Rainforest conservation in the Canandé Reserve

Positive impact generated

Context

The Canandé Reserve, in the Ecuadorian Chocó, is part of Fundación Jocotoco's Chocó-Andes environmental protection and forest conservation program. The project combats rainforest by protecting the local tropical forest.

The Canandé Reserve, located in the Ecuadorian Chocó in northwestern Ecuador, is one of the world’s most valuable biodiversity hotspots. This bioregion is home to around 11,000 species of vascular plants and 900 bird species, with a record number of endemic species. However, the Chocó is severely threatened: due to intense deforestation, only 2% of the original tropical forest remains today. Fundación Jocotoco's project with the Canandé Reserve aims to safeguard what is left of this tropical forest through forest conservation and environmental protection.

Gallery

Tutela Ambientale Ecuador Riserva Canande 1 3x

Tutela Ambientale Ecuador Riserva Canande 2 3x

Tutela Ambientale Ecuador Riserva Canande 3 3x

Tutela Ambientale Ecuador Riserva Canande 4 3x

Tutela Ambientale Ecuador Riserva Canande 5 3x

Stakeholders and local partners

Who are the key stakeholders?

Fundación Jocotoco works closely with local communities, including the Chachi people, who for generations have inhabited the Ecuadorian Chocó. In this region, the rainforest - ancestral home of the Chachi - has been drastically reduced due to decades of intensive logging. Even today, their cultural and identity ties to the land are threatened by an economic model based on deforestation. The project launched by Fundación Jocotoco seeks to expand the Canandé Reserve by acquiring and protecting new surrounding areas, directly involving local communities through sustainable forest management practices and responsible use of natural resources. In addition, some community members serve as park rangers: local guardians who patrol the trails, monitor ecosystems, and help protect biodiversity.

Project Developer:

Objectives and approach

The project aims to conserve one of the most important biodiversity hotspots: the Ecuadorian Chocó.

The goal of the forest conservation project led by Fundación Jocotoco is to expand the Canandé Reserve, ensuring the protection of the surrounding tropical forest and contributing to the preservation of the remaining 2% of the original forest. By acquiring new land to include in the reserve, a buffer zone is created that helps safeguard the forest and its biodiversity. Key elements of this expansion project include the Cotacachi-Cayapas National Park and neighboring reserves as well as indigenous territories and private lands, reflecting a collective and diversified commitment to protecting the Ecuadorian Chocó.

In addition to the strategy of expanding the Canandé Reserve, Fundación Jocotoco’s approach integrates scientific, social, and management aspects of conservation. Their work focuses on scientific research, supported by tools such as AI, camera traps, and advanced audio systems, which allow them to monitor biodiversity, collect data, and track deforestation. At the same time, the foundation collaborates with local communities in the Ecuadorian Chocó and other organizations to strengthen resource management knowledge and integrate diverse conservation approaches.