John,

Over 90% of a majestic cloud forest in Southwestern Ecuador was wiped out to make way for cattle farms and agriculture.

Desperate to stop the destruction and protect what was left, an amazing group of conservationists got to work and created the Buenaventura Reserve, which is now the only protected land in the province.

After 25 years of hard work alongside local communities to reforest the area, the reserve is now teeming with life. The forest has regrown, bringing more than 330 species of birds with it, 15 of which are critically endangered.

Now Fundación Jocotoco is trying to expand the reserve – but it’s a race against the clock. After 5 years of negotiations, the owner of a key piece of property has FINALLY agreed to sell. If they don’t raise enough, the land will quickly be cleared.

Right now, all our donations will be matched 1:1 – can you chip in?

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The Buenaventura Reserve now houses populations of birds and species found nowhere else on the planet. Thanks to Jocotoco’s tireless work, creatures like the endangered El Oro Parakeet, the recently discovered Magnolia buenaventurensis, and the El Oro Tapaculo, which ONLY lives in this area and holds the biggest populations of these species, have returned to the cloud forest.

Plus, the reforestation program has helped strengthen the ENTIRE biological corridor surrounding it! And it's just one of a network of 15 reserves across Ecuador established by Fundación Jocotoco, protecting an AMAZING 10% of the planet's bird species!

By focusing on saving highly threatened species and ecosystems, this group has had incredible success in saving forests that would otherwise be wiped out, working alongside local communities, and acquiring land to safeguard the remaining incredibly diverse ecosystems in Ecuador.

After recognising Buenaventura as a vital area for bird conservation, they got to work. Now, they urgently need our help to expand the Reserve before this magical cloud forest is destroyed, wiping out the unique species they’ve worked for years to help. Can you chip in to make it possible?

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