Local communities have shaped a municipal protected area that now protects 95,950 acres of páramo, forests, and water sources they have cared for for generations.
Cañar LandscapeCañar Páramo
A New Municipal Protected Area in Ecuador’s Southern Andes
Cañar is a municipality in Ecuador’s southern Andes. Its new municipal protected area, formally named the Cañar Conservation and Sustainable Use Area, covers 95,948 acres and spans more than 50 communities.
Those communities were protecting this land long before it had a formal designation. For generations, they have cared for its water sources, páramo, and forests, guided by their own forms of organization and ancestral Andean knowledge. One of those traditions is the minga (minka in Kichwa), in which neighbors come together for shared work that benefits the whole community.
The new protected area strengthens these efforts and connects the Municipal Government’s work with the participation of communities and local organizations.
Víctor Guamán, an environmental technician with the Municipal Government of Cañar, puts it this way:
“The Municipal Government’s approach has always sought to respect community organizations, the ones who came first in environmental conservation. We strengthen the actions they are already carrying out to protect our páramo and water.”
Conservation Shaped by More Than 400 people
The municipal protected area came out of a broad participatory process across twelve local districts. More than 400 people took part, including representatives of communities, drinking water and irrigation boards, social organizations, and district governments.
Over a series of community assemblies and workshops, participants shaped the guidelines used to draw the area’s boundaries and write the municipal law that created it. The result takes into account how each community lives and works on the land, and builds on what residents were already doing to protect the páramo, forests, and water sources that supply the municipality’s water.
Bringing that many voices together took coordination. The Municipal Government of Cañar and the Mancomunidad del Pueblo Cañari, an alliance of neighboring municipalities, led the process, with technical support from Nature and Culture and funding from Andes Amazon Fund.
A Shared Governance Model for Conservation
One of the most important results of the process is a plan for shared governance between communities and the Municipal Government. Each section of the protected area will have its own representative body, and a municipality-wide council will handle coordination and decision-making.
Communities and local organizations in Cañar have long led the way in caring for the páramo, forests, and water sources, and this declaration formally recognizes that leadership. The new protected area builds on their experience, giving communities and the Municipal Government practical ways to manage the land together.
Protecting Páramo for Future Generations
Establishing the protected area is one step in a process that will continue with planning conservation actions, building local skills, and launching the shared governance system defined during the participatory process.
The work also reaches beyond Cañar. While the protected area lies entirely within the municipality, it is part of a broader vision led by the Mancomunidad del Pueblo Cañari, which includes three neighboring municipalities. The goal is for communities, organizations, and local governments across the region to work together, keeping páramo, forests, and water sources connected and protected for the people who depend on them.
For María Isabel Narváez, a local council member from Honorato Vásquez, one of Cañar’s rural districts, conserving water also means thinking about future generations:
“We must protect the water and the páramo well because, if we don’t have water, we don’t have life. We have to think about what we are going to leave our children and our grandchildren.”
Protecting forests, wildlife, and water sources in Ecuador and Peru
Across the Andes, longer dry seasons and growing land-use pressure are increasing wildfire risk. These fires threaten forests, biodiversity, water sources, and ecological connectivity that allows species and ecosystems to thrive.
Wildfire is a Global Challenge
While Nature and Culture’s fire resilience work is focused in the Tropical Andes, many of the underlying challenges are familiar around the world: longer dry seasons, hotter temperatures, pressure on natural landscapes, and growing threats to water supplies and biodiversity.
We’re working with local communities to implement practical approaches that reduce risk, strengthen preparedness, and protect the natural systems people and wildlife depend on.
Building Local Capacity Against Wildfire
Nature and Culture works with communities, conservation-area managers, and local governments to strengthen wildfire prevention, preparedness, and response across priority landscapes within the Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor. Our team supports community training, public awareness campaigns, and coordinated monitoring systems so local leaders can reduce risk and respond quickly when fires start.
Together, we’re helping communities:
Detect fires earlier.
Prevent accidental wildfires.
Prepare for emergencies.
Protect forests, water sources, and wildlife.
Why Wildfires Are Increasing in the Andes
Most fires in the region start from human activity. According to Peru’s national forestry authority, about 95% of wildfires are linked to human causes, many of them agricultural burns that spread beyond their intended boundaries.
For generations, fire has been a low-cost way to clear fields, remove crop residue, and renew pasture, and it was largely manageable. Today, longer droughts, hotter temperatures, and stronger winds allow those burns to escape into forests and watersheds.
Fire Prevention as a Conservation Strategy
Meeting this challenge requires more than responding to fires after they occur. It requires investing in prevention, preparedness, and local leadership before a crisis begins. Conservation is often associated with protecting land, restoring habitat, or establishing protected areas. But as fires become more frequent and severe across parts of South America, protecting conservation investments increasingly requires strengthening prevention and preparedness alongside traditional land protection efforts.
During the 2024 fire season, volunteer brigades played a key role in wildfire response efforts, demonstrating the value of community leadership and coordinated action. Building on this experience, Nature and Culture is expanding wildfire prevention, preparedness, and community engagement efforts across the broader Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor.
Wildfire Threatens Connectivity
The Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor was established to maintain ecological connectivity across a five-million-acre landscape that links Andean forests, high-Andean wetlands, and Amazonian ecosystems. These connections help sustain healthy watersheds and strengthen the resilience of ecosystems across the region.
Wildfires can quickly disrupt those connections.
Fires fragment wildlife habitat, degrade water sources, release stored carbon, and threaten the ecosystems that species such as the spectacled bear and mountain tapir depend upon. As wildfire risk grows, protecting connectivity increasingly requires investing in prevention and preparedness alongside traditional conservation approaches.
Protecting Far More than Trees
The consequences extend far beyond burned areas. Wildfires can fragment wildlife habitat, degrade watersheds, release stored carbon, and weaken the ecological connections that sustain biodiversity across the Andes. Species such as the spectacled bear and mountain tapir depend on connected landscapes, while communities rely on the forests and watersheds that provide clean water and other essential benefits.
Protecting these forests means protecting far more than trees. It means safeguarding wildlife habitat, maintaining reliable water sources, and preserving the natural systems that communities and wildlife depend upon. That’s why investing in wildfire prevention and preparedness has become an essential part of long-term conservation across the corridor.
FAQs
Wildfires are becoming a growing threat across the Tropical Andes as changing climate conditions and land-use pressures increase the likelihood and intensity of fires. Beyond damaging forests, wildfires can fragment wildlife habitat, degrade water sources, release stored carbon, and weaken the ecological connections that many species depend on for survival.
Our approach combines community training, public awareness campaigns, monitoring systems, and coordinated planning. By strengthening community knowledge, preparedness, and coordination before fires occur, communities are better equipped to reduce risk and respond effectively when emergencies arise.
Community members are often the first to detect and respond to wildfire threats. By strengthening local knowledge, preparedness, and coordination, communities can prevent small incidents from becoming larger emergencies and play an active role in protecting their landscapes.
Many species rely on intact forests, wetlands, and watersheds throughout the Andes-Amazon region. Preventing wildfires helps protect the habitats and natural systems that wildlife depend on while reducing damage to fragile ecosystems.
Wildfire prevention is one part of Nature and Culture International’s broader approach to conservation. By protecting biodiversity, maintaining ecological connectivity, strengthening local stewardship, and safeguarding critical water resources, we help ensure that people and nature can thrive together across the Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor.
As climate change reshapes wildfire risk across the Tropical Andes, investing in prevention and preparedness has never been more important.
Together, we can help keep the landscapes of the Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor connected and resilient in the face of a changing climate.
Protecting water sources to conserve ecosystems, sustain biodiversity, and improve residents’ access to water.
In southern Ecuador’s Zamora Chinchipe province, the San Andrés Water Protection Area is a community-led initiative that, after 16 years of work, has been elevated to APH status — one of Ecuador’s strongest legal safeguards for water security. The area protects 11,809 acres (4,779 hectares) of páramo and montane forest, serving as a buffer zone for Yacuri National Park and strengthening the Andes Amazon Conservation Corridor, a vital wildlife corridor in southern Ecuador.
The story of San Andrés grew from the local community’s commitment to protect their water sources. First protected as a community reserve in 2010, the area now secures water for around 800 residents.
“As a mother, it gives me great peace of mind to know that our water reserve is protected. Water is essential for life, and as a community, we have a responsibility to care for it, use it responsibly, and teach our children that this commitment must continue to secure the future of our reserve,” says Keiny Cordero, a resident of San Andrés.
“The declaration of the Water Protection Area represents a milestone for our community. It is a commitment to protecting our water sources and a legacy for future generations, who will have the responsibility of preserving this heritage,” states Diego Abad Abad, president of the San Andrés GAD.
