Grand Opening & Orchid Show

January 18-19, 2003

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Hundreds Attend El Pahuma Grand Opening!

The El Pahuma Orchid Reserve inaugurated its new Nature Center and Botanical Garden over the weekend of January 18 and 19th. Hundreds attended the event, including members of Ecuador's conservation community, well-known orchid experts and nature enthusiasts both national and foreign who came to enjoy the scenic beauty of El Pahuma's montane forest and its great diversity of orchids and birds.

The event was covered by the local media (for example, see El Comercio, Tuesday January 21, Section C) which helped to promote El Pahuma as a new ecotourism destination and as a model for conservation in the region. CFTC has worked with the Ecuadorian landowner since 1997 to create the reserve, which protects 650 hectares of tropical montane forest through South America's second-ever conservation easement. One major objective of the reserve is to demonstrate that local people can derive a sustainable income while protecting the forest.

One highlight of the event was a spectacular orchid display put together by the Quito Orchid Society. In addition there were two guest speakers, Dr. Alex Hirtz, noted orchidist and author of many books on orchids, and Dr. José Manzanares, and expert in Bromeliads and author of a new book on the Bromeliads of Ecuador.

CFTC took this opportunity to publicly acknowledge the generous support of its donors that made the project possible with the unveiling of a brass plaque that will adorn the Nature Center. We also wish to thank all the volunteers that made this event possible: Linda and Joe Meisel, Mariana Mites, Monica de Navarro, Mary Evans, Javier Robayo, Susana Cardenas, Diego Hidalgo and all the kids of the Lima family (photo at right) and their friends!

THANK YOU!

Make a Donation

CFTCs conservation work is 100% donor funded! Your help is critically needed to help us protect tropical forests and implement conservation education programs in local communities in tropical countries. Our current fundraising goals include the salary for a forest ranger to protect the Spectacled Bear from hunting in and around the El Pahuma reserve, the reinitiation of our orchid propagation and seed-banking program, the purchase of nearly 2000 additional acres of montane forest that is threatened by timber extraction and cattle ranching, and the establishment of a biological corridor using conservation easements to protect dwindling tropical dry forest on Ecuador's Pacific Coast.

Send your donation (check or money order) to:
Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation
2319 North Cleveland
Chicago, IL 60614 U.S.A.

or contact us for more information on how you can help through planned giving and contributions of equipment and supplies. CFTC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.