March is a quiet time at the FCAT station, inviting reflection and preparation for the busy summer months around the corner, particularly as both Ecuador and the United States navigate major political transitions that reshape the landscape for conservation work globally. The past months have brought both challenges and meaningful growth, and we’re proud to share several recent major achievements:
- We launched a community agroforestry initiative in collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)
- We were featured in a new PBS documentary highlighting our applied nucleation approach to rainforest restoration
- We expanded the FCAT Reserve to >1,800 acres
- We surpassed 50 scientific publications, showcasing the value of our field-based research
Through these initiatives, we’re building a more resilient model of community-based conservation—one that adapts to change while staying true to our core mission of conserving and supporting local communities of the Ecuadorian Chocó.
Community Agroforestry Initiative
In the past few months, we launched a collaborative agroforestry initiative with local communities bordering our reserve, supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). The project aims to implement a biological corridor within the Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve (REMACH) that will establish connectivity between the FCAT reserve, the Bilsa Biological Reserve, and La Laguna de Cube (a RAMSAR site). These forests are unique due to their extraordinary biodiversity and endemism, and represent some of the last remaining remnants of the Ecuadorian Chocó.
Our model of agroforestry supports local communities to restore the environmental services of forests and diversify their crops, boosting food security and providing new socioeconomic opportunities. It slows climate change, connects currently isolated populations of endangered species, and fosters sustainable agricultural practices. By integrating cacao cultivation and chocolate production with native tree species, we’re creating a multifunctional landscape that supports both human livelihoods and ecological resilience. Through tailored farm management plans, hands-on workshops, and field demonstrations, our team helps farmers optimize yields while restoring local biodiversity, building a blueprint for sustainable agriculture in the region.
PBS Documentary Feature
Our experimental approach to rainforest restoration is showing remarkable results as it enters its third year and the canopy begins to close in. The technique, known as applied nucleation, creates “forest islands” using diverse native species that spark natural regeneration in the surrounding landscape.
This pioneering work recently caught the attention of PBS, leading to the documentary “Why This Unusual Pattern May Save the Rainforests?“, produced in collaboration with restoration ecologist Leighton Reid and the Days Edge Productions team, the film showcases how our evidence-based approach is reimagining tropical forest restoration. In addition to planting key native species, FCAT is monitoring a vast suite of biotic and abiotic variables — from bird and mammal diversity to soil quality — to better understand which strategies yield the most successful restoration outcomes. By combining science and community engagement, we’re paving the way for more resilient tropical landscapes.
In addition to planting key native species, FCAT is monitoring a vast suite of biotic and abiotic variables — from bird and mammal diversity to soil quality — to better understand which strategies yield the most successful restoration outcomes. By combining science and community engagement, we’re paving the way for more resilient tropical landscapes.
Reserve expansion
We’re thrilled to announce a major expansion of the FCAT reserve, made possible by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) program and the Brooklyn Bird Club. By acquiring a 60-hectare (150 acre) property nearby our main reserve, we’ve increased our protected area to over 734 hectares (1,814 acres). This expansion presents an exciting opportunity for ecological restoration, where we’re committed to transforming the degraded areas into high-diversity native rainforest through our reforestation program. It will also reinforce the connection of the biological corridor that we are developing in this landscape. A heartfelt thanks to the members of the Brooklyn Bird Club for selecting FCAT as the beneficiary of their 2024 Spring World Migratory Bird Day Birdathon.
La Maña del Bosque photography exhibit
In collaboration with photographer Isadora Romero and FCAT’s Ailin Blasco and supported by National Geographic and USFWS-NMBCA, FCAT recently organized a photography exhibition at La Laguna de Cube, highlighting the conservation of this tropical territory, rich in biodiversity, where humans and nature coexist while facing both challenges and opportunities.
To shape the narrative of “La maña del bosque”, residents and visitors were actively involved, including community leaders, farmers, researchers, young people, and women’s artist collectives. Through their voices and perspectives, the exhibition reflects the complex relationship between economic subsistence and environmental protection. It also sheds light on the contradictions that arise between human needs and state conservation policies.
