History of Maquifucuna

Ecuadorian government. Today the Reserve covers 6000 hectares (15,000 acres), and the foundation works with people and land throughout the Chocó Andes corridor. The vision today is about protecting more than the land, but the sufficiency of the people who live within it. This has resulted in community development projects such as shade grown coffee and cocoa, handicrafts, and bamboo working. The lodge on the reserve hosts tourists and scientists, and employs 20 local people as guides and other staff. Their conservation initiative has resulted in protection of the Chocó Andes Corridor, one of the earth’s top three biodiversity hot-spots.

The reserve is set in the cloud forest of the Andean Highlands, an area of mountains up to 2700m (8850ft), thickly vegetated with deciduous forest.

Maquipucuna harbors over 4% of the world bird diversity, including spectacular birds such as the Toucan Barbet, Cock -of-the Rock, Plate-billed mountain toucan, Lanceolated Monklet, Esmeraldas antbird, Read headed barbet, Golden headed quetzal. Maquipucuna is also the only Reserve where, during the fruiting season of a small avocado type plant, one can see Spectacled Bears. In total, the reserve harbors 400+ bird, 50+ mammal, and 2000+ plant species, one of the reasons that flora researchers consider the reserve “The Crown Jewel of the