“We launched this initiative at the right moment, just as mining was beginning to affect our water sources. Today, having a Water Protection Area gives us peace of mind, knowing that we will be able to preserve quality water for future generations,” recalls Martín Ramón, former president of the San Andrés Parish GAD and one of the driving forces behind the area’s conservation process.
A Refuge for Biodiversity
The San Andrés Water Protection Area safeguards high-Andean ecosystems of exceptional ecological value, home to a rich diversity of species. Its páramos and montane forests shelter emblematic wildlife such as the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) and the puma (Puma concolor), alongside distinctive plant life including romerillo (Podocarpus oleifolius), achupalla (Puya obconica), and wild granadilla (Passiflora loxensis).
Spectacled bearCollared Inca (Coeligena torquata) hummingbirdPuma Photo: Instituto HumboldtMountain tapir in the San Andrés Water Protection Area
During a recent visit to the area, the forest offered a striking confirmation of what 16 years of protection have achieved: a mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) appeared, one of the species most sensitive to habitat loss and considered an indicator of healthy ecosystems. Its presence was no coincidence, it reflects 16 years of community work to protect the forests, water sources, and biodiversity of San Andrés.
Water as a Conservation Strategy
Beyond sheltering wildlife, the páramos and montane forests of San Andrés function as a natural water infrastructure system, capturing moisture from clouds and rainfall, storing it in spongy soils and wetlands, and releasing it steadily throughout the year into the streams that supply San Andrés communities. This slow, sustained release is what allows residents to count on water for both household use and agricultural production, even through dry seasons, anchoring both water security and food sovereignty across the territory.
This is the same water-source strategy Nature and Culture has applied across Ecuador for more than 30 years, protecting the upper watersheds where water originates, in order to safeguard both the ecosystems that sustain it and the communities downstream who depend on it. Of the 42 Water Protection Areas established nationwide, Nature and Culture has provided technical and financial assistance toward the consolidation of 26 — including San Andrés, where that support helped carry a community-led vision through 16 years to a durable legal safeguard.
José Romero, San Andrés Water Protection Area
“Today, 95% of San Andrés’s surface area maintains optimal ecological conditions. This result shows that sustained conservation and joint work between communities and institutions produce concrete benefits for biodiversity and water,” says José Romero, Water Source Conservation Program Coordinator.
The establishment of the San Andrés Water Protection Area is, above all, a story of local leadership. Thanks to the perseverance of its community, years of conservation work culminated in a legal framework of protection, guaranteeing the care of the forests and access to water for everyone.
San Andrés Water Protection Area Map. Produced by: Nature and Culture International
This process was driven by the community, with technical support from Nature and Culture International and the CUIDAR project, and funding from Re:wild. When conservation is sustained over time and rooted in people’s commitment, results become visible in the forest once again — as seen firsthand in the return of the mountain tapir, a species so sensitive to habitat loss that its presence alone signals a healthy, thriving ecosystem.
Thirty Years Protecting Latin America’s Most Biodiverse Landscapes
What’s New This Summer
Thirty years ago, a small group set out to protect some of the world’s most biodiverse forests. Today, with the support of donors, that work spans 29.5 million acres, built alongside the Indigenous Peoples and communities who know these landscapes best. Our summer newsletter covers a historic corridor recognition, formal protection for one of the largest Indigenous-led territories in the Amazon, and fresh discoveries from wildlife monitoring in the Andes. Here’s how it’s all connected.
Our Impact
Thirty years of this work adds up to 29.5 million acres protected, 4.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent prevented, and 470 threatened vertebrate species safeguarded.
Every protected area, community partnership, scientific discovery, and conservation milestone highlighted here was made possible by people who chose to invest in nature over the long term. Thank you for being part of this work.
How community-led conservation and native bees are securing the forest’s future.
In the dry forests of southern Ecuador, local communities have discovered a sweet reality: protecting nature can be far more profitable than destroying it. For generations, this critical ecosystem faced intense pressures from deforestation, agricultural expansion, and devastating wildfires. Today, a community-led movement called “Honey for Forests” (Miel por Bosque) is turning the tide. Local families are proving that keeping the forest standing is a powerful way to secure their own economic future.
As Bruno Paladines, Dry Forest Coordinator at Nature and Culture International, explains: “If we restore the forest, the bees have food, they produce honey, and they boost the surrounding crops. It is a fair, reciprocal exchange: honey in return for a thriving forest.”
A Growing Network for Conservation
What began as a small alliance among local rural parishes in the Puyango region has blossomed into a pioneering national movement. Since 2016, Nature and Culture has been working alongside municipal governments, local associations, and hundreds of families to scale this impact. Today, the initiative has expanded across five critical Ecuadorian provinces, where more than 600 local bee caretakers sustainably manage around 5,000 native hives.
This incredible momentum recently led to a historic success: the opening of Ecuador’s first-ever Comprehensive Native Bee Center. Located in Puyango, this center serves as a national hub for innovation, training, and scientific research. It connects bee caretakers from across the country, streamlining sustainable honey production while serving as a cornerstone for dry forest conservation.
Tiny Heroes, Bigger Highlights
Why does this matter to the rest of the world? Because these are not ordinary bees. Ecuador is home to over 200 species of native, stingless bees that are the absolute backbone of local food security and ecosystem health. They pollinate native trees and plants that no other insects can. By protecting them, local families are actively restoring entire landscapes.
This community effort is woven directly into Puyango’s municipal protected area, which spans over 69,000 acres. By blending traditional knowledge with modern technical innovations, the project has already achieved massive, concrete highlights on the ground:
Real Human Transformation
Beyond the technical metrics, the beauty of this model lies in its human impact. Local producers are shifting away from traditional, aggressive agriculture and turning their land into integrated, climate-resilient farms that harmonize production with ecology.
Oscar Prieto, a local bee caretaker, shares his motivation: “What drives me is being an active part of conservation. On our farms, we’ve implemented integrated agroforestry systems. We have learned that this isn’t just about production; conservation must be at the center of how we manage our land.”
An Invitation to Join the Buzz
“Honey for Forests” is a proven success story showing that when ancestral knowledge, community leadership, and technical innovation merge, rural communities can successfully confront climate challenges. The buzz of native bees in southern Ecuador is growing louder every day, and the dry forest is breathing again. However, keeping this momentum alive and expanding to more families requires continuous investment. By supporting Nature and Culture, you become an active partner in this sweet cycle, empowering local guardians, protecting irreplaceable biodiversity, and keeping these critical forests standing for generations to come.
Board Chair Charles J. Smith reflects on the foundation Ivan Gayler built — and what the next thirty years demand
By Charles J. Smith, Board Chair
There is a particular kind of person who looks at a disappearing forest and sees not just what is being lost, but everything that could still be saved. Ivan Gayler is that person. Thirty years ago, he had the audacity to believe that a small, determined organization could go to the most ecologically consequential landscapes on Earth — the cloud forests and river valleys of the Andes and Amazon — and actually turn the tide.
He was right.
Ivan Gayler and Charles J. Smith in Ecuadorian Amazon
The Founders Bet
When Ivan founded Nature and Culture International in 1996, the model he envisioned was as unconventional as it was clear-eyed. He was not interested in distant advocacy or feel-good gestures. He wanted to be on the ground, in partnership with local communities and governments, doing the hard and permanent work of protecting land, not for a decade, but forever. That insistence on permanence, on real and measurable outcomes, has defined the organization ever since.
What strikes me most, looking back across thirty years, is how fully Ivan saw around corners. He understood before most that the Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor was not simply a collection of beautiful places; it was a living system, an engine of rainfall, biodiversity, and climate stability that the world could not afford to lose. He understood that the most effective conservationists were often not the ones who flew in from the outside, but the local community leaders who had spent their lives in these landscapes. And he understood that if you built the right relationships, secured the right protections, and invested in the right people, the results would compound for generations.
“That’s my dream for humanity.” — Ivan Gayler, founder, Nature and Culture International
Not lines on a map
That vision has produced something remarkable. Over three decades, Nature and Culture has helped protect 26.8 million acres across Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and beyond in what are, by any measure, the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Those are not abstract numbers. They represent rainforests, cloud forests, river corridors, deciduous dry forests, and high-altitude páramos that will continue to shelter life and stabilize our climate long after the rest of us are gone.
This work was accomplished through the patient, relationship-driven approach that Ivan modeled from the very beginning. The reserves and corridors we have established are not lines on a map. They are functioning ecosystems, home to species found nowhere else on Earth, sustained by communities who have chosen to be their stewards.
The work ahead
None of this happened automatically. Conservation is slow, difficult, and often invisible work. There are setbacks, funding gaps, political headwinds, and years when the progress is hard to see. What has carried Nature and Culture through all of it is Ivan’s original conviction: that this work matters more than almost anything else we can do, and that, done with integrity and care, it lasts.
