Ecuador Neblina Reserve

Only 2.5% of all rainforests are cloud forests. Of those, 90% of Ecuador's cloud forests have already been lost. Many native species are listed on IUCN's Red List due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

This is due to acute local threats such as mining, road building, illegal logging and unsustainable agriculture (e.g. cattle ranching and sugar cane cultivation).

The ongoing protection of Neblina through patrols, monitoring and research is critical for the successful long-term conservation of this precious cloud forest. Regular patrols of the reserve by our dedicated team of forest guards protect the reserve from hunting, illegal logging or opportunistic cattle grazing, and gives us regular feedback on the health of the forest.

We use camera traps and GPS to gain valuable information about the recovery of the forest and its wildlife through sightings of key species.

We also put in place legal measures to ensure the long term protection of the forests. This includes successfully applying for and being granted 'Protected Forest' status from the Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment. In 2021, we were subsequently granted an enhanced protection status, where Neblina was formally recognised as part of the 'National System of Protected Areas'.

We are committed to expanding Neblina to strengthen the protected ecological corridor between other adjoining protected areas to the north and south, to reduce habitat fragmentation, and to allow species migration.

Rainforest Concern is committed to continuing to extend the Neblina Reserve to expand the overall ecological corridor to reduce further habitat fragmentation, protect important watersheds and assist species migration and therefore survival.

We need your help to expand the Neblina Reserve to strengthen the connection of our Reserve to the Taminaga Grande community forest to the south.