Letter from our Executive Director Martin Schaefer
Dear friends,
The global spread of COVID-19 is presenting an unprecedented challenge to our societies. Never before have human beings been so connected in the world, and at the same time so dependent on each other. We have seen heroic acts of solidarity and sacrifice among those who work in the healthcare system, and those who care for sick friends and family. Likewise, we have witnessed the tragic impact of irresponsible policies that cost lives.
Difficult times have always been an opportunity to show what makes us human, protecting the most vulnerable in our societies and environment. At Jocotoco we strive to do exactly that. We hastily adopted teleworking for our administrative team and closed reservations to the public in order to protect everyone. We are also pausing our work with communities to prevent the virus from spreading further. However, we continue with our conservation work within the reserves, which are located in the safest places for the pandemic (remote and in nature). Conservation is caring for the most vulnerable in our society, ensuring that our planet remains habitable, beautiful, and diverse for the next generations who do not have a voice, or if they do, cannot directly produce conservation results.
Great challenges await us. While it is true that the economic decline in industrialized societies has produced less pollution, the combination of the tourist shutdown and the drop in oil prices means that illegal logging and hunting will increase in rural areas of Ecuador. Our Jocotoco family is preparing to prevent nature from being affected even more.
I would like to thank all of you for supporting and following our work. Your interest shows that we are all connected to each other and the nature that surrounds and nourishes us. The best conservation is exactly the opposite of selfish and inconsistent behavior.
Please stay safe and visit us when the emergency is over.
Affectionately,
Dr. Martin Schaefer
Jocotoco Foundation Executive Director