As I reflect on this anniversary, I am grateful for the foundation Ivan built and for the extraordinary team that carries it forward today. I am also clear-eyed about the urgency of the moment. The forests we are racing to protect are under more pressure than ever. The next thirty years will demand the same bold, grounded, relentless commitment that Ivan bequeathed Nature and Culture at the inception.
He showed us how. Now it is our turn.
A conversation with Renzo Paladines, Co-founder and Chief Conservation Officer, Nature and Culture
Some of the most important ideas don’t arrive fully formed. They take shape through experience, through small moments that turn out to matter more than anyone expected.
“It felt almost magical,” Renzo Paladines recalls, thinking back to the earliest days of Nature and Culture. “We were walking through a small forest with some donors. There were butterflies. The light was something else. And someone asked, ‘What can we do to protect this?'”
A simple question. But it changed everything.
Small Forests, Big Lessons: How Water Protection Shaped Our Strategy
That walk didn’t just spark an idea; it revealed something fundamental. Small forest fragments, even ones easy to overlook, carry outsized importance. Not just for the wildlife within them, but for the people living alongside them. These patches of forest are where water comes from. They are, in a very practical sense, what keeps communities alive.
“We understood that these small areas were a priority for local communities. They’re the ones that produce water. They sustain life.”
From that understanding came a new direction. Nature and Culture began partnering with local governments to protect these areas, in some cases, before the laws to do so even existed. The organization’s first municipal protected areas took shape in Loja, Ecuador, pioneering a model of community-anchored conservation that eventually helped lay the groundwork for what Ecuador now formally recognizes as Areas of Conservation and Sustainable Use (ACUS).
There was no master plan. The work in Loja wasn’t a strategy designed in advance; it was a direct response to a real need, in a real place, with real communities.
If there’s one conviction that has defined Nature and Culture across three decades, it’s that conservation is local work. It can’t be done from a desk. It’s done by the people who live on the land.
For Nature and Culture, that has never been a philosophy statement — it’s been a practical commitment that shapes every partnership we build. Rather than treating protected areas as something imposed from the outside, our model has always been to protect alongside communities, not instead of them.
Local governments, Indigenous communities, and private landowners share something fundamental, Renzo explains. They live in these territories, they manage them, and they depend on them directly.
“If communities aren’t involved, you can’t do conservation.”
Ttrotsky Viera, Zamora Chinchipe Technical Coordinator, Shuar el Kim Center
From Protected Areas to Connected Landscapes Across the Andes and Amazon
For years, the work focused on creating individual protected areas. But over time, the challenge evolved.
Managing dozens of scattered areas became complex. And science was making it clear that isolated patches aren’t enough — species need connectivity to survive and adapt.
“We realized that creating areas wasn’t sufficient. We had to connect them.”
That’s how the mosaic approach was born — landscapes where national protected areas, subnational zones, private reserves, and Indigenous territories work together as a unified system. Conservation at the scale that nature actually needs.
The Amazonian Platform and Andes Amazon Conservation Corridor: Scaling Forest Protection Across Borders
Mosaics solved the management problem. But connectivity at true Andes-Amazon scale required something larger. Nature and Culture’s two most ambitious programs grew from that recognition. The Amazonian Platform and the Andes Amazon Conservation Corridor bring together local governments, Indigenous organizations, and civil society across national borders, spanning ecosystems from the high Andes down through the Amazon basin, in pursuit of a shared goal.
“It was an evolution. Mosaics help with management. But when you’re talking about true connectivity and scale, you need a program vision.”
30 Years of Adaptive Conservation Strategy: What Worked, What Didn’t, and Why It Matters
Nature and Culture’s story isn’t a straight line. Renzo describes it as a process of constant evolution. “We started by creating areas. Then we understood we needed sustainable financing, so water funds emerged. Then we realized governance was the key piece. All of it has been a learning process.”
Not every approach worked. Productive development projects proved harder than expected, not at the production level, but at market access. “The problem isn’t producing. It’s getting products to market. That’s where almost every project falls apart.”
Rather than persist with what wasn’t working, Nature and Culture sharpened its focus on where it could generate the greatest impact — creating and managing protected areas, strengthening governance, and building sustainable financing mechanisms. Those three pillars define the strategy today.
One of the clearest expressions of that financing work is the Amazon Future Fund. Built on the foundation of the Amazonian Platform, the fund places decision-making power equally in the hands of Indigenous nationalities and provincial governments, channeling resources directly to the people protecting the forest rather than filtering them through distant institutions. It is an early but significant step toward durable, locally owned conservation financing at Amazon scale.
Scaling Community-Based Conservation From Ecuador Across Latin America
“I never thought we’d be able to grow into other countries,” Renzo admits.
What began in Ecuador’s forests found resonance in Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and beyond — not because the model was imposed, but because the conversations with local leaders in each new country turned out to be, at their core, the same conversation about forests, water, and the communities that depend on both.
“It always comes back to our dependence on ecosystems.”
And the same three pillars that shaped the strategy in Ecuador — creating protected areas, strengthening local governance, and building sustainable financing — proved just as relevant everywhere else. Thirty years of applying that approach across Latin America has added up to 26.8 million acres protected and 3.9 billion tons of CO₂ equivalent stored — a contribution to climate stability that could only have been built from the ground up.
Forest Conservation in the Next 30 Years: Why the Stakes Have Never Been Higher
The future, without a doubt, won’t be simple.
Renzo names three pressing concerns going forward: growing pressure on natural resources, the weakening of international cooperation, and the accelerating impact of climate change, even in forests that appear intact and well-managed. “You can have a healthy forest, with rangers, with funding, and still lose species to climate change.”
That honesty is part of what thirty years of conservation work produces. Not cynicism, but clarity about what’s actually at stake — and what it takes to meet the moment. The threats are real. So is the foundation that’s been built to face them: millions of acres under protection, Indigenous and local governments with real governance power, and financing models designed to outlast any single donor cycle.
The question now isn’t whether this work matters. It’s whether it can grow fast enough.
A Collective Conservation Model, Built to Last
What comes through most clearly in this conversation is that Nature and Culture has never operated from the top-down. Every protected area, every governance structure, every financing mechanism has been built collectively — through relationships, through failures, through the hard-won trust of communities who had every reason to be skeptical of outside organizations.
“It’s been a collective effort. Experiences, learning, failures, and successes — all of it has shaped a different way of doing conservation. From the local level, with many partners, and with a long view.”
Thirty years later, that core is still intact.
And maybe it all started with a simple question, asked by someone standing in a small forest, watching the light come through the trees:
What can we do to protect this?
The answer, it turns out, takes thirty years to build. And it’s not finished yet.
Mark your calendars! Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22nd.
What is Earth Day?
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It serves as a reminder of our responsibility to safeguard our planet for future generations.
Why do we celebrate Earth Day?
Earth Day is celebrated to raise awareness about environmental issues such as pollution, deforestation, climate change, and endangered species. It encourages individuals, communities, and governments to take action to preserve and protect the Earth’s natural resources.
Why is Earth Day important?
Earth Day is crucial because it brings people together to advocate for sustainable practices and policies. By promoting environmental awareness and activism, Earth Day plays a vital role in inspiring positive change and fostering a deeper connection between humanity and the planet.
Earth Day Facts
The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, and is credited with launching the modern environmental movement.
Earth Day is now observed in over 190 countries, making it one of the largest secular observances in the world.
The theme for Earth Day 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet,” the campaign focuses on accelerating clean energy, increasing accountability for environmental damage, and promoting community-scale climate solutions.
This Earth Day, your gift to Nature and Culture International helps protect some of the most biodiverse and threatened ecosystems on the planet. From the Amazon rainforest to Andean cloud forests, we work hand-in-hand with Indigenous peoples, local communities, and governments to conserve millions of acres of vital habitat. Every donation—big or small—drives lasting, locally led solutions for our planet’s future. Join us in safeguarding nature, culture, and life on Earth.
Join Us in Celebrating Earth Day Together, Let’s Make a Difference for Our Planet.
Our Water Source Conservation Program promotes a network of Water Protection Areas (WPA) and other subnational conservation categories that identify and protect strategic ecosystems to guarantee water supply and conserve biodiversity in Ecuador. By protecting key water sources along the Amazon and Andes regions, the program strengthens landscape integrity, ecosystem functionality, and community well-being, promoting more resilient and sustainable territories.
The Water Source Conservation Program is possible thanks to the active participation of local communities, who engage in conservation by recognizing the value of water as the foundation of their food sovereignty, health, and sustainable development. This community-led approach strengthens local conservation and ensures long-term sustainability.
Investing in water source conservation means protecting water, conserving life, and strengthening resilient territories.
988,400 acres
by 2030
Protection Goal
37 WPAs established
across Ecuador
24 with the support of Nature and Culture International
Regions
Coastal Ecuador, Andes region, Amazon region
Ecosystems
Cloud forest, Amazon, páramo, lakes and wetlands, dry forest
Priority Landscapes:
The Water Source Conservation Program collaborates closely with both the government and local communities to ensure the comprehensive management of vital natural ecosystems, those that provide water and serve as havens for Ecuador’s rich biodiversity.
