PROJECT SUMMARY
World Land Trust-US is working with the Napo Andean Forest Foundation to buy forested lands in the Cosanga River Valley of Ecuador that are for sale at reasonable prices (about $100/acre). These lands are covered by Andean cloud forests, and host many endemic, rare and endangered species. However they are being slowly cleared for low-grade cattle pasture. WLT-US is buying lands that are available from willing sellers, and will work with the many residents who want to protect the valley and establish ecotourism and other sustainable development opportunities in this beautiful area.

There are many reasons to purchase these lands for conservation:

First, they house exceptional biodiversity even for Ecuador, which is one of the richest biodiversity nations in the world. Many of this site's plant species are endemic, or restricted to this area, including an astonishing variety of orchids, bromeliads, ferns and trees. Along with such attractive mammal species as the spectacled bear, mountain tapir, ocelot and puma, the area is home to 310 bird species, including 30 species of hummingbirds. The Cosanga Valley also hosts rare species such as the Peruvian Antpitta, Bicolored Antvireo and the enigmatic "San Isidro Owl" that is regularly found only here.

Second, each acre purchased protects not only great biodiversity, but also preserves the life-support functions of natural ecosystems that sustain life on earth. Every acre purchased sequesters approximately 250 tons of carbon dioxide that helps to prevent climate change, provides us with the oxygen we need to breath, and protects watershed values. We will help to protect all life on earth each time we protect another acre.

Third, buying these forests will help to create a major forested connection across the Cosanga Valley that links the Antisana and Gran Sumaco reserves by way of a wide swathe of montane forest. Because so much of the forest in the area has been cleared, the area is now one of the last opportunities to save an unbroken and vital altitudinal connection between the paramo at 4,000 meters above sea level at the top of Antisana to the foothill forests at 1,400 meters elevation in the Gran Sumaco reserve.

There are several properties WLT-US feels are essential to acquire. There is a great present opportunity to buy several 125 acre pieces south of the Cosanga River that are in holdings within the Antisana reserve and are for sale at $10,000 each (or $80 per acre). Buying these will not only preserve great forest with tall trees, but will greatly reduce the pressure on the national reserve, as the owners are slowly clearing this land. This area will also help to connect the 3,000 acre forest reserve at San Isidro and the large Antisana and Gran Sumaco reserves.

Altogether, we are trying to raise $60,000 to buy land at an average price of about $100 an acre. We do not think this opportunity will last long, as the road from Quito has been recently paved, and will bring increased development pressure and rising land prices.

WLT-US is helping raise the needed funds for these land purchases, and will not charge any overhead - all of your donation will go directly to land conservation, for perpetual protection to fulfill your desire to save rainforest.