In January Dr Ridgely, David Agro and Dr Simpson organise an expedition to southern Ecuador (under the auspices of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia and the Museum of Natural History, Quito) to conduct a detailed survey of the recently discovered Jocotoco Antpitta.

The expedition members were Robert Ridgely, David Agro, Doug Wechsler (from ANSP), Francisco Sornoza, Lelis Navarrete, Marco Jacome, Xavier Munoz, Niels Krabbe, David Brewer and Nigel Simpson. During this expedition, the members decide to form an Ecuador based Conservation Foundation to protect the decreasing habitat of this new species, and later to provide protected areas for other globally threatened bird species in Ecuador. A Constitution is submitted to the Environment Ministry for approval by Xavier Munoz.

In May, United Kingdom approval is obtained for the Simpson Education and Conservation Trust to provide funding for the Jocotoco Conservation Foundation in Ecuador. Prior to this approval the first funds for the Foundation were administered through Bird Life International

In September Robert Ridgely, Nigel Simpson, Lelis Navarrete, Jane Lyons, Paul Greenfield, Francisco Sornoza and Xavier Munoz revisit Cerro Tapichalaca. The first land purchases are made comprising about 700 hectares in the area around the discovery site, to create the core of the first reserve of the Foundation. Afterwards, with John Moore, RR, NS, FS and LN visit the locations of three other possible future reserves in southwest Ecuador.

Also in September, a peace treaty is signed between Ecuador and Peru, so ending about 150 years of intermittent warfare over their border. The most recent military activity had been taking place directly south (about 30km) of Cerro Tapichalaca.

In November, Dr Niels Krabbe rediscovers the Critically Endangered (and thought to be possibly extinct), Pale-headed Brush Finch in some scrub containing gullies in the central valley of the Andes near Cuenca

Ecuador. A tiny population of about 10 pairs was surviving. This was the first sighting of this species for nearly forty years, despite extensive searches in the presumed habitat.

In December, the establishment and constitution of Fundacion Jocotoco is approved by the Environment Ministry of Ecuador. Ten Trustees or Board Members are appointed, five from Ecuador and five from overseas from Canada, Denmark, UK, and USA.