As a result of a joint analysis and planning process, Nature and Culture International and the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MAE) identified nearly 17.3 million acres (7 million hectares) of areas with very high water importance, primarily in paramos and cloud forests, strategic ecosystems for water regulation, storage, and supply.
Based on these findings, the Water Source Conservation Program drives a national strategy prioritizing Water Protection Areas to ensure territorial connectivity and conservation.
Where APHs cannot be established, the program implements alternative subnational models, such as Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas. These are adapted to local conditions to protect vital water sources and enhance regional governance.
Ecological Connectivity for Territorial Resilience
Water Protection Areas are not isolated spaces: they act as strategic nodes linking national protected areas with subnational conservation initiatives. This creates connectivity blocks that facilitate the movement of key species and maintain ecosystem balance at a regional scale. In this way, the Water Source Conservation Program directly contributes to the strengthening of priority biological corridors and the health of entire landscapes.
A landmark example is the Runahurco water protection area, which connects two national protected areas and several subnational Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas. This reinforces the protection of the Sangay–Podocarpus Connectivity Corridor, a vital part of the Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor initative
Similarly, the Southern WPA (APH del Sur) establishes a connectivity axis linking ecosystems from the Coast to the Highlands. This ensures water provision and regulation for thousands of people while strengthening climate resilience and biodiversity conservation.
Water: Sustaining Biodiversity
Water does more than just supply communities; it is the axis that sustains wildlife and ecosystem balance. Paramos, cloud forests, and other strategic ecosystems regulate the water cycle, creating the necessary conditions for the survival of thousands of species of flora and fauna.
By protecting water sources, the Water Source Conservation Program safeguards critical habitats, ensures ecological connectivity, and enables the mobility of key species. Rivers, wetlands, and micro-watersheds function as natural corridors that maintain gene flow and ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Water Protection Areas
Water Protection Areas are a legally recognized conservation category in Ecuador, specifically designed to protect water sources that supply local populations and sustain biodiversity.
They are an innovative tool because they prevent land occupation and extractive activities in strategic ecosystems. Furthermore, they allow for the active participation of communities in their management and conservation.
The Water Source Conservation Program is a strategic pillar of Nature and Culture International’s vision, as it consolidates connectivity between national protected areas and subnational initiatives.
Through WPAs and other conservation categories, the program expands and complements the national network of protected areas, guaranteeing long-term legal protection for key ecosystems.
The Water Source Conservation Program strengthens and complements strategic initiatives such as the Amazon Platform and the Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor by consolidating the ecological and legal foundation necessary for their sustainability.
The Water Source Conservation Program contributes through:
The creation of Water Protection Areas and Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas in strategic sites for the protection of biodiversity and water sources, strengthening connectivity between territories prioritized by these programs.
The integration of conservation, water, biodiversity, and climate resilience into a single, coherent territorial strategy.
In this way, the Water Source Conservation Program does not operate in isolation; instead, it coordinates and amplifies conservation efforts at both national and regional scales, strengthening ecological corridors, ensuring territorial governance, and consolidating Nature and Culture International’s long-term impact.
Ecosystems that provide water, such as paramos and cloud forests, also act as natural climate regulators.
By conserving water sources:
The capacity of ecosystems to store carbon is maintained.
Temperature and humidity are regulated at a regional level.
Vulnerability to droughts and floods is reduced.
The water quality necessary for the survival of species and communities is protected.
Water is an essential component of climate resilience: without healthy ecosystems and water availability, it is impossible to sustain biodiversity or guarantee human well-being.
Long-term protection is based on a model of shared governance and territorial co-responsibility.
The State, at its various levels, guarantees the legal framework, the official declaration of the areas, and their supervision. Water boards, local communities, and local governments (participate actively in management through management plans, monitoring, and conservation agreements.
Throughout this process, Nature and Culture International provides permanent technical assistance, strengthening local capacities and supporting territorial planning, as well as the design and implementation of management plans.
Results to Date:
As strategic allies of Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment and Energy, we have consolidated a work plan through 2029.
By 2026, we have contributed to the establishment of 24 Water Protection Areas and 3 Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas.
Furthermore, we have supported the design of key planning tools, such as the National Map of Potential WPAs and the Atlas of Water Protection Areas.
A Bold Vision to Protect 14 Million Acres
The Amazonian Platform is a collaborative alliance of Indigenous nationalities and local governments working to protect 14 million acres of Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest—vital for the world’s climate and biodiversity.
For more than a decade, Nature and Culture has partnered with these local leaders to establish a connected network of protected areas across three provinces, with the ultimate goal of spanning all six provinces of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Join the movement
To protect large,
Intact forests
A Collaborative Effort to Protect the Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon faces immense pressure and complex issues that are too great for one response alone. Lasting solutions depend on collective action and a shared vision. To meet this challenge, Indigenous nationalities and provincial governments have come together for the first time through the Amazonian Platform.
This innovative union promotes coordinated action to conserve and manage 14 million acres of the country’s largest continuous rainforest, reduce CO2 emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and incorporate Indigenous ancestral practices to sustainably protect the largest biological corridor of continuous forest in Ecuador.
How does it work?
The Amazon Future Fund
The Amazon Future Fund is a sustainable conservation fund that finances forest protection in the Ecuadorian Amazon, led jointly by Indigenous Peoples and subnational governments. It’s a fund that will ensure conservation financing finally reaches the people protecting the forest, while building a long-term path for climate stability and human wellbeing.
Every year, deforestation in the Ecuadorian Amazon advances at alarming rates, accelerating the climate crisis and endangering countless animal and plant species, along with millions of people, including 11 Indigenous nationalities who safeguard the forest.
So far, the Amazonian Platform has secured more than 10 million acres of protected areas across three provinces — Pastaza, Zamora Chinchipe, and Morona Santiago. The next steps are to expand this success to the northern provinces and to launch the Amazon Future Fund, a financing mechanism led jointly by Indigenous Peoples and provincial governments to ensure long-term protection of this network of forests.
Protecting a Living Corridor Between the Andes Mountains and the Amazon Rainforest
The first ecological corridor connecting Ecuador and Peru—at the heart of Earth’s greatest biodiversity
The Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor connects ecosystems across southern Ecuador and northern Peru, linking more than 50 conservation areas on both sides of the border. It creates a bridge between the upper Amazon and the high Andes, supporting the movement of species across an extraordinary range of altitudes and ecosystems.
Acres protected
2,871,960 acres currently
21 Key Biodiversity Areas
3,941,854 acres
More than 53
protected areas
2 countries
3 National Corridors
Key Species
Jaguar (Panthera onca),
Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus),
Andean condor (Vultur gryphus),
and the Andean tapir (Tapirus pinchaque).
Eco-regions
Cloud Forest, Amazon Rainforest, Páramo, Lakes and Wetlands.
A unique opportunity
Donate to Protect the Andes
The Andes-Amazon region is a global biodiversity hotspot. The Corridor ensures species can adapt to climate change, water sources remain secure for people, and forest continue storing carbon and regulating local climate.
The Tropical Andes hotspot in South America is home to over 34,000 species of plants and animals, with estimates suggesting that half of these species are endemic. Despite its critical importance for global biodiversity, this region faces severe threats, including climate change, extractive activities, and ecosystem fragmentation.
The governments of Ecuador and Peru have pledged to promote and strengthen bi-national ecosystem connectivity to ensure the conservation of habitat and ecosystem services. Nature and Culture International, along with the environmental authorities in both countries and Plan Binacional have joined forces to create The Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor.
FAQs
The Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor in Ecuador and Peru. It connects protected areas across the Andes to safeguard biodiversity, secure water supplies, and strengthen climate resilience.
Nature and Culture’s work is guided by three pillars:
Create Protected Areas
Strengthen Local Leadership
Secure Long-Term Protection
The Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor is one way we put this strategy into action, applying all three pillars across one of the most biodiverse mountain regions on Earth.
The Corridor is a mosaic of national parks, provincial and municipal reserves, and water protection areas. Examples include:
Many protected areas in the Corridor are designed to safeguard headwaters, páramos, and cloud forests. In Ecuador, Water Protection Areas (Áreas de Protección Hídrica) legally protect drinking water sources. In Peru, Regional Conservation Areas secure watershed health for local communities.
The Corridor relies on subnational leadership, provincial and municipal governments, and community stewards. These local leaders integrate conservation into development plans and ensure protection lasts beyond project cycles.
Durability comes from:
Legal frameworks (national, provincial, and municipal protected areas).
Integration into local land-use and development plans.
Water funds and other conservation finance mechanisms.
Public budgets for protected area management.
Monitoring systems for biodiversity, water, and climate resilience.
