Notes from the Field

Nearly 30 years after the passing of two prominent conservation scientists, the Santa Elena Provincial Protected Area has been declared. On August 31st, 2022, the Provincial System of Protected Areas of Santa Elena was approved. This area protects 277,870 acres of both dry and humid forest and one of the last remnants of coastal forest [...]

Sustainable Harvesting of Amazonian Super Fruits in Peru Açaí, camu camu, and aguaje are just a few of what are called “super fruits” found in the Peruvian Amazon. For centuries, aguaje has been consumed locally for its powerful health benefits, but now our “Super Fruits that Conserve Forests” project supports sales outside of the region. […]

Nature and Culture is working to develop a connectivity corridor that spans 5 million acres, protecting key ecosystems and diverse habitats. We are working with community partners and government officials to develop the first “bi-national” corridor in South America. The proposed Andean Corridor will connect mountain habitats in southern Ecuador and northern Peru, creating an [...]

The best defenders of nature, Indigenous nationalities live sustainably within the most biodiverse places on the planet. That is why Nature and Culture prioritizes people in our conservation efforts. We provide extensive technical and legal support for communities to define and achieve their own conservation goals. From land protection and sustainable use of the land […]

The Shuar Kiim Center has fought for 22 years to establish the Tiwi Nunka Protected Area in their ancestral territory. Not only is this area rich in biological diversity, a valuable connectivity corridor, and hydrologically important, but the most meaningful resource in this area is the ancestral wisdom of the people that live here. Protecting [...]

Focusing on water source protection simultaneously preserves sites of hydrologic importance and surrounding biological, and cultural diversity. Water connects people to conservation. Access to clean water is a basic human necessity and preserving important water sources is a powerful tool for encouraging overall ecosystem health. Nature and Culture leverages local interest in preserving access to [...]

Not all rainforests are alike Rainforests are ecosystems that experience a large amount of annual rainfall. They support an incredible number of plants, animals, and other life forms. Although they occur in different parts of the planet, tropical rainforests are found on and around the equator where sunlight is consistent throughout the year. Nature and [...]

Safeguarding the habitat of a unique mammal with Researcher Jimmy Japón We’d like to introduce Jimmy Japón, a researcher we’ve partnered with who is studying the critically endangered vizcacha (Lagidium ahuacaense) in the province of Loja, Ecuador. Jimmy’s been passionate about wildlife and specifically the vizcacha since he was a young boy. In 2019, when [...]

The importance of biodiversity and the threats it faces Biodiversity describes the “biological diversity” of life, whether that be throughout the entire planet or for an individual ecosystem. It encompasses everything from variations in genetics to all the species in that area, including plants, animals, fungi, and even bacteria. The biodiversity that we know today [...]

Ecuador is among the richest countries on the planet for its diversity of species. The scientific community agrees that Ecuador is perhaps the most biodiverse country in the world if we also consider the Galapagos Islands. This immense variety of flora, fauna, microorganisms, and genes has developed over millions of years of biological evolution thanks [...]

Our Mosaic Model is part of our conservation strategy to connect protected areas. Although protecting each individual ecosystem is important, whether it be the habitat of an endangered species or an ecosystem that stores large quantities of carbon, our Mosaic Model emphasizes connecting and protecting larger eco-regions which we call "mosaics." This strategy considers the [...]

When we think about the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, we often associate it with the burning of fossil fuels and not much else. When we see cars’ exhausts releasing black smoke or power stations puffing clouds into the sky, it's as though we can see the CO2 accumulating in the air. [...]

The Amazonian Platform is a partnership linking local governments and Indigenous Nationalities to effectively manage large swaths of the Amazon rainforest. The country of Ecuador is home to only about 2% of the Amazon rainforest, and yet the water from this location feeds the entire Amazon basin. Here, the provinces of Pastaza, Zamora Chinchipe, Morona [...]

Defining wildlife and ecosystems and how they're linked The term, “Wildlife” refers to all life in the wild. It encompasses all living things, including mammals, fish, reptiles, and birds, collectively known as fauna, and sometimes includes plants or flora. These are the components of habitat and play an important role within them.  In contrast, ecosystems are [...]

Valeria Sorgato, Nature and Culture International's Communication Coordinator for Latin America, Introduces Her New Publication, Del Bosque al Aula to Educators in Ecuador.   Del Bosque al Aula is a new workbook created for educators to help their students learn about ecosystems in southern Ecuador and specific threats to biodiversity in their communities. The workbook [...]

Recent documentation of the distribution, population density, and habitat use of the tapir in Peru’s Northern Andes will aid in the conservation of one of the largest and most threatened mammals in the region. The mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) is categorized as a globally endangered species according to the International Union for the Conservation of [...]

