This is mind-blowing: there’s a place in the Amazon that scientists argue has more species per square kilometer than anywhere else on the planet. Ferocious jaguars, emerald green boas, powerful harpy eagles, shy tapirs, and more…all sharing the same forest home (see lots of pictures below!!)

But John, this pinnacle of biodiversity is under critical threat: the mouth of Ecuador’s Anzu River has been included in a concession to a gold mining company, TerraEarth. The only way to stop a mine from being ripped into the heart of this paradise is to buy the surrounding land, ensuring the company can’t get the legally-required permissions from landowners…because the landowners would be *US*.

Actually, we’d help our local partner, Khamai, buy the land and incorporate it into the neighbouring Pitalala reserve. The newly expanded reserve would be a haven for nature and scientific research, a rewilded paradise protected forever. If we can act fast.

This sounds dramatic, but these are the stakes: can you chip in to help us save what might *literally* be the most species-rich place on Earth?

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Creating this protected area is urgent. Even aside from the concession, illegal gold mining in the area is exploding and miners are offering to rent or purchase land at above market value. Owners are looking to sell and have already received offers from the miners. Our partners are in touch with the landowners and have the opportunity to acquire the land before the miners do (they prefer the land conserved!) – but only if we act now.

This is what this incredible area should look like, pristine and untouched – the part of the reserve that already exists:

But the surrounding land is being devastated:

And it’s happening fast:

It’s hard to find a more obvious case for urgent conservation action. The place that might have more species density than anywhere else on Earth vs total devastation to mine gold.

And we have great partners to do it. Khamai works with local communities Mulchiyacu and Zatzayacu, to promote sustainable economic alternatives to illegal mining, like ecotourism and conservation-based employment, to ensure there’s incentive to keep the land safe. They’ll also work to restore land that has already been damaged, and eventually to get UNESCO protection status for this irreplaceable piece of the planet.

John, our community has bought critically-threatened pieces of nature before. But never in a place with *this* much natural life…because there might not be another place on Earth to match it. Can you chip in to buy and protect this part of the Ecuadorian Amazon – and fuel campaigns like this to protect people and the planet from profit-hungry corporations, worldwide?

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We wanted to include a few more pictures of wildlife to share the richness and beauty of this place.

Here’s a tapir, poking its head out:

A coiled Emerald Boa:

A hiding Spix’s night monkey:

And a spectacular tree frog:

Their home could be destroyed. Or we could prevent it. Join in: 

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 Your donation will help power Ekō and our campaigns worldwide fighting for people and the planet.