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New Ceiba partnership supports legendary Amazon research station
Tiputini, ACUS Inauguration, Reserve Updates, Ceiba's Strategic Plan
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CEIBA TEAMS UP WITH THE TIPUTINI BIODIVERSITY STATION |
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Rosie and Joel (TCS 2016) on the lookout for wildlife at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station.
Photo by Joe Meisel |
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Ceiba is more excited than a barrel of monkeys to announce a new conservation partnership to protect one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, the Amazon rainforest of the Tiputini Biodiversity Station. For years Ceiba has led our world class field courses to Tiputini, nestled in the eastern lowlands of Ecuador, where students explore and study one of the finest examples of Amazon rainforest anywhere on the planet. Teeming with monkeys, frogs, birds, and highly threatened species like jaguars and tapirs, the station lies in the center of the 4 million acre Yasuní Biosphere Reserve. Some of the finest tropical researchers have for years called Tiputini home, producing groundbreaking studies of primate behavior, bird ecology, insect diversity, and so much more. But even this remote and world-famous forest is under threat, from illegal hunting and logging, unregulated ranching and agriculture, and encroaching oil operations.
The Tiputini Biodiversity Station has served for decades as a conservation outpost holding those forces at bay, but now they need help. With Covid-19 stifling tourism revenue, but outside influences continuing to menace the forest, Tiputini has turned to Ceiba for help. Together, we are launching an ambitious collaboration to raise funds, promote education, and strengthen forest protection in and around the Tiputini station. This forest is invaluable and without support, it's protection is in jeopardy. You can learn more about Tiputini and the research, conservation, and education happening in the heart of Yasuní Biosphere Reserve at their website. |
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See the beautiful forest, sunsets, and wildlife in Tiputini's Introductory video below! |
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THE RESERVES ADAPT TO A
WORLD WITH COVID-19 |
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Visitors canyoning in El Pahuma with Xtreme Adventure.
Photo by Kelly Van Gils |
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Both the Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve and El Pahuma Orchid Reserve were forced to close as the Ecuadorian government announced a national ‘state of emergency’ on March, 16th. To avoid the spread of Covid-19, restrictions such as the closure of schools, the prohibition of any non-essential activities and a strict curfew were implemented. After two months, these restrictions started to ease and both reserves prepared for re-opening by implementing biosafety protocols.
As soon as the reserves were ready and permitted to open, they started to attend to the general public. Even though national parks stayed closed, private reserves were allowed to open in July. This meant that a popular activity for many people, who had been forced to stay inside for a long period of time, included visiting nature reserves. Normally, both reserves strongly depend on the visits of international tourists, but as airports stayed closed and nationals search for outdoor activities, they have both observed a strong shift to national visitors.
To vary the offer, and keep up the quality of the experiences offered in the reserves, El Pahuma, has organized special ‘Covid-proof’ camping trips, at Lalo Loor they have keep on improving the touristic experiences by educating local guides. As of September 14th the state of emergency has officially ended, and we hope to be welcoming many more visitors, both national and international!
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See some of the Covid-19 protocols that El Pahuma has implemented! |
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Together with four local governments in the northwestern part of Manabí, Ceiba has managed to ratify the first coastal "Conservation and Sustainable Use Area” (ACUS, in Spanish), that will include an area of 206,000 hectares. To celebrate all of the municipalities (Pedernales, Jama, San Vicente and Sucre) ratifying the ACUS declaration, we will host an online inauguration event to mark our collaboration this Friday, October 2nd, 2020. During the event, we will share the different aspects of the ACUS, and define the next steps related to the implementation together with the different actors such as communities, local universities, other NGOs and local leaders.
Want to attend the event and practice your Spanish?
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CEIBA'S STRATEGIC PLAN 2020-2025 |
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The founders of Ceiba, Catherine and Joe, then (1997) and now (2019). |
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2020 has been a challenging year for all and the need to plan for the future has become even more apparent. As we navigate through the crises of Covid-19, climate change, and the on-going fight for civil rights, Ceiba has chosen to re-evaluate our mission, vision, and organizational structure to better position ourselves to lead successful and more equitable conservation projects. The transition of the Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve to local management prompted us to conduct a thorough strategic planning process: assessing our strengths and shortcomings, prioritizing our goals and objectives, and crafting the strategies needed to achieve them. As Ceiba enters its third decade of tropical conservation, research, and education, we are delighted to announce the result of months of hard work by our board, our staff, and numerous outside experts.
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We will continue to offer world-class study abroad programs and will expand our education projects in Ecuador by creating more programming in local schools and libraries to encourage conservation at the local level. Education has always been a key component in everything we do and we believe that it is one of the reasons our projects have been so successful. We will increase the amount of protected forest in Ecuador through conservation easements and strengthening the Coastal Conservation Corridor. By engaging with local conservation leaders and local protection efforts, we will promote more just, equitable, and sustainable conservation projects.
You can view our Strategic Plan on our website. Thank you especially to our generous donors for over twenty years of support! |
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Conserving threatened ecosystems is more important now than ever. The continent of South America accounts for over half of the world's percentage of deforestation. From undiscovered medical uses, to helping prevent climate disaster, saving forests can help us combat current and future problems. Ceiba is working with landowners and local governments in Ecuador to make sustainable land management a reality. With your support, we will provide communities the resources they need to pursue a more sustainable future. Please join others who have made Ceiba a top-rated nonprofit, and make your gift today. |
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Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation
301 S. Bedford Street, Suite 7A
Madison, WI 53703
Tel: (608) 230-5550
Email: mail@ceiba.org
www.ceiba.org
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