The exhibition was held in a natural setting, used for the first time for this type of showcase. In addition to appreciating the landscape and the stories told through the photographs, attendees shared their culture through collaborative musical performances between locals and visitors.
Soon, Quito will also host the “La maña del bosque” exhibition. Stay tuned through our social media and upcoming newsletter!
Research Highlights: Celebrating 50+ Publications
FCAT has reached a significant milestone in 2024: over 50 peer-reviewed publications from our field-based conservation efforts! Since 2003, our team has been at the forefront of translating on-the-ground research with local communities into valuable scientific knowledge, contributing to our global understanding of the understudied biodiversity hotspot we call home. This achievement reflects the dedication of our team and the invaluable contributions of our many collaborators over the years. Explore our full publication list here.
Featured Paper: Community-Engaged Avian Monitoring
Our recently published study in Frontiers in Conservation Science highlights how two decades of collaboration with local communities in northwest Ecuador have improved both the rigor and reach of our avian monitoring efforts. By integrating traditional ecological knowledge, building technical capacity, and fostering co-creation of research, we’ve not only generated stronger scientific data but also strengthened education, conservation, and community engagement. The paper also discusses challenges faced, both systemic and local, and proposes strategies for overcoming them, emphasizing that meaningful engagement of local stakeholders is key to the long-term success of conservation projects. Read the PDF here.
Range Expansion of the Critically Endangered Bilsa Poison Frog
Holden Jones, along with FCATeros Darwin Zambrano, Julio Loor, and Carlos Aulestia, documented the presence of Leucostethus bilsa within the FCAT Reserve, expanding its known range. As one of the world’s most endangered amphibians, the Bilsa Poison Frog’s extended habitat range underscores the importance of the FCAT reserve for global conservation. Read the PDF here.
Deep Learning for Palm Identification from Drone Imagery
Cui et al. developed an innovative method using AI to identify individual palms, advancing our capacity for large-scale vegetation monitoring. Read the PDF here.
Fruiting Resources and Sexual Selection in Manakins
Luke Anderson, Jairo Cabo, and Jordan Karubian explored how fruit availability influences mate choice in these charismatic birds, providing insights into tropical forest ecology. Read the PDF here.
Biotechnology & Food Sovereignty
In collaboration with the USFQ Biotechnology Department and Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, FCAT participated in a groundbreaking food sovereignty project focused on in vitro cultivation of tamarillo (tree tomato), a fruit native to the Andes. FCAT team members joined USFQ faculty Miguel Orellana and Diana Calderón for a hands-on workshop coordinated by María de Lourdes Torres to learn essential techniques in plant tissue culture, including seed germination trials and plant acclimatization.
Ecuadorian Congress of Mammalogy
FCATeros Luis Zambrano and Darío Cantos participated in the VI Ecuadorian Congress of Mammalogy held at Ikiam University, Ecuadorian Amazon, in October 2024. They presented the study titled “Diversity of bats in three different habitats in the Ecuadorian Chocó” (forest, reforestation, agriculture) that they have been conducting together with the BatLab directed by Dr. Hannah Frank at Tulane University The study concludes, among others, that: 1) the REMACH supports many species of phyllostomids (indicators of good quality habitat) despite the fact that there is a large use of land for humans in it, 2) in agricultural fields there are fewer phyllostomids; however, frugivorous and nectarivorous species can still thrive, 3) after 4 years of sampling, not all species of bats have been obtained, reflecting the great biodiversity in this area of the Chocó.
COP16: FCAT Contributes to Global Conservation Dialogue
FCAT co-founders Fernando Castillo and Jordan Karubian were invited to a panel during COP16 in Cali Colombia focusing on the importance of biological field stations on global conservation efforts. Their presentation showcased FCAT’s unique model of integrating research, conservation, and community engagement, offering practical guidance for policymakers, NGOs, and fellow conservation practitioners striving for more inclusive and effective environmental action.