The Andes-Amazon region is a global biodiversity hotspot. The Corridor ensures species can adapt to climate change, water sources remain secure for people, and forests continue storing carbon and regulating local climates.
Why is it important to protect ecological connectivity?
Ecological connectivity is the invisible bridge of life, linking forests, rivers, and mountains so nature stays resilient. When these connections stay intact, ecosystems thrive and life flows freely. Animals can migrate, plants regenerate, and species share genetic diversity across landscapes.
Protecting connectivity means protecting the flow of life itself.
Results So Far
We’ve already protected over half of the corridor, but safeguarding individual areas is not enough. These ecosystems must also be connected to ensure the flow of species and maintain biodiversity.
Over the next five years, our teams plan to protect an additional 103,250 acres, complete the legal process for establishing the entire Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor, and work with local actors to ensure the long-term stewardship of this 5-million-acre biodiverse paradise.
We invite you to join us
in this monumental effort to protect one of the most extraordinary regions on Earth for future generations. .
A Groundbreaking Solution for Durable Forest Protection
The Amazon Future Fund (AFF) is an innovative conservation fund that ensures durable protection of Ecuador’s Amazon. For the first time, Indigenous Peoples and provincial governments share equal power to govern a fund that directs resources straight to those safeguarding the forest.
Unlike many global pledges where financing rarely reaches local communities, the Amazon Future Fund changes this. The Amazon Future Fund builds in transparency, accountability, and local ownership from the start. Each founding member is investing directly, and together the fund will guarantee lasting protection of 14 million acres of rainforest that store 2.8 billion tons of CO₂ equivalent.
The Amazon Fund builds on the Amazonian Platform, a coalition of 11 Indigenous nationalities and 6 provincial governments that has already secured more than 10 million acres of protected forest. With the Amazon Future Fund, this progress will endure for generations, ensuring the Platform’s full 14 million acres remain protected as one of the largest Indigenous- and government-led conservation efforts in the world.
The Amazon is a global treasure, home to countless species and diverse cultures. Learn about the Amazonian Platform’s critical work with local partners to conserve the rainforest for generations to come. Your support helps secure this vital ecosystem—and the future of our planet.
Why the Fund Matters
Global climate pledges and biodiversity targets often fail on one crucial point: funds rarely reach Indigenous and frontline communities who safeguard forests. The Amazon Future Fund is designed to fix this—channeling resources directly into the Amazonian Platform and its members.
What the Fund Is
A sustainable conservation fund dedicated to durable protection of the Amazon Platform’s 14 million acres.
Governed equally by Indigenous nationalities and subnational governments.
Anchored in the Amazonian Platform, which has already secured the largest conservation commitments in Ecuador’s Amazon.
Shared governance: Equal decision-making power for Indigenous and provincial leaders.
Built on strong foundations: Over 15 years of collaboration, with 10 million acres already under protection.
Concrete impact: Ensures durable protection of 14 million acres—home to 2.8 billion tons of CO₂ equivalent.
Transparency & accountability: Donor contributions and carbon/climate finance flow into local action plans with measurable outcomes.
Local ownership: Each founding member contributes to launch the fund, ensuring genuine buy-in.
Long-Term Goal
To build a self-sustaining fund within 3–5 years, guaranteeing durable protection of the Amazonian Platform’s 14 million acres and the wellbeing of the people and species that depend on it.
Platform Progress to Date
Visionary Promise
The Amazonian Platform is already one of the most advanced, large-scale conservation initiatives in the Amazon. The Amazon Future Fund guarantees it will endure, ensuring that 14 million acres of intact rainforest and 2.8 billion tons of CO2e remain protected, communities thrive, and the Amazon continues to stabilize the planet’s climate for generations to come.
Scientists find evidence of parallel evolution among three bamboo frogs in the rugged slopes of the Andes.
A recent scientific study describing three new frog species of the genus Pristimantis offers a powerful example of how collaboration between conservation organizations and research institutions supports both biodiversity protection and scientific discovery in regions vital to the planet’s health.
Pristimantis translucidus (Photo: MUTPL)
Pristimantis chusquea (Photo: MUTPL)
Pristimantis oculolineatus (Photo: MUTPL)
Partners Behind the Discovery
Collaboration is key to biodiversity protection, and conservation organizations like ours support scientific research not only to protect ecosystems today, but to better understand the region’s long-term health and future conservation needs. This discovery was made possible by decades of long-term conservation, the maintenance of connected protected areas, and a robust partnership between international research institutions.
The description of these new Andean bamboo frogs was published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Oxford University Press). The article, titled “Three new bamboo-specialist frogs of the genus Pristimantis (Amphibia: Anura: Strabomantidae) from southern Ecuador reveal patterns of parallel evolution,” presents research carried out by scientists from the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, in collaboration with the National Institute of Biodiversity and Ovidius University of Constanța.
The study was led by Paul Székely, together with researchers Diego Armijos-Ojeda, Leonardo Ordóñez-Delgado, and Diana Székely. The research was made possible thanks to financial support from Rainforest Trust and Nature and Culture International, as well as the support of Fundación Jocotoco, which facilitated fieldwork at the Tapichalaca Reserve.
The team used an integrative taxonomic approach that combined DNA sequencing, detailed physical measurements (morphology), and bioacoustic analysis of male frog calls. This allows scientists to distinguish between species that may appear very similar at first glance, but in reality, represent distinct and unique evolutionary lineages.
Where These Frogs Call Home
Records of these species span several protected areas in southern Ecuador, all of which are part of the Andes–Amazon Conservation Corridor, a binational initiative between Ecuador and Peru that connects more than 50 conservation areas and reserves, connecting headwater ecosystems in the Andes with the Amazon lowlands. Pristimantis chusquea was recorded in Abra de Zamora and Cerro Toledo; Pristimantis oculolineatus was found in Cajanuma, the Numbala Reserve, and Yacuri National Park, and Pristimantis translucidus in the Tapichalaca Reserve.
Map of protected areas and natural reserves – Nature and Culture International
The Breakthrough: Parallel Evolution in Action
In the steep, vertical landscapes of the Andes, where landslides and rugged terrain create a mosaic of isolated habitats, bamboo establishes easily, creating conditions that favor ecological specialization. One of the most striking findings of this study is the evidence of parallel evolution. In different pockets of the Andes, bamboo-dwelling frogs evolved independently, yet arrived at nearly identical physical solutions to survive the same environmental pressures.
The fact that these frogs share similar physical traits—even though they evolved in different locations on both sides of the Andes—shows how species can independently develop similar adaptations when they face the same environmental challenges.
Andean bamboo in Yacuri National Park (Photo: MUTPL)
As researcher Diego Armijos-Ojeda explains, the study documents a total of five frog species that live exclusively on Andean bamboo leaves:
“In different parts of the mountain range, these species faced similar environmental conditions and independently developed very similar adaptations. They evolved bodies, colors, and shapes that allow them to camouflage among bamboo leaves and protect themselves from predators, as if each had solved the same evolutionary problem on its own.”
Why These Frogs Matter to Us
These frogs are considered habitat specialists. They live almost exclusively in Andean bamboo forests and are acutely adapted to this environment. Their colors and body shapes allow them to camouflage among bamboo leaves, to avoid predators, and move through vertical and dynamic environments.
The description of these three new frog species has important implications for conservation. These frogs could help function as umbrella species, since protecting them would also help conserve other organisms and the habitats they depend on. In other words, protecting these frogs also helps safeguard Andean bamboo–dominated ecosystems, which play a critical role in regulating and supplying water across the region.
According to researcher Diana Székely, scientific discovery is closely tied to conservation outcomes:
“Science has intrinsic value, similar to art: it allows us to better understand the natural world. But it also has practical implications. In the skin of some frog species, for example, there are compounds with potential relevance for public health. When we lose a species, we not only lose an organism, but also all the functions and benefits it could provide. Each species plays a role, and as a society we must invest in conservation and move toward development that does not go against nature, but is built alongside it, protecting the ecosystems that provide us with water, air, and well-being.“
Abra de Zamora
This discovery is a reminder that conservation works best when it is connected, collaborative, and forward-looking. By protecting headwater landscapes and strengthening partnerships today, conservation efforts are not only safeguarding known biodiversity but also creating the conditions for discoveries that have yet to be made.
Nature and Culture Latin America Communications Specialist Aida Maldonado travels to southern Ecuador to witness the once-a-year guayacan bloom in the country’s fragile dry forest.
This is the second time I have witnessed the blooming of the guayacan trees in the province of Loja, in southern Ecuador, and without a doubt, every time reaffirms the magic of this place. However, on this occasion, what surprised me most was the realization that this natural phenomenon—one that occurs only once a year—is not only enjoyed by those of us who visit, but also by the many species that inhabit and depend on this ecosystem.
