In the heart of Ecuador, a non-profit organization named the Jocotoco Foundation has emerged as a formidable force in global bird conservation. Established in 1998, this Ecuadorian organization has pioneered a unique approach to preserving critical habitats for endangered bird species and other wildlife. With 15 reserves strategically spread across Ecuador, the Jocotoco Foundation now safeguards an impressive 10% of the planet’s bird species.
Narupa reserve
Origins of Conservation: The Discovery of Jocotoco Antpitta
The Jocotoco Foundation traces its roots back to the discovery of a previously undocumented bird species — the Jocotoco Antpitta (Grallaria ridgelyi). Ornithologist Robert S. Ridgely stumbled upon this ground-dwelling bird in the tropical montane forests on the Amazonian slope of the Andes in southeastern Ecuador in 1997. Recognizing its critical endangerment due to a limited range and habitat threats, the foundation was born in 1998, leading to the creation of the Tapichalaca Reserve.