Links: Ecuador Conservation Organizations
These are the organizations which photographer Bruce Farnsworth believes are doing the best work to identify conservation needs in the forested habitats of Ecuador and empower local communities through education and grass-roots programs to participate in long-term efforts.
- Ecuador Travel Information
- Photographers for Environmental Advocacy
- Resources for Nature Photographers
LIVE Yasuní
This site from the Finding Species organization provides an excellent overview of Yasuni National Park as a center of biological and cultural diveristy and lays out the direct and indirect impacts of petroleum development now facing the region.
Please follow the link to a letter to which you can subscribe and mail to Ecuadors president Rafael Correa. President Correa is considering the ITT proposal and a constitutional amendment to recognize the pluri-national character of Ecuador.
Ecuadorian Rivers Institute
Leading grassroots coalition of government authorities, contributing scientists and local indigenous and mestizo communities working to establish measures for watershed managements, sustainable energy design and river protection
RICANCIE
Lowland Quichua communities sharing their local forests and culture as a sustainable source of income. We have wonderful personal experiences with this organization. Please consider a stay at one of their communities.
Jatun Sacha Foundation
Ecuadors leading conservation organization with research and education programs. System of reserves designed as laboratories for research in silviculture, susustainable micro-economies for forest-based cultures and ecological investigations.
Wildlife Conservation Society
WCS supports long-term wildlife surveys and habitat use assessments conducted by Ecuadorian biologists. Two of their focus species are the giant river otter and the manatee. They are working in the Napo River valley, especially Yasuní National Park and watershed of the Cuyabeno, Limoncocha and Panacocha reserves. WCS supports projects which train indigenous Quichua and Huaorani as para-biologists and help these communities to establish community-based wildlife management plans.
UCLA Center for Tropical Research
Dr. Jordan Karubian leads the Center’s efforts in Ecuador. Projects focus on avian diversity and the involvement of local communities in education and para-biologist roles to effect long-term conservation. Studies are underway in the Amazon basin and Andean regions of Ecuador.
EcoMinga Foundation
Formed by a group of prominent scientists and conservation leaders, this organization works efficiently to identify areas of rare plant diversity and target the most threatened forest communities for protection.