Western Ecuador is part of the global Choco-Tumbes biodiversity hotspot that is restricted to a narrow swath of land from the Andes to the Pacific along western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. As a result, the cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador are home to numerous species with restricted ranges, including an Endangered slipper orchid called Hirtz’ Phragmipedium.

This orchid is known to be protected only in the Dracula Reserve, which Rainforest Trust helped establish in 2014. Our local partner Fundación EcoMinga has been working with orchid botanists to identify additional key areas for the protection of orchids and other plants such as the Endangered Anulque Arrowroot and Croat’s Dracontium. While the reserve was founded with an orchid conservation focus, the goals have been broadened to include building habitat connectivity among the units that comprise the Dracula Reserve, benefiting additional species such as the Critically Endangered Brown-headed Spider Monkey and Endangered Black-and-chestnut Eagle.

Rainforest Trust and Fundación EcoMinga seek $582,186 to expand the Dracula Reserve by 1,522 acres, more than doubling its current size to 2,616 acres. This will help create a corridor of protection that not only connects the different units of the existing Dracula Reserve, but also connects Dracula to the Awa Ethnic and Nature Reserve, spanning 284,986 acres across the Ecuador-Colombian border.

The Choco needs protection to limit the detrimental collection of orchids. The greatest challenge to conservation work in the region is the construction of new roads, as this can open the way for deforestation and loss of habitat connectivity. Other threats in the area include commercial orchid collection and timber extraction.

Rainforest Trust and local partner are working to expand the Dracula Reserve by 1,522 acres, more than doubling its current size to protect a total of 2,616 acres. This will help create a corridor that will connect the different units of the existing Dracula Reserve mosaic, as many of the species in the area are endemic and have very restricted ranges. In addition, this newly connected web of protection will reach the Awa Reserve.