With the purchase of three new properties, Narupa Reserve in the Napo bioregion of northeast Ecuador has been expanded by over 345 acres.

Rainforest Trust’s local partner Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco purchased three new properties totaling over 345 acres to add to the Narupa Reserve. This reserve is located in the Napo bioregion of northeast Ecuador, one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. Just north of the Narupa Reserve, 872 species of birds have been recorded in the Sumaco-Napo-Galeras National Park, exemplifying the importance of this habitat.

The Narupa Reserve expansion consists of 60 percent old secondary forest, with the rest of the habitat being young secondary forests and abandoned pasture. The new protected area provides critical habitat for range-restricted Andean endemic bird species and Vulnerable Neotropical-Nearctic migrant bird species, especially the Cerulean Warbler. This expansion also includes important habitat for at least four species of Endangered amphibians, including the Puyo Giant Glass Frog.

Enlarging the Narupa Reserve is essential to having an area substantial enough to protect viable populations of globally threatened species from illegal logging, deforestation and the expansion of agriculture.  This newly purchased area was in urgent need of protection due to easily accessible roads and high development and encroachment threats. Rainforest Trust will continue helping its local partner expand the 2,552-acre Narupa Reserve to eventually achieve strategic connectivity with the Reserva Ecologica Antisana and Sumaco-Napo-Galeras.

Thanks to our generous friends and the SAVES Challenge for making this project a success. A special thank you to Artenschutzstiftung Zoo Karlsruhe, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, Albert Ludwigs and the March Conservation Fund for their leadership gifts.

For more information on how you can support Rainforest Trust, visit our Conservation Action Fund.