This newly approved conservation area will add to and unite with two other nearby protected areas. On Monday, December 20, 2021, the Environmental Conservation Area of Cloud Forests and Páramos of Ambulco, was approved unanimously in a session of councilors from the Provincial Municipality of Ayabaca. Nature and Culture International worked with the Regional Government [...]

With the passing of E.O. Wilson, famous biologist and an honorary member of the Nature and Culture board, we’ve invited a member of our board who knew him personally to write a guest blog honoring his life’s achievements. Charles Smith is a friend of E.O. “Ed” Wilson and sits on both Nature and Culture International’s […]

Earlier this month, a first-of-its-kind meeting took place in Morona Santiago, Ecuador.  Nature and Culture International, along with the Governor of Morona Santiago, and representatives of the Shuar and Achuar nationalities gathered to design a groundbreaking joint initiative to save almost 2.5 million acres of intact Amazon rainforest.  The group spoke openly about the threats of [...]

Indigenous communities are the best defenders of carbon rich ancestral territories in the face of extractive activities such as mining and deforestation. Indigenous people remain in small numbers all over the world. According to the FAO, although indigenous groups only make up 5% of the world’s population, their territories contain more than 80% of the world’s biodiversity. Understanding [...]

After 21 years of fighting for their land, VICTORY for The Shuar people! In May of this year, we announced the titling of 14,021 acres of Tiwi Nunka Forest to the Shuar Kiim Center, a Shuar community otherwise known as the El Kiim. This titling has given the El Kiim the ability to protect this […]

“Working with crocodiles is not just for the brave but for experts,” says Darwin Núñez, a scientist at Nature and Culture International, who recalls a crocodile nearly biting his face. When handling crocodiles, one small mistake can mean the difference between life and death.

Dear Friends, It was a pleasure speaking with the Nature and Culture Community the other day about the Sangay – Podocarpus Connectivity Corridor. In case you missed the webinar, Sangay – Podocarpus is the first connectivity corridor in Ecuador and one of the few of its kind in the world! It was officially declared last […]

A bright green tree, reaching nearly 200 feet, towers over the dry landscape of southern Ecuador. It’s a ceiba, with green photosynthetic bark that allows the plant to keep growing even when its leaves have dropped.

Every day, women across the globe take on tasks both small and large to help the environment. At Nature and Culture International, we partner with communities and local women in Latin America to support their involvement in conservation, sustainable development, and decision-making.

This year, Nature and Culture introduced Strange Miracles of the Rainforest and Beyond, a monthly feature looking at remarkable gifts from nature.

As the new year approaches, we look back on 2020 – a challenging year for us all. During this year of uncertainty, you brought hope to our planet.

Fifteen years ago, I had one of my peak life experiences — enjoying a glass of wine with David Attenborough at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). We were celebrating his winning the Nierenberg Prize, given annually by SIO to the most influential scientists or those who excelled at bringing science into public consciousness. He […]

To inspire awe of the planet’s extraordinary biodiversity, Nature and Culture is glad to share our monthly series: Strange Miracles of the Rainforest and Beyond.

To inspire awe of the planet’s extraordinary biodiversity, Nature and Culture is glad to share our monthly series: Strange Miracles of the Rainforest and Beyond.

To inspire awe of the planet’s extraordinary biodiversity, Nature and Culture is glad to share our monthly series: 12 Strange Miracles of the Rainforest and Beyond.

To inspire awe of the planet’s extraordinary biodiversity, Nature and Culture is glad to share our series: Strange Miracles of the Rainforest and Beyond.

COVID-19 has changed a lot – from how we work and learn to how we take action. Luckily, Earth Day is a great time for us to make a difference. Have you ever seen a blue morpho butterfly? The blue morpho is among the largest and most impressive butterflies on the planet. Their vibrant blue [...]

A message on the COVID-19 pandemic from Nature and Culture  Dear Friends of Nature and Culture, My thoughts are with you during this uncertain time. I hope this note finds you safe and well. The COVID-19 pandemic is on all our minds and with good reason. It is an unsettling, chaotic time. There are moments of grief and […]

Stay positive with this month's miracle from nature. With all the unsettling things that are happening in the world as a result of COVID-19, here is a dose of inspiration from nature to brighten your day.  To inspire awe of the planet's extraordinary biodiversity, Nature and Culture is glad to share our monthly series: 12 Strange Miracles of the Rainforest [...]

Today, on International Day of Forests, join us in celebrating our planet’s most critical ecosystems. Forests are the life-support system of our planet. They provide habitat to millions of animal and plant species, and sustain the cultures and livelihoods of hundreds of indigenous communities. They produce the vast majority of the oxygen we need to survive, and [...]

