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Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve

In early 2004, the Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation (CFTC) presided over the establishment of the Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve (Bosque Seco Lalo Loor), located along the coast of Ecuador in the province of Manabí.  The new reserve, Ceiba's second in Ecuador, protects some of the last remaining tropical dry forest found in the country, a habitat type that has been so severely deforested in the past that only some 2% of the original extent remains.  This reserve marks the beginning our our broader effort to establish a forest corridor to connect remaining habitat patches in the region. We encourage you to support our efforts in the dry forest by visiting the reserve, volunteering your time and energy, or making a donation to Ceiba.

El Pahuma Orchid Reserve

The Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation is working with local landowners to coordinate the establishment of the El Pahuma Orchid Reserve in Ecuador, protecting over 1500 acres of superb cloud forest from logging.  Home to the endangered Spectacled Bear, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan and over 200 species of stunning orchids, the El Pahuma reserve is conserving habitat and contributing to the development of a critical forest corridor linking two larger reserves.  Ecotourism and sustainable orchid production will help make El Pahuma economically self-sufficient, while ensuring that the forest will remain a safe haven for its plant and animal residents.

Recently, our work at El Pahuma has focused on the design and installation of a Visitor Information Centro and Orchid Botanical Garden, the commencement of an orchid propagation program, the completion of a 25-year conservation easement, and three biological inventory projects:  and avian inventory conducted by volunteers, an orchid inventory conducted by a Ceiba intern, and a botanical inventory conducted by a team from the National Herbarium of Ecuador.  In 2001, we began construction of the reserve's Information Center, which will provide the public with lodging, a restaurant, and informative displays about orchid biology and conservation.  The Center was completed in the winter of 2002, and we are happy to announce that the grand opening of the reserve on January 18 and 19, 2003.

Visit the El Pahuma section for more information.

Tropical Ecology Field Courses

Ceiba offers the four-week tropical ecology course Andes To Amazon, which visits Ecuador's Pacific dry forest, Andean cloud forest, and Amazonian rainforest in eastern Ecuador.  There, students enjoy a superb opportunity to visit and study one of the finest examples of tropical rainforest left on the planet.  Coursework stresses basic ecology, tropical habitats, independent field projects, and current local conservation issues. Students also receive hands-on training in techniques for biological field research. Our previous course was a great success, and our diverse group of students enjoyed themselves thoroughly, see the Course Report for more exciting details.  This year, we have expanded the course to include more in-depth study of the unique and severely threatened