The bird that changed Ecuador: how a chance discovery of a rare species helped to save many more
Thirty years after a US ornithologist first sighted a jocotoco antpitta, the foundation he set up to restore biodiversity is a model for conservation globally
TL;DR
- The jocotoco antpitta was discovered by US ornithologist Robert Ridgely in Ecuador in 1997.
- The discovery led to the formation of the Jocotoco Foundation in 1998 to protect the bird and its habitat.
- The foundation now protects and manages nearly 50,000 hectares of reserves in Ecuador, with management extending to over 82,000 additional hectares.
- These reserves are home to 80% of Ecuador's bird species and a significant portion of global bird diversity.
- The foundation's conservation model involves habitat restoration, employing local people as park rangers, and using technology for monitoring.
- Studies show rapid biodiversity recovery in restored areas, with former cleared lands regaining significant biomass and species diversity.
- The Jocotoco Foundation's work is considered a global conservation success, integrating ecotourism, community engagement, and scientific research.