Today we celebrate some extraordinary women who are working to protect our planet. Every day, women across the globe take on tasks both small and large to help the environment. At Nature and Culture, we partner with communities and local women in Latin America to support their involvement in conservation, sustainable development and decision-making. Here’s [...]

Saving wildlife and wild places for a healthy planet. Have you ever seen a blue morpho butterfly? The blue morpho is among the largest butterflies on the planet. Its vibrant blue wings span from five to eight inches! Considered one of the most beautiful and impressive butterflies in the world, the blue morpho surely has [...]

Do you know where your medicine comes from? This year, Nature and Culture introduced 12 Strange Miracles of the Rainforest and Beyond, a monthly feature looking at remarkable gifts from nature. January featured antibiotics from a small but mighty source! This month’s miracle is a little bigger... Miracle #2: A tree that treats malaria Do you [...]

Do you believe in miracles? Last year, Nature and Culture marveled at the magnificent world of mammals. We featured mammals found in the unique habitats generous supporters are protecting. As 2020 begins, we bring you a new monthly feature: 12 Strange Miracles of the Rainforest and Beyond.  Scientific discovery often comes from unexpected sources and in [...]

Our final Monthly Mammal holds many titles: the main predator in the Amazon, the largest big cat species in the Americas, and the third largest in the world. We dedicate December to the powerful and mysterious jaguar.  This year, Nature and Culture marveled at the magnificent world of mammals. To commemorate the wonder of our warm-blooded [...]

November’s monthly mammal gets a pretty bad rap – often feared as sinister creatures of the night. In reality, they are wonderfully beneficial, providing invaluable services to both natural ecosystems and human economies around the world. This month, we celebrate bats!  The Earth without bats would be a different (and poorer) place. More than 1,390 species of bats [...]

In honor of International Sloth Day, this month’s mammal is one of the coolest (and slowest) on the planet. Join us in celebrating the adorable and lethargic sloth. Sloths inhabit the rainforest of Central and South America. They spend much of their lives in the canopy, hanging from branches with a powerful grip aided by [...]

This month’s mammal is an Amazonian giant, measuring up to six feet long! Check out the world's largest otter species. As the name suggests, the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is the largest member of the mustelid family, which includes otters, weasels, and ferrets. With a streamlined body and webbed feet, this mammal is an excellent swimmer [...]

Have you ever had your cat stuck in a tree? Well, meet this month’s mammal; a feline who spends the majority of its life in the tree canopy. The margay is a wild cat native to Central and South America. A solitary species, it is found almost exclusively in forest habitats which vary from humid [...]

This month’s mammal is the only wild bear species in South America, and one of the most symbolic mammals of the tropical Andes. Join us in celebrating the elusive spectacled bear. Spectacled bears – also known as Andean bears – make their home in the dense Andean jungles of South America. They are named for [...]

Did you hear? This year we have mammals on our mind. From marsupials to bats to carnivores to cetaceans, Nature and Culture International is celebrating warm-blooded creatures across Latin America. This month’s mammal is a wild camelid, native to mountainous regions of South America. The animal can live in extreme conditions, where few other species can [...]

Long ago, nearly 40 million years before today, a raft of monkeys found themselves adrift in the Atlantic. They had been blown out to sea by an intense storm on the African coast. Floating on a raft of storm-tossed vegetation, they drifted to a new continent – South America. Sounds like fiction, but fossil teeth [...]

This month’s mammal is a cunning creature, most often seen by humans slinking about in the low light of dusk and dawn. For centuries, this animal has been regarded as intelligent, sly and even magical by cultures around the world. Join us in celebrating the fascinating fox. Though South America is home to six fox species, today […]

Today, on International Day of Forests, join us in celebrating our planet’s most critical ecosystems. Forests – they produce the vast majority of the oxygen we need to survive, they provide habitat to millions of animals and plant species, they are essential to not only mitigating climate change, but providing fresh water, and they sustain and enrich the […]

Today we celebrate some extraordinary women who are working to protect our planet. Every day, women across the globe take on tasks both small and large to help the environment. At Nature and Culture, we partner with communities and local women in Latin America to support their involvement in conservation, sustainable development and decision-making. Here’s […]

Today – on World Whale Day – we marvel at the oceans’ most iconic mammals.  Join us in celebrating a serenader of the sea…. The Humpback Whale . A giant creature leaps from the ocean’s surface off the coast of northern Peru. About the size of a school bus, the animal is surprisingly acrobatic, jumping out of […]

This year we have mammals on our mind. Last year, Nature and Culture joined nature lovers around the world to celebrate Year of the Bird. We showcased spectacular birds found in our project areas, from the largest flying bird in South America to one of the most threatened species in the Neotropical region. Today we [...]

President Matt Clark shares his unforgettable experiences in Zamora Chinchipe Province, Ecuador. Dozens of memories welled up when I heard shortly before New Year’s Day that Zamora Chinchipe Province had approved a 1.1-million-acre protected reserve. My family and I lived in southern Ecuador for three and a half years. In our time there, we came […]

Our final Year of the Bird doesn’t disappoint. We dedicate December to the spectacularly bizarre Andean cock-of-the-rock. This year, Nature and Culture joined nature lovers around the world to celebrate Year of the Bird. To commemorate the wonder of our feathered friends, and raise awareness about the crucial role birds play in caring for our planet, we featured […]

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a dog, then it is probably a Brazilian merganser. As we near the end of Year of the Bird, we dedicate November to one of the rarest and most threatened species in the Neotropical (South American) region. Sporting a black coat and green crest, […]

As we continue to celebrate Year of the Bird, we dedicate October to a powerful raptor… The Chaco Eagle In the vast dry forest of the Gran Chaco, a large, gray raptor sits perched in a tree seeking out its next meal. The impressive creature is the Chaco eagle, a crested eagle with a six-foot wing […]

As we continue to celebrate Year of the Bird, we dedicate August to a spectacular creature with unmistakable features… The White-Winged Guan Och och och. Cau cau cau. Loud calls echo through the dry deciduous forest of northwestern Peru. A peculiar creature with a black body, white primary feathers and a red throat emerges in search […]

Start by thinking locally and acting locally. This idea is at the heart of Nature and Culture International’s conservation model, and has guided us since our start in the early 1990s. We protect the world’s most diverse ecosystems WITH the people who live in them. Because local and indigenous people are key to conservation success.

Nature and Culture staff and Board of Directors journeyed to the lush* forests of Pastaza Nature and Culture staff and a few members of our Board of Directors recently embarked on a journey to the Pastaza Ecological Sustainable Use Area – a 6.3-million-acre conservation corridor in the Amazon rainforest. Nature and Culture helped the Pastaza […]

A spectacular creature with a fiery-orange throat and brilliant indigo wings rests in the canopy of southeast Ecuador’s humid forest. The resident is the aptly named orange-throated tanager, a crown jewel of South American birding. Though spotting this tanager is a complicated endeavor, requiring patience, time and a little luck, the stunningly beautiful species is […]

All life on Earth depends on healthy oceans. Oceans cover 72% of the Earth, supply half of its oxygen and provide a range of goods and services, such as food, habitat and medicine, that are an integral part of our health and economies. Today, on World Oceans Day, we celebrate the exceptionally biodiverse coastal region […]

As Nature and Culture continues to celebrate Year of the Bird, we dedicate May to an intelligent creature with striking features Soaring through the canopies of the Pantanal like a flash of sapphire light, the hyacinth macaw is a spectacular creature measuring about three feet long. It is the largest parrot in the world and […]

Bird loving conservationists participate in Global Big Day 2018 How many bird species can be seen (or heard) in one day? That’s the question that drives Global Big Day – a friendly competition as to which country can register the most bird species in one day. This year, Nature and Culture Director of Latin America Renzo […]

Dear Friends of Nature and Culture International, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to you personally as the new President and CEO of Nature and Culture International and to thank you for your interest in and support for our work. If ever I am daunted by the challenges ahead, I find resolve and […]

As Nature and Culture continues to celebrate Year of the Bird, we dedicate this month to an elegant winged creature found in Mexico. In the woodland forests of northwest Mexico, social groups of black-throated magpie-jays move through the trees, foraging for seeds and insects.

Water is essential to life, that’s why we’re linking water and forest conservation.    Today, on World Water Day, we want to share how Nature and Culture has been leveraging people’s need for clean, abundant water as a tool to conserve and restore forests and other important ecosystems that provide us with this vital resource. 

Nature and Culture International is joining nature lovers around the world to celebrate the Year of the Bird. 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), one of the earliest environmental laws enacted anywhere in the world, and a pivotal bird-protection law. However, birds are facing new and […]

A group of NCI-Ecuador staff members recently made a trip to the Amazon to explore new conservation opportunities and meet with potential partners in the northeastern province of Sucumbios.

What comes to mind when I think of an NCI staff member? Humble, passionate, undeterred. Fabián Rodas López, the Cuenca Region Coordinator in southern Ecuador, is no exception.

NCI’s Environmental Education Coordinator, Galo Carrillo, spent his childhood roaming the meadows, streams and mountains surrounding Quito, the capital city of Ecuador.