Our mission is to conserve biodiversity, especially threatened species and ecosystems, guided by scientific evidence and local leadership.
We work closely with Fundacion Jocotoco in Ecuador, a conservation NGO founded in 1998.
More about their work can be seen here: jocotoco.org
History
Many years ago, a small group of people were exploring a mountain slope in southern Ecuador. Few from outside the community had ever visited this stretch of cloud forest. They heard a song in the distance, an unknown song. They walked closer, and the song grew louder. Suddenly, a bird jumped from the forest floor onto a branch, and stood in front of them. It was a bird unknown to science, never before seen by the outside world. It would soon be called the Jocotoco Antpitta. To protect this new species, they acted quickly to purchase that forest. It became the Tapichalaca Reserve in 1998. Over the years, Fundación Jocotoco expanded. We saved rare species and habitats on new reserves across Ecuador. We restored forests that were lost. We started conserving wildlife in the oceans. Now, years later, we protect ecosystems across entire regions. Jocotoco is now a model for the rest of the world, showing how a small, local organization can grow to have an impact across an entire country. Jocotoco US was founded to support that mission in 2018.
OUR PARTNERS
See more about our partners HERE
Staff and Board
Jajean Rose, Director of Jocotoco US
Jajean became the Director of Jocotoco US in 2023. Before that, he was the Deputy Director of the Western New York Land Conservancy, a land trust in the Buffalo-Niagara Region of Upstate New York, for nearly 11 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Puebla, Mexico, working for the federal environmental agency, SEMARNAT, on conservation projects. During graduate school and directly afterwards, Jajean studied and taught at the Monteverde Institute in Costa Rica, supporting communities in their effort to protect cloud forest reserves.
Jim Muchmore, Communications Director
Jim is an avid birdwatcher and photographer. Trained in communications and design, he transitioned from a career in marketing and advertising to conservation after visiting Ecuador. Jim is the founder of Save the Chocó, a partner organization with Jocotoco working to protect and restore the Chocó forests in western Ecuador.
BOARD
Marlies Quirino, President
David Agro, Vice President and Secretary
Andrew Farnsworth, Treasurer
Stephanie Hanford, Board
Robert Ridgely, Board
VOLUNTEERS
Gino Ellison, Jocotoco US Ambassador