The Chocó-Andino of Ecuador is a true sanctuary of life. Its cloud forests, páramos, rivers, and remnants of tropical Chocó form a living mosaic found nowhere else on Earth. Recognized by UNESCO in 2018 as a Biosphere Reserve, it is one of the planet’s most biodiverse regions.

Here, around 12 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) safeguard unique species: brilliantly colored amphibians, over 650 bird species, the spectacled bear, the jaguar, and an extraordinary array of orchids and native trees. Iconic reserves such as Canandé, Mashpi, Los Cedros, and Mancuriacu stand as symbols of conservation and resilience, while places like Mindo-Nambillo, Maquipucuna, Mashpi-Pachijal, and Intag-Toisán show how science, ecotourism, and community action can thrive alongside nature.

The Cotacachi Cayapas National Park, one of Ecuador’s most diverse, links the Andes, Amazon, and tropical Chocó—acting as the heart of this biogeographic corridor. Yet it faces growing threats that risk its integrity. That is why it is crucial to create a protective belt around the national park, reinforcing ecological connectivity that ensures the survival of large mammals, migratory birds, and endemic species.

Conservation here cannot be fragmented: it requires a holistic vision. Our project seeks to preserve 500,000 hectares across Cotacachi Cayapas and its surrounding areas, integrating private reserves, community lands, state-protected areas, and the ancestral knowledge of Indigenous peoples such as the Chachis, historic guardians of the Cayapas River forests.

Protecting this landscape is not only about saving species, it’s about securing water for millions, capturing carbon critical to addressing climate change, and sustaining cultures and communities that have long lived in balance with nature.