"The Chocó has nearly the same level of biodiversity as the Amazon, but it is much more threatened. This area is the only place in western Ecuador with healthy populations of Jaguars. You can still find Harpy Eagles, Giant Anteaters, and White-lipped Peccaries here. At our Canandé Reserve, we protect many unique birds. We also protect the critically endangered Brown-headed Spider Monkey. Researchers estimate that there are fewer than 500 individuals of this species. Floristically, the Chocó is the most diverse and important region in the Americas. In one hectare (2.5 acres) plot in Canandé, we found 330 tree species," says Martin Schaefer, CEO of Fundación Jocotoco.

Sadly, this forest is highly threatened. The main threat is deforestation from logging and the spread of agriculture and livestock.

"Between 20% and 25% of the trees in the Chocó are unique to the region. Losing this forest would mean losing these species forever. They are irreplaceable. Unfortunately, industrial deforestation clears whole forests to make plywood. Plywood is the cheapest and shortest-lived wood product. Cleared forests are often replanted with non-native palms for palm oil," Martin explains.

This critical reality led us to take on the challenge. We aim to protect the last bits of the lowland Chocó in Ecuador. We have already connected our Canandé Reserve, which now covers more than 38,000 acres (15,450 hectares), with the massive Cotacachi-Cayapas National Park and the Pambilar Wildlife Refuge. More connections are needed, however, to make this network of protected areas fully contiguous.

Saving the Chocó is possible, but we must listen to nature again and let it guide the recovery process. In order to learn from nature, we established the Chocó Lab as the first scientific station in the lower Chocó. The Reassembly project operates there. It is a collaborative effort involving 20 Ecuadorian and international universities. Researchers are studying the regeneration of networks among species as the forest regrows.

"The Chocó Lab is where the Fundación Jocotoco and Reassembly form a network. Researchers collaborate with parabiologists (trained local field assistants with great knowledge of the local ecosystem). They use their knowledge of nature to improve our work. Park rangers provide key information. They also protect the forests. Our neighbors assist us. These collaborative networks are like those in forests," says Katrin Krauth. She is the Station Manager at Chocó Lab.

The results of our research and conservation efforts are promising. They show that in just one human generation, about 25 years, natural regeneration of previously cleared landscapes has resulted in wildlife returning to once desolate places in a diversity that matches that seen in old-growth rainforests.

Nico Blüthgen, lead researcher at Chocó Lab, provides these details: "Some parts of Canandé Reserve are in relatively early stages of recovery. If you compare them to other regions, we see a surprisingly high forest recovery rate here. That's why we call it Reassembly. It's the reassembly of the forest ecosystem and the community."

We also merge science with innovative technology to study how this network heals itself, and to lead our conservation efforts.

"At the Chocó Lab we use AI models to analyze the sounds of the forest. We have found about 300 bird species and 60 frog species. We will improve the models with new data. Then, we will share the AI models as 'open source' so scientists and communities can use them to measure biodiversity in their areas. This innovation benefits conservation everywhere. It will not be monopolized," emphasizes Martin Schaefer.

Our vision is to protect the entire Chocó ecosystem and ensure its survival for future generations. The Chocó is the only place in the western tropical Andes where it is possible to protect an altitudinal gradient from 50 m to 4,900 m in elevation. Protecting this corridor will allow wildlife to move up and down Andean slopes to adapt to climate change. To do this, we collaborate with nearby communities. This increases connectivity and reduces the biggest threats to forests.

We work closely with the Chachi indigenous nation. They are at the heart of this conservation corridor. Their territory is over 247,000 acres (100,000 hectares). We support them in managing their territories sustainably. We help them defend their land rights. We endorse their efforts to protect and revitalize their traditional ways of life connected to nature. This allows them to improve their economic income and quality of life.

"We can all achieve more by working with our neighbors. We must protect the natural resources that we, as humans, need now and in the future. What we see in our Canandé Reserve gives us hope. In just 25 years, the rainforest ecosystem has recovered. It is an example of nature's resilience. We can save the world's natural wealth. We can give hope to this and future generations if we keep investing to protect it," concludes Martin.

Want to bring hope and help us save the forest? Support our conservation efforts and donate to #SaveTheChocó