Situated in the lush landscape of Ecuador's Andes mountains, one of the top priorities of our Cuenca office is to protect the high-altitude ecosystems that supply water to millions of people living downstream. We recently celebrated the declaration of the 23,094 acre El Pan Municipal Reserve after a … [Read more...] about 23,000 Acre Reserve Declared in the Andes of Ecuador
In 2015: 190,000 acres of Amazon rainforest safeguarded in Peru
Our local team in Amazonas, Peru led the creation of three protected areas in 2015. The Tijae Nain, Dase Nain and Monte Alegre Conservation Concessions span nearly 190,000 acres of rich Amazon rainforest, protecting endangered species alongside indigenous Awajun communities. This is a remarkable … [Read more...] about In 2015: 190,000 acres of Amazon rainforest safeguarded in Peru
In 2015: Nearly 450,000 acres of watershed forests protected in Bolivia and Ecuador
The Ivi Maraei Municipal Watershed Reserve in Chuquisaca, Bolivia and the Gualaquiza Municipal Reserve in Cuenca, Ecuador preserve rich Andean cloud forests, a stunning array of species, and the regions' water supply. They represent a vision by the local communities and governments to secure clean … [Read more...] about In 2015: Nearly 450,000 acres of watershed forests protected in Bolivia and Ecuador
In 2015: Four new reserves declared in Colombia preserving over 170,000 acres
In 2015 we began our expansion into Colombia, where great opportunities exist to support the regional environmental authorities in protecting the country's incredible biodiversity. With the assistance of NCI's funding and support, four new reserves spanning 173,162 acres of tropical mountain and … [Read more...] about In 2015: Four new reserves declared in Colombia preserving over 170,000 acres
Celebrating Monte Alegre: 50,000 acres protected in the Amazon rainforest of Peru
In the lush Amazon rainforest of northern Peru, coffee growers and conservationists have come together with the regional government to create the fourth protected area declared in Amazonas with the support of Nature & Culture in the past two years. Nature & Culture's local team has worked … [Read more...] about Celebrating Monte Alegre: 50,000 acres protected in the Amazon rainforest of Peru
Paving the Way for Protection of Peru’s Virrilá Estuary
By Alex More, Piura Region CoordinatorPeru is home to nearly 20 million acres of wetlands, located mainly in its Andes and Amazon region. Although the coastal wetlands make up a smaller percentage of the national total, they are critical for the environmental services they provide to the … [Read more...] about Paving the Way for Protection of Peru’s Virrilá Estuary
93,000 Acres of Amazon Rainforest Protected in Peru with the Indigenous Awajun
A traditional gathering place in the community of Unkum, deep in the Amazon rainforest.October 2, 2015 - Today, the Regional Government of Amazonas declared the 93,000 acre Tijae Nain Conservation Concession. This area protects some of the world's most biodiverse and beautiful … [Read more...] about 93,000 Acres of Amazon Rainforest Protected in Peru with the Indigenous Awajun
New Reserve in Ecuador Protects Key Andean Ecosystems Along with Local Water Supply
The 217,360 acre Gualaquiza Municipal Reserve is the most recent in a long line of declarations brought about by the work of our office in Cuenca, Ecuador. This new reserve is twice the size of the nearby Cajas National Park, and protects pristine cloud forests while ensuring both the quality and … [Read more...] about New Reserve in Ecuador Protects Key Andean Ecosystems Along with Local Water Supply
NCI Assists in Colombia’s Declaration of Two New Cloud Forest Reserves
Totaling nearly 150,000 acres, the two new reserves declared in Antioquia, Colombia protect rich Andean cloud forests home to stunning biodiversity - including a species of monkey found nowhere else in the world. NCI's partnership with CORNARE, the regional environmental authority that declared the … [Read more...] about NCI Assists in Colombia’s Declaration of Two New Cloud Forest Reserves
Making Great Strides in Protecting Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest through SocioBosque
“NCI is, perhaps, our main NGO ally currently.” – Max Lascano, Director of SocioBosqueSince its inception in 2008, NCI has been an official partner of the Ecuadorian government’s innovative SocioBosque program, which combines forest conservation with sustainable economic development. To date, … [Read more...] about Making Great Strides in Protecting Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest through SocioBosque
Mongabay.com Interviews NCI President Byron Swift on Scaling Bottom-Up Conservation in Latin America
By Rhett Butler, Mongabay.comJuly 15, 2015 - One of the biggest complaints about nature conservation is that the business is often a top-down affair, where decisions are made by officials and NGOs in distant cities, rather than at the local level, where most of the impacts occur and the bulk of … [Read more...] about Mongabay.com Interviews NCI President Byron Swift on Scaling Bottom-Up Conservation in Latin America
Celebrating the National Declaration of Peru’s 977,600 Acre Maijuna-Kichwa Reserve After 8 Years of NCI’s Support
June 18, 2015 – Yesterday, President Humala of Peru officially granted national recognition to the Maijuna-Kichwa Regional Conservation Area in the Amazon rainforest of northern Peru. Bigger than California’s Yosemite National Park, this vast reserve protects nearly one million acres of rainforest … [Read more...] about Celebrating the National Declaration of Peru’s 977,600 Acre Maijuna-Kichwa Reserve After 8 Years of NCI’s Support
An Interview with Romero Ríos, President of the Indigenous Maijuna Federation
Below is an interview with Romero Ríos, President of the Maijuna Indigenous Federation, on the national declaration of the Maijuna-Kichwa Regional Conservation Area (RCA) on June 17, 2015. This vast reserve protects 977,600 acres of richly biodiverse Amazon rainforest in Peru's western Loreto … [Read more...] about An Interview with Romero Ríos, President of the Indigenous Maijuna Federation
NCI-Peru Press Release: Celebrating the Declaration of the Maijuna-Kichwa Reserve in Peru’s Amazon
Key Water Sources and Archeological Sites Preserved by New Protected Area in Chachapoyas, Peru
May 2015 | The 42,000 acre La Jalca Private Conservation Area protects a rich area of Andean cloud forest in the Utcubamba watershed, home to páramos (also known as jalcas) and small lagoons at high elevations. This region is important to Peru’s cultural heritage as it has several Chachapoyan … [Read more...] about Key Water Sources and Archeological Sites Preserved by New Protected Area in Chachapoyas, Peru
Rainforest Conservation in Ecuador through the Eyes of an Indigenous Achuar
As official partners of SocioBosque, we have assisted 28 communities in entering their lands in SocioBosque, 16 of which are indigenous. These efforts have protected more than 500,000 acres of biodiverse forests and numerous threatened species, as well as generated over $1 million in funds. … [Read more...] about Rainforest Conservation in Ecuador through the Eyes of an Indigenous Achuar
New Beginnings: NCI Expands to Protect Colombia’s Biodiversity
In response to growing threats to the forests that sustain our planet, we plan to double our impact by expanding into Colombia and Bolivia from our existing operations in Ecuador, Peru and Mexico. To date we have entered into partnerships with two of Colombia’s regional environmental authorities and … [Read more...] about New Beginnings: NCI Expands to Protect Colombia’s Biodiversity
New Protected Area Declared to Conserve Key Ecosystems in Piura, Peru
The Piura region of Peru now boasts two new protected areas created through a collaboration between NCI, the regional government of Piura, and local communities. On March 31st, Peru’s Ministry of Environment declared the San José de Tapal private community reserve, protecting 2,270 acres of high … [Read more...] about New Protected Area Declared to Conserve Key Ecosystems in Piura, Peru
Renowned biologist E.O. Wilson joins NCI’s Board of Directors
March 2015 | We are excited to announce that noted biologist, author and Harvard professor E.O. Wilson has joined Nature and Culture International’s Board of Directors. A longtime advocate of NCI’s work to conserve the endangered tropical forests of Latin America, E.O. Wilson officially joined NCI’s … [Read more...] about Renowned biologist E.O. Wilson joins NCI’s Board of Directors
NCI Signs the United Nations’ New York Declaration on Forests
February 2015 | Nature and Culture International (NCI) is now an official signatory of the New York Declaration on Forests – a declaration unveiled at the United Nations Climate Summit in September 2014. Its stated goals, supported by governments, corporations and NGOs worldwide, are to halve … [Read more...] about NCI Signs the United Nations’ New York Declaration on Forests