Conservation Value:

The humid forests of the Chocó Biogeographical Region of northwestern Ecuador support exceptional biodiversity, much of which is endemic to the region. The 120,000-ha Mache-Chindul Reserve (MCR) occupies a unique transitionary zone between the Chocó and the drier Tumbesian zone to the South. MCR is a BirdLife International Important Bird Area (IBA), is in the process of becoming a Key Biodiversity Area, and contains a RAMSAR designated wetland. The 592-ha reserve of FCAT (Fundación para la Conservación le los Andes Tropicales) lies along the boundary of the MCR and is one of the largest continuous forest reserves in the region.  It supports many Neotropical migratory bird species and threatened species including the Critically Endangered Ecuadorian white-fronted capuchin (Cebus aequatorialis), Endangered banded ground-cuckoo (Neomorphus radiolosus), Endangered mache glassfrog (Cochranella mache), Endangered Blomberg’s tree boa (Corallus blombergi), and Vulnerable long-wattled umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger).

Threats:

Over 96% of the Ecuadorian Chocó’s primary forests are lost and what remains is not well protected. A study found that 10% of the forest within the boundaries of the Mache-Chindul Reserve (MCR) was lost from 2000-2008 and that MCR is the worst performing reserve in the Ecuadorian protected area system. From 1990 to 2008, this region had the highest deforestation rates and among the lowest rates of forest regeneration in Ecuador. This habitat loss is driven by several thousand people with limited economic opportunities who live within the MCR borders, leading to deforestation and species loss in a region where over 90% of local residents live in poverty. As a result, globally threatened and endemic species in the area are declining.

Actions & Results:

With ICFC’s support, in 2021 FCAT increased the size of its reserve to 590 ha, securing a 40-hectare property that represented a important gap in the reserve.

Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, FCAT has made significant improvements to its fully functional 50-person field station, tripled the number of locals that it employs, and strengthened alliances and networks to increase visitation and research at its reserve. As the only conservation NGO/field station in operation in the MCR, the reserve has enabled FCAT to generate a robust and predictable income stream for its long-term management.