Small Hands, Big Impact: Children at the Forefront of Conservation

Pajareros Junior: Connecting Kids to Nature

In June 2023, we launched the "Pajareros Junior" program - junior birders - in Las Tunas community. The program was started by René Zambrano, a park ranger from our Ayampe and Las Balsas reserves. 

"I think kids are like sponges, soaking up all the knowledge and then sharing it with their parents, at school, and in their communities. This helps everyone take better care of nature," René says. The idea is to get these kids involved in conservation programs and also to help them disconnect from the digital world and screens through outdoor activities.

Every two weeks, the kids get together to explore trails through the forest, learn about the hundreds of native birds in the reserves, and think about why it's important to protect the planet. The kids learn by visiting Ecuador's one-of-a-kind coastal ecosystems to see firsthand why biodiversity conservation is so important. "Pajareros Junior" has become a place where children learn to love nature and share that love with their families.

Girls Leading Turtle Conservation

On the beaches of the same Las Tunas community, two girls, Liliana Rodríguez and Naiara Delgado, have spent the last four years protecting sea turtles through their own initiative, "Girls for Conservation." Byron Delgado, a park ranger from Jocotoco's Ayampe and Las Balsas reserves and Naiara's father, gives them a hand getting the day's work done. Sea turtles come onto the beach at night to lay eggs. Liliana and Naiara follow shortly afterwards, starting at 6 a.m., setting up nets and placing signs to identify and protect turtle nests.

"If we don't protect the nests, feral  dogs will dig them up, eat the eggs, and eat the young turtles as they hatch," says Liliana. "We recorded 235 turtle nests from 2023 to 2024. We have protected four species of sea turtles: Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, Green and Leatherback, the queen of the sea," adds Naiara. Through their work, they have helped more than 16,000 hatchlings make their way safely to the ocean. Their next goal is to build a nursery to relocate nests from susceptible areas of the beach.

But their work goes beyond direct nest protection. The girls also educate locals about the importance of protecting turtle nests. And their work is paying off.  "People used to eat turtle eggs from this beach, but now they let us know when they see a nest or turtle tracks, so we can protect the nests," says Byron. Thanks to everyone's hard work, Las Tunas Beach is not only a beautiful place to visit but also a safe haven for marine life.

Celebrating Collective Action

In 2023 and 2024, "Girls for Conservation" won an award from  Fundación Diseña Futuro, in recognition of their sea turtle protection initiative. This year, Pajareros Junior was a finalist for their work to protect the Esmeraldas Woodstar, a hummingbird endemic to coastal Ecuador. Two children from the group, Yordi Mero and Maité Delgado, gave a passionate presentation to the jury about the Esmeraldas Woodstar. They made it clear that even the smallest community-driven efforts can create meaningful change. 

A Growing Community Effort

We are so grateful to the communities around our reserves for their support, as none of these initiatives would be possible without them. Through 'mingas' (community work days), meetings, and passionate conversations, people in these communities have strengthened the connections between their families and the natural environment. As Byron notes, "We're all in this together because we want our forests and beaches to thrive."

The kids in these communities have big dreams. They're hoping to get binoculars and cameras so they can improve their birding skills, organize contests to get more kids interested in nature, and visit other protected areas across Ecuador to share and learn. Above all, they want to keep inspiring others to take action.

Your donation today will help them protect the sky, the sea, and the landand inspire their communities to protect life. Donate here!