More Than a Spectacle: Why the Bloom Matters for the Dry Forest
The American crocodile(Crocodylus acutus), birds that fill the forest with song, squirrels, howler monkeys, pumas, and many other species are an essential part of this natural wonder. The blooming is not just a visual spectacle; it is a crucial moment for the life of the dry forest. It provides shelter, food, and favorable conditions for the regeneration of an ecosystem that has learned to endure.
American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) Photo: Aida Maldonado
A Fragile Ecosystem Under Pressure
It was at this moment that I more clearly understood that the blooming of the guayacan trees occurs in one of the most fragile and top priority ecosystems in mainland Ecuador. As I walked through the area, I encountered other visitors who, like me, had questions about what was happening around us. We walked attentively, watching the landscape turn yellow as a gentle rain began to fall and wrapped us in the night, reminding us that this phenomenon depends on a seasonal balance and only occurs at the first rainfall of the year.
Each season, the increase in visitors to these areas—especially the Cazaderos Natural Reserve—brings greater pressure on the dry forest. For this reason, I chose to move through it slowly and quietly, trying to observe without disturbing and to listen without interrupting. Many of the impacts we cause are not always immediately visible, but they are permanent. If we are not aware of our impact, we may cause irreversible damage: leaving designated trails can destroy seedlings; excessive noise alters wildlife behavior; removing flowers, seeds, or branches disrupts essential natural processes; and even feeding wild animals affects their health and changes their habits.
When the Forest Turns Yellow
The blooming of the guayacan trees transports us into a yellow forest and, at times, it feels like being inside a Studio Ghibli film. It’s almost unreal. In that moment alone, as I contemplate the beauty of the guayacan’s yellow flowers, I’m reminded that we still can—and must—continue working to protect areas such as La Ceiba Protected Forest, the Cazaderos Natural Reserve, and the Los Guayacanes Municipal Ecological Area.
For those who have not yet experienced this extraordinary natural event, I invite you to explore it through a selection of photographs we took alongside Daniel Sanmartín, a passionate biologist who cares for and protects these areas. In these images, the guayacan bloom is proof of sustained efforts carried out by communities and institutions that care deeply for this treasure.
Photo: Daniel SanmartínPhoto: Daniel SanmartínPhoto: Aida MaldonadoPhoto: Aida Maldonado
A Landscape of Global Importance
For all these reasons, UNESCO has recently reaffirmed this area—part of the Dry Forest Biosphere Reserve—as one of the planet’s unique sites, recognized for both its natural and cultural richness.
Witnessing this blooming is not only a privilege, but also an invitation to view the dry forest with love and respect, and to understand that we are temporary visitors in a territory that sustains far more life than we might imagine.
What is deforestation?
Deforestation is the clearing of trees from large expanses of forest. This process disrupts ecosystems, reduces biodiversity, contributes to climate change by releasing stored carbon dioxide, and often leads to soil erosion and habitat loss for countless plant and animal species. Forests are not just collections of trees; they are vital ecosystems that support an incredible array of life, from plants and animals to Indigenous communities who depend on them for their livelihoods and cultural heritage.
Deforestation is a significant environmental issue with far-reaching consequences for local communities and the planet.
Solutions to deforestation
We protect threatened forests in partnership with the communities who live there.
Unlike nature reserves in the U.S., many of these forests are home to people who have lived on the land for centuries. The relationships we have built with the people who live in the areas we work to protect are key to our success. From municipal and local level protection to national level protection, to land purchase when necessary, no matter the method, we always consider the local communities who live in these areas along with long-term ecosystem health.
In 25+ years, Nature and Culture has never seen a protected area reversed and we believe that is because of our commitment to serving local communities.
Our co-management model is what sets us apart. Providing access to legal tools to establish a protected area, technical training for skills such as monitoring a protected area for threats, or investing in a new means of sustainably generating income from local resources are just a few ways we provide solutions to deforestation.
Our protected areas are living, breathing, dynamic spaces that require fostering relationships and understanding local needs. Indigenous Peoples and local communities are often the initial advocates for the protected areas we support. We provide them with the tools to safeguard natural resources.
Effects of deforestation
Why is deforestation a bad thing?
Forests cover approximately one-third of the Earth’s land surface and play crucial roles in supporting the lives of millions of people. They are incredibly biodiverse habitats, housing more than half of the world’s land-based animals, plants, and insects. Forests help combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and serve as natural buffers against storms and floods. They are essential for drinking water in nearly half of the world’s largest cities. They also offer shelter, employment opportunities, and security to forest-dependent communities.
However, according to the latest FAO UN Global Forest Resources Assessment, approximately 24.7 million acres of forest are lost yearly, with 95% of this loss occurring in tropical regions. Many of the world’s most biodiverse forests, such as the Amazon rainforest in South America, are disappearing or facing a critical tipping point. The Amazon rainforest, in particular, exhibits reduced resilience, meaning it has a diminished ability to regenerate lost areas due to deforestation. Experts warn that the Amazon rainforest is reaching a point of no return, where large-scale dieback occurs, transforming much of the forest into savanna. This would have devastating ecological consequences and impact global climate patterns and biodiversity.
How does deforestation affect climate change?
Clearing forests reduces the Earth’s capacity to absorb CO2 and increases greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately disrupting climate patterns.
Reducing Carbon Sequestration: Trees act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. Deforestation reduces the number of trees available to sequester carbon, leading to increased levels of atmospheric CO2.
Emissions of Greenhouse Gases: When forests are cleared or burned, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere as CO2. Additionally, deforestation contributes to emissions of other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide from forest degradation and soil disturbance.
Altered Climate Patterns: Deforestation disrupts local and regional climate patterns by affecting evapotranspiration, cloud formation, and rainfall. Changes in land use can lead to shifts in temperature, precipitation, and weather extremes.
How does deforestation affect the environment?
Deforestation is a major driver of climate change: Every time we lose a forest we’re not only releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, but we’re also no longer capturing the carbon, a key greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere. Addressing deforestation, particularly in tropical regions, is imperative in combatting climate change.
Forests are essential for human well-being: They provide us with clean air, fresh water, food, and materials for shelter, medicine, and fuel. Forests help regulate local and global climates, stabilize soils, purify water sources, and provide important ecosystem services such as pollination and nutrient cycling. They alleviate poverty and provide food security.
Deforestation threatens the survival of countless species: More than half the world’s land-based plants and animals, and three-quarters of all birds, live in and around forests. They conserve global biodiversity.
Causes of deforestation
Industrial agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation, accounting for around 85% of global deforestation. Clearing land for crops or livestock has been in practice for hundreds of years, however, the globalization of food production has intensified this practice to meet growing global demand. This is especially evident in industries like beef production, large-scale soy cultivation, and palm oil production, where forests are cleared at an unsustainable rate to satisfy worldwide consumption.
Timber logging, or wood extraction is another cause of deforestation.
Mining is increasingly driving deforestation in the Amazon and Tropical Andes. In search of precious metals such as gold, mining clears the forest to dig excavation pits and access roads.
What is Climate Change?
Climate change refers to significant and lasting changes in global weather patterns including severe heat waves, floods, and droughts, primarily due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
Why is Climate Change Important?
Climate change is important because it poses a significant threat to the environment, human health, and global stability. It leads to rising temperatures, extreme weather events, sea-level rise, habitat loss, and disruption of ecosystems, impacting food and water security, biodiversity, and economies worldwide.
What is Extreme Weather?
Extreme weather includes heat waves, freezes, heavy downpours, tornadoes, tropical cyclones, and floods. These events are considered extreme when they fall out of the normal range for a particular region and these are all becoming more common as our climate shifts.
Causes of Climate Change
Climate change is primarily caused by human activities that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The main contributors include:
Burning Fossil Fuels: The combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas for energy production releases carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases.
Deforestation: Clearing forests for agriculture, logging, and urbanization reduces the Earth’s capacity to absorb CO2 and contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Industrial Processes: Manufacturing, transportation, and other industrial activities emit greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide.
Solutions to Climate Change
Addressing climate change requires collective action and innovative solutions. Some key strategies include:
Reforestation: Restore and expand forests to sequester carbon dioxide and enhance natural carbon sinks.
Transition to Renewable Energy: Invest in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy Efficiency: Improve energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industry through technology upgrades, conservation measures, and smart design.
Climate Policy: Implement policies and regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions, promote sustainable practices, and incentivize climate-friendly behaviors.
Is it Too Late to Stop Climate Change?
While the impacts of climate change are already being felt, it is not too late to take action. Urgent and ambitious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate climate risks, and adapt to changing conditions can help limit the severity of future impacts.
What Can We Do to Reduce Climate Change?
Individuals, communities, businesses, and governments all have a role in combating climate change. Here are some actions we can take:
Reduce energy consumption and use energy-efficient appliances.
Minimize waste and recycle materials to reduce emissions from landfills.
Support sustainable transportation options such as walking, cycling, and public transit.
Advocate for climate-friendly policies and support organizations working on climate solutions.
Together, Let’s Take Action to Address Climate Change and Protect Our Planet for Future Generations.
An animal habitat refers to the natural environment where a particular species of animal lives, finds shelter, and fulfills its basic needs such as food, water, and reproduction.
Types of Animal Habitats
There are various types of animal habitats, including:
Forest Habitats: Dense forests provide homes to diverse species of mammals, birds, insects, and plants.
Aquatic Habitats: Rivers, lakes, oceans, and other water bodies support aquatic life such as fish, amphibians, and aquatic plants.
Desert Habitats: Harsh desert environments are inhabited by specially adapted species like camels, snakes, and cacti.
Grassland Habitats: Open grasslands host grazing mammals, birds, and insects, forming vital ecosystems.
Ways to Protect Animal Habitats
Protecting animal habitats is crucial for preserving biodiversity and ensuring the survival of countless species. Here are some effective ways to safeguard animal habitats:
Connectivity and Wildlife Corridors: Recognize the importance of connectivity between habitats and advocate for the establishment of wildlife corridors to allow animals to move freely between fragmented habitats.
Habitat Restoration: Participate in habitat restoration projects such as tree planting, wetland restoration, and beach cleanups.
Sustainable Practices: Adopt sustainable practices in agriculture, forestry, and urban development to minimize habitat destruction.
Education and Awareness: Educate others about the importance of protecting animal habitats and promote responsible environmental stewardship.
Conservation Initiatives: Support our work and initiatives focused on preserving natural habitats and wildlife.
Why is it Important to Protect Animal Habitats?
Protecting animal habitats is essential for several reasons:
Biodiversity Conservation: Habitats support a wide range of plant and animal species, contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
Ecosystem Services: Healthy habitats provide vital ecosystem services such as clean air and water, pollination, and climate regulation.
Species Survival: Protecting habitats ensures the survival of endangered species and maintains ecological balance.
Human Well-being: Preserving animal habitats benefits human well-being by providing recreational opportunities, cultural significance, and natural resources.
Join Us in Our Efforts to Protect Animal Habitats! Together, Let’s Ensure a Sustainable Future for Wildlife.
The first binational conservation corridor recognized in the region’s history
Presidents Daniel Noboa and José Jerí signed the joint declaration at the Presidential Meeting and the 16th Binational Cabinet in Quito.
The governments of Ecuador and Peru officially recognized the Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor last Friday. This area spans over 5 million acres and connects more than 50 conservation units across both countries. It encompasses some of the planet’s most biodiverse and strategically important ecosystems, and represents a binational initiative to protect key landscapes.
The declaration was signed in the framework of the Encuentro Presidencial y XVI Gabinete Binacional Ecuador-Perú, held on December 12, 2025, in Quito, with the participation of Peruvian President José Jerí, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, ministers of state, and senior representatives from both governments. Through this act, both countries instructed their relevant institutions to coordinate and implement ongoing inter-institutional and bilateral cooperation to advance scientific research, strengthen ecological connectivity, and promote sustainable development for the people who live in this region.
A Strategic Landscape for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development
The corridor is a conservation strategy promoted by the governments of Ecuador and Peru, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ecuador, the Ministry of Environment, Peru, the National Service of State-Protected Natural Areas (SERNANP) in Peru, the Ecuador and Peru chapters of the Binational Plan for the Development of the Border Region (Plan Binacional de Desarrollo de la Región Fronteriza), Nature and Culture, subnational governments, and various social organizations.
The Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor extends from southern Ecuador, among the provinces of Azuay, Loja, Morona Santiago, and Zamora Chinchipe, to northern Peru, between the regions of Piura and Cajamarca. This landscape protects the upper reaches of three binational river basins (Santiago, Mayo-Chinchipe, and Catamayo-Chira), which serve as the headwaters that feed both the Amazon River and the Pacific.
The corridor also brings together three interdependent national initiatives: the Sangay-Podocarpus Connectivity Corridor, the Podocarpus-Yacuri Connectivity Corridor, and the Andes del Norte Conservation Corridor, forming mosaics of ecosystems, including páramos, montane forests, and tropical forests. Together, these ecosystems enable species movement, sustain water supplies, and maintain the ecological processes essential for life.
Colibrí de Neblina (Metallura odomae) Photo: Elio NuñezJaguar (Panthera onca) Photo: Fabián Rodas Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus)Andean tapir (Tapirus pinchaque)
This extensive territory forms part of the Tropical Andes Hotspot, globally recognized for its extraordinary biological richness as well as its high vulnerability to human-driven change. It is home to emblematic species such as the spectacled bear, Andean tapir, jaguar, and numerous migratory birds that depend on connected landscapes to survive. The corridor also sustains the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people in Ecuador and Peru by regulating climate and water cycles, protecting critical headwaters, and providing essential ecosystem services that support agriculture, energy production, and human well-being.
The Importance of a Shared Vision
While both countries have regulatory frameworks in place to protect conservation areas, the presence of protected sites alone does not ensure ecological connectivity. The corridor approach—grounded in landscape-scale management and cross-regional coordination—is therefore essential to maintaining these ecosystem functions over the long term.
Andes del Norte Connectivity Corridor in Peru (Mateo Tassara | Nature and Culture International)
“The official recognition of the binational corridor strengthens a historic commitment between both countries to protect their biodiversity, promote scientific research, and ensure that local communities benefit from sustainable development in these shared ecosystems—grounded in the conservation and governance of binational watersheds,” said Fernando Iñiguez Celi, Executive Director of the Ecuador Chapter of Plan Binacional.
For his part, Ambassador Javier Yépez Verdeguer, Executive Director of the Peru Chapter of Plan Binacional, emphasized that “this corridor reflects the political will for cooperation and integration between Peru and Ecuador, in keeping with the spirit of the Comprehensive Agreement (Acuerdo Amplio) signed by both countries in Brazil in October 1998. It also opens an opportunity to strengthen shared governance, joint water management, and the conservation of ecosystems beyond borders.”
The Power of Collective Action
The Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor technical report warns that habitat fragmentation, the expansion of the agricultural frontier, and the overexploitation of natural resources continue to threaten these ecosystems. The implementation of the Corridor seeks to address these challenges through integrated territory management that brings together governments, communities, academia, the productive sector, and conservation organizations.
With its official recognition, the Andes–Amazon Conservation Corridor becomes a regional benchmark for transboundary conservation, as the first binational corridor in Latin America to be formally recognized by the highest state authorities.
Ecuadorian Andes (Fabián Rodas | Naturaleza y Cultura Internacional)
“Receiving this kind of binational recognition—the first in our region’s history—opens the door to deeper collaboration and support from international cooperation committed to addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity. This process is also supported by funding from the UK through the proyecto BLF Andes Amazónico,” said Fabián Rodas, Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor Coordinator at Nature and Culture.
In the municipality of Gualaquiza, Morona Santiago province, the Runahurco protected area has been established, a key territory for the conservation of Andean-Amazonian ecosystems and local and national water security.
Runahurco is a vital reservoir, harboring outstanding biodiversity and crucial water resources. Cuyes and Cuchipamba rivers originate in this area, converging to form the Bomboiza River. The waters of the Bomboiza will serve as the foundation for four future hydroelectric projects, generating clean energy and significantly bolstering the country’s energy security.
Runahurco Water Proteccion Area
Spanning 178,065.7 acres, the area covers the following communities: Gualaquiza (urban), Nueva Tarqui, Chigüinda, San Miguel de Cuyes, Amazonas, Bermejos, and Bomboiza. Due to its size and ecological relevance, the Runahurco Water Protection Area is consolidated as the second-largest water protection area in Ecuador, only preceded by the Aguarico Chingual Cofanes Water Protection Area.
Communities Connected to the Runahurco Water Protection Area
The name Runahurco, which means “Mountain of the Runa” in Kichwa, evokes the ancestral relationship between humankind and nature. It represents the Runa, the being who walks, works, and lives in balance with nature and water.
“I felt immense joy when they announced that the new area was finally approved. We were afraid because of the ecological threats, but now we know that our water sources will be protected. Runahurco is a spectacular place, with so much fauna and flora that it is worth conserving every last bit.”, comments Giomayra Lalvay Jarro, from the La Florida community, Nueva Tarqui.
The creation of the RunahurcoWater Protectio Area began with local comunity initiative. They motivated the Municipal Government of Gualaquiza to start the processes to guarantee the protection of water sources. With key support from the Sole Water Authority, technical guidance from Nature and Culture, and funding from Re:wild, the Andes Amazon Fund, and the Stockel Family Foundation, the Water Protection Area was created. This designation serves as an effective tool to link conservation efforts with better local water source management.
The community is the heart of the Runahurco. Their participation was decisive in driving the establishment process and guaranteeing the legal protection of the ecosystems.
“To speak of Runahurco is to speak of water, and to speak of water is to speak of the continuity of life,” highlights Patricio Guzmán, technical expert for Zone 10 of the Ministry of the Environment and Water.
Runahurco protects the water sources that supply more than 14,200 people in the municipality of Gualaquiza.
“This has long been a share priority for of all Gualaquiza residents. […] Our greatest concern has always been how to protect our water. With the Runahurco Water Protection Area, we can ensure a better quality of life for our eight communities and contribute to the entire Amazon region, since the sources that feed major rivers and the national hydroelectric system originate here,”, said Francis Pavón, Mayor of Gualaquiza.
The recognition of Runahurco has renewed the communities’ sense of belonging and their commitment protecting water sources and forests. In this area, more than 90% of its 177,910 acres remain almost intact—a mosaic of páramos (high-altitude grasslands), cloud forests, and rivers that maintain the ecological balance of the entire region.
“Water protection areas safeguard the sources that sustain water, agriculture, and food security in the country. As an organization, we have provided technical and financial support to 24 of the 37 existing Water Protection Areas in Ecuador”, highlights José Romero, coordinator of the Water Source Conservation program at Nature and Culture.
Ecological Framework and Conservation Challenges
The ecosystems of the Runahurco are home to emblematic species such as the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), the lowland South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris), and the Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori), which is considered critically endangered in Ecuador, where the population is estimated at just 200 individuals.
“The Runahurco is today one of the most important refuges for the Black-and-chestnut Eagle in southern Ecuador—the jaguar of the skies. Its presence confirms the ecological quality of the area and its key role as a biological corridor between the Andes and the Amazon,” notes Nicolás Astudillo of the Fundación Cóndor Andino.
“The Runahurco water protection area is today one of the most important refuges for the Black-and-chestnut Eagle in southern Ecuador—the jaguar of the skies. Its presence confirms the ecological quality of the area and its key role as a biological corridor between the Andes and the Amazon”, notes Nicolás Astudillo of the Fundación Cóndor Andino.
Furthermore, the Runahurco APH is configured as a core area within the Corredor de Conectividad Sangay–Podocarpus, which is fundamental for maintaining ecological processes such as genetic flow and the mobility of species between the Andes and the Amazon.
Importance of Water Protection Areas
Water Protection Areas (APHs), established by the Sole Water Authority in compliance with Article 12 of the Water Resources, Uses, and Exploitation Law, grant legal protection to water sources declared of public and collective interest. This designation guarantees their conservation against activities that may compromise their ecological integrity or their function as providers of the vital resource for communities.
Gualaquiza has decided to ensure the continuity of the hydrological processes that sustain the ecosystems and the communities. The Runahurco APH represents a permanent commitment from the relevant authorities to guarantee water of sufficient quantity and quality, securing the present and future well-being of the entire population.
The climate crisis poses a direct threat to forests and water, two intrinsically linked systems. Forests regulate water cycles, maintain river flows, and protect springs; in turn, water sustains life in the forest. When one system is weakened, the other deteriorates rapidly, and the communities dependent on them face severe, direct impacts.
Recognizing this interdependence, the Paltas Municipal Government and local communities in Loja Province, Ecuador, established two core strategies for the Paltas Municipal Protected Area back in 2012: ecological restoration and conservation agreements. This model is a concrete, community-driven investment in climate resilience.
Restoration inthe Pisaca Natural Reserve
The Pisaca Nature Reserve (406 hectares or 1,003 acres within ACMUS Paltas) serves as a successful restoration hub where communities actively plant trees every year. Thanks to this active restoration, over 86 acres of degraded land have already been recovered.
Pisaca Natural Reserve
This work received significant international validation in 2018 when UNESCO declared Pisaca as Ecuador’s first demonstration site for ecohydrology. This recognition underscored the immense value of the ancestral knowledge of the pre-Inca Paltas people, who developed water management practices perfectly adapted to the region’s dry climate.
The project’s longevity is secured by including the next generation. Initially, local schools joined the effort, with students “adopting” 20 plants and committing to care for them multiple times a year. Restoration quickly became a collective experience involving teachers, families, and youth. In 2025 alone, 650 seedlings were added to Pisaca as part of the annual replenishment.
A Model Built on Partnerships
The success of this comprehensive effort is built on strong technical and financial alliances. The Nature and Culture Foundation and Nature and Culture International, with support from the Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD) and BOS+, began supporting the recovery of degraded areas in Pisaca as early as 2011.
In recent years, Andes Amazon Fund joined to ensure long-term sustainability through conservation agreements with landowners near water sources. Most recently, the Italian Ecuadorian Fund for Sustainable Development (FIEDS) invested through the project “Shared Governance for Resilient Territories in Forest Landscapes of the Western Andes of Ecuador,” in collaboration with the Bosque Seco Commonwealth, Nature and Culture, the Ecuadorian Populorum Progressio Fund (FEPP), and CONDESAN.
Conservation Agreements: Securing Water and Ecosystems
Conservation agreements are voluntary, non-monetary commitments between communities and the local government that formalize land stewardship. To date, more than 200 families from rural and urban areas of Paltas have directly benefited from these incentives.
The process begins with a technical assessment—including zoning, identifying forest remnants, and mapping degraded areas. Based on this, they implement a combination of active restoration (the direct planting of native species) and passive restoration (allowing the forest to heal naturally). These efforts are strategically integrated with agroforestry systems in productive zones, where trees are combined with crops to improve soil health, secure high-value harvests, and provide reliable income.
And the evidence is clear: it works. In areas left to passive restoration—the strategy of removing disturbances and letting nature heal itself naturally— forests have begun to regenerate on their own, recovering ecological functions without costly human intervention. This vital process maintains water cycles, securing the supply of springs for both ecosystems and local communities.
Active restoration involves planting native species such as jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia), guararo (Lafoensia acuminata), chachacomo (Escallonia sp.), fig trees (Ficus sp.), and sanguilamo (Styrax sp.). These species are chosen because they maximize water retention, protect the soil, and make the regenerated forests less susceptible to wildfires—a costly and rising threat under increasingly unpredictable climate conditions.
Agroforestry: Planting Water
A key element of the conservation agreements is the focus on agroforestry systems, supporting farming methods that grow trees and crops together, helping people earn a living while also protecting nature. The cultivation of tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) is an emblematic example: this tree not only improves soil fertility but also provides a sustainable income source for rural families.
Vainillo o tara (Caesalpinia spinosa)
Similarly, coffee production combined with fruit trees in diversified systems has proven to be highly productive, delivering quality harvests and meaningful income for local farmers.
Valuing and Marketing Medicinal Plants
The integration of medicinal plants and flowers into agroforestry systems creates an opportunity to diversify income and make the farm more resilient. In the Lauro Guerrero parish, women over 50 revitalized their home gardens to produce “La Laureñita” horchata—a traditional pink herbal tea known for its digestive and relaxing properties. This enterprise has generated local employment and strengthened family economies.
This powerful initiative demonstrates how forest restoration and water protection are direct pathways to economic and social resilience. The women behind La Laureñita now aim to scale up production, intentionally linking business growth to conservation efforts.
Restoration in Times of Crisis
The urgency of this work was tragically highlighted in 2024 when southern Ecuador faced severe droughts and widespread wildfires, underscoring the vital importance of these conservation agreements.
Since 2012, agreements have also been signed with local water boards, and between 2021 and 2024, 47 new agreements were formalized to protect critical forests and water sources within Paltas Municipal Protected Area.
Voices of Conservation
The voices of the agreement signatories articulate the profound human and environmental impact of these projects:
Jorge Francisco Gallegos, a forest guardian: “We are protecting 15 acres of forest. That’s where water is born, and we cannot stop. We must continue protecting our springs. We’ve also received support through tara cultivation, which makes it even more important to keep this conservation work alive.”
Jaime Orlando Díaz emphasized teamwork: “Working with NGOs has been very positive. We’ve worked side by side, and that has benefited us. We are here today to reaffirm that protecting water and forests is what brings us together.”
Juan Yanangomez highlighted cultural identity: “Water is life. The forest is life. That’s why we will continue caring for the mountains. I am Palta, and I consider myself a protector of the mountains.”
Segundo Ludeña, president of ASOAGROPISA, framed the stark choice: “Water is a global problem today. Conserving forests is the only hope we have to leave something for future generations… If we don’t protect it, we will be forced to migrate and abandon these beautiful lands.”
For Ludeña, conservation is a shared responsibility between local government, international cooperation, and communities.
In Paltas, the bond between communities, forests, and water is solid. Faced with the climate crisis, the people of Paltas have shown that forest conservation is not only about protecting nature—it is an effective, long-term strategy to secure water, restore degraded ecosystems, and build resilience for generations to come.
