megadiverse” countries on Earth. It harbours more than 20,000 identified plant and animal species in its marine and coastal ecosystems, tropical forests, and high mountains. However, much of this immense wealth of life is under threat as Ecuador’s natural habitats continue to shrink due to high deforestation even in remote parts of the country. This loss of forests has severe negative consequences for biodiversity. More than 10% of all species in Ecuador are thought to be at risk of extinction today. Deforestation also leads to soil erosion and water scarcity, which impacts the lives and livelihoods of local communities that depend on natural resources, including indigenous peoples.

Fundación Jocotoco's response

Local non-profit organisation Fundación Jocotoco helps protect many of Ecuador’s most threatened species from extinction by acquiring and managing land as nature reserves. To date, it has established a network of 16 private reserves totalling almost 40,000 hectares, while also helping communities and local authorities to manage and protect another 82,000 hectares of natural habitats. Jocotoco’s reserves offer a refuge to species including the Spectacled bear, Puma or Jaguar, and rare birds such as the Jocotoco antpitta, which gave the organisation its name. With the support of Cartier for Nature, Jocotoco is strengthening its work across these reserves with automated cameras and microphones that record and quantify the presence of animals as well as threats such as illegal logging and poaching, which allows them to focus their conservation efforts where they are most needed. Over the next ten years, this work is expected to contribute to an increase in the populations of at least 13 highly threatened priority species in areas that Jocotoco manages.

Supported since

March 2024