Jocotoco Foundation's antpitta discovery sparks global conservation model — SkimNews
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- Robert Ridgely discovered a previously unknown bird species, the jocotoco antpitta, in southern Ecuador in 1997 after recording its distinctive call and luring it into view, marking a major ornithological breakthrough.
- Jocotoco Foundation was founded in 1998 by Ridgely and colleagues to protect the antpitta’s habitat, now managing 19 reserves across 50,000 hectares and an additional 82,000 hectares of privately and communally owned land.
- Jocotoco Foundation employs local community members as park rangers and supports ecotourism, integrating scientific research, habitat restoration, and community engagement into its conservation model.
- A study at Canandé Reserve showed that after three decades of management, deforested lands recovered 90% of biomass and 90% of species richness compared to mature forests, with 75% of original species returning.
- Mike Parr of the American Bird Conservancy praised Jocotoco’s approach as world-class, highlighting its success in safeguarding rare birds, biodiversity, and endangered species across Ecuador.
- Ian J Davidson of BirdLife International described Jocotoco’s network of protected reserves as a global conservation success story, demonstrating how long-term stewardship can enable species recovery.
Why it matters: The Jocotoco Foundation has created a scalable, community-integrated conservation model that has restored ecosystems and reversed species decline across Ecuador, protecting 1,350 bird species—80% of the country’s total—and offering a replicable blueprint for biodiversity protection where top-down efforts have failed.
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