Jocotoco

The course “Design and Analysis of Conservation Projects” has successfully concluded! Over three intensive days, totalling 24 hours of training, 23 park rangers from Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, and Isabela strengthened their skills in designing projects that contribute to the management, conservation, and sustainable development of Galápagos’ protected areas. The course covered key topics such as defining objectives, results, and indicators, building logical frameworks, and developing budgets — essential tools for the design, evaluation, and monitoring of conservation initiatives. Thanks to the support of Oceans Finance Company, we continue to promote a more strategic, technical, and sustainable management of the archipelago’s natural resources. #Conservation #Training #DPNG #oceanfinancecompany

Every October 16, we celebrate those who make something as essential as our food possible: the farmers and ranchers — guardians of the land and the daily sustenance of our communities. At Fundación Jocotoco, we recognize their hard work, perseverance, and deep commitment to nature. 💚 In Floreana, we work hand in hand with farming and ranching families as part of the island’s ecological restoration project — an effort that aims to recover native ecosystems by removing invasive species, strengthening sustainable livelihoods, and building together a more resilient future for both the community and biodiversity. Because conservation depends on everyone: those who cultivate, produce, research, protect, and believe in the possibility of harmony between people and nature. Thanks to their knowledge, dedication, and love for the land, Floreana is writing a new story — one where conservation and production go hand in hand. 🌿🐄🌾 #FarmersDay #FloreanaVuelveAFlorecer #Conservation #EcologicalRestoration #Galápagos

Design and Analysis of Conservation Projects From October 13 to 15, park rangers from the Galápagos National Park Directorate are taking part in a training program designed to strengthen their skills in developing projects that support management, conservation, and sustainable development. Organized with the support of Fundación Jocotoco and Oceans Finance Company, the course aims to provide participants with practical tools for preparing formal project proposals and developing competencies in setting goals, objectives, outcomes, indicators, and logical frameworks. These skills are essential not only for project design and analysis but also for the effective management of Galápagos’ protected areas through instruments such as management and monitoring plans. With this training, we take another step toward more strategic and resilient conservation efforts for the Archipelago. 📷 Bryan Perez

Hope blooms in the Chocó! Magnolia dixonii, a tree once thought to be almost lost, has improved its conservation status — from Critically Endangered to Endangered on the IUCN Red List. This milestone was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of Jocotoco, Rainforest Trust , Fondation Franklinia, Wilhelma Zoologisch-Botanischer Garten Stuttgart , and the College of William & Mary, together with the team who led the assessment: Alvaro J. Pérez, Red List assessor Dave Waldien, students Kaitlyn Potts and Raquel Mandojana, Jocotoco’s research coordinator Jose Leon , and field staff Amado de la Cruz, Robinson Chaquinga, and Paúl Aguilar. From the Canandé Reserve, this emblematic tree of Ecuador’s Chocó reminds us that collaboration and conservation work. Each seed planted, each hectare protected, brings us closer to a future where nature recovers. 💚 Read our press release here:https://lnkd.in/eXbb6yQS

For the first time in 20 years, hope is singing on Floreana Island. During the 2025 breeding season, scientists observed something extraordinary: the critically endangered Medium Tree Finch, found only on Floreana, is showing signs of recovery. More than half the population are now young males, and they’re even creating new songs — signs of resilience following the 2023 invasive species control campaign targeting invasive species like rats. And it’s not just the finches. The Galápagos dove soared from rare sightings to over 70 this year, while the Dark-billed cuckoo leapt from just one sighting to 54. These are just some of the insights Professor Sonia Kleindorfer shares in this podcast, where she takes us into the field to reveal what these results mean for Floreana’s recovery. Tune in to hear the full story of how nature is beginning to bounce back. 🎧 https://lnkd.in/eSt5u_bN These efforts are part of the Floreana Ecological Restoration Project, led by Parque Nacional Galápagos, and Agencia de Bioseguridad para Galápagos, with Fundación Jocotoco, Island Conservation and Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands acting as co-executors, working closely with the local Floreana community and partners. The project aims to achieve the comprehensive ecological restoration of Floreana Island by eradicating three invasive mammal species and reintroducing 12 endemic species, in order to restore the island’s ecosystem functionality. #Galapagos #Floreana #EcologicalRestoration #DarwinsFinches #Hope

We celebrate a new milestone in conservation: the release of a Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) into its natural habitat. With only 37 wild individuals recorded in Ecuador, our reintroduction program aims to recover one of the world's most threatened species. Since 2017, in collaboration with @FundacionJambeli, we have released 24 macaws, thereby strengthening genetic diversity and working toward establishing a viable population. This achievement is possible thanks to the support of Loro Parque, @ConservatoireDesOiseauxExotiques(CDE), @AssociationEcozooConservation, @ZoodesSables, and Association Française des Parcs Zoologiques - AFdPZ, along with the commitment of the ancestral communities of Las Balsas, Las Tunas, and Ceibitos, and our strategic partners. Each release represents hope: not only for the Great Green Macaw but also for the conservation of Ecuador’s coastal forests.

Between 2022 and 2024, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in tropical zones and select countries were reviewed and assessed. I had the challenging privilege of coordinating the process for Ecuador from Jocotoco. This global comparative analysis of the process and ecosystem coverage, including the addition of several plant and animal species meeting KBA criteria, should serve as a roadmap for governments to guide conservation efforts. *Check the paper in the link. --- Entre 2022 y 2024, se revisaron y evaluaron las Áreas Clave para la Biodiversidad (KBA, por sus siglas en inglés) en zonas tropicales y ciertos países seleccionados. Tuve el reto privilegiado de coordinar el proceso para Ecuador desde Fundación Jocotoco. Este análisis comparativo global del proceso y la cobertura de ecosistemas, incluyendo la incorporación de varias especies de plantas y animales que cumplen con los criterios de KBA, debería servir como una hoja de ruta para que los gobiernos guíen sus esfuerzos de conservación. #KBA #KeyBiodiversityAreas #30x30

Strengthening Sustainable Fishing in #Galápagos 🐟🌊 We have launched a project to strengthen sustainable fisheries management and governance in the Galápagos Marine Reserve. The initiative is led by Fundación Jocotoco in collaboration with local fishing cooperatives (Copespromar, Copropag, Copahisa) and supported by strategic partners including the Galápagos National Park Directorate (DPNG), the Governing Council of Galápagos (CGREG), the Ecuadorian Navy – INOCAR, and Tunacons. Key actions include: ✅ Reactivating the Participatory Management Advisory Council, restoring formal spaces for inclusive decision-making. ✅ Implementing a fisheries improvement plan for key species such as grouper and cod. ✅ Strengthening cooperative infrastructure with two operational ice plants, a refrigerated truck, a trailer, and fishing tools such as an anchored fish aggregating device. ✅ Conducting a socioeconomic study to facilitate artisanal fishers’ access to credit. 📍 Impact islands: San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela This collective effort strengthens fisheries governance and creates new opportunities for the communities that depend on the sea. 🌊 🤝 Project funded by the Galápagos Life Fund

Eleven organizations, one mission: Together, they are building a Ring of Defense to protect one of the world’s most threatened biodiversity hotspots — Ecuador’s Chocó-Andes. From securing new reserves to training community rangers and using AI to listen to the forest, the Chocó-Andes Network is connecting over 1.2 million acres of habitat, ensuring a future for species like the Spectacled Bear, Harpy Eagle, and Brown-headed Spider Monkey. Meet the 11 organizations behind this powerful coalition and discover what they’ve achieved so far. Read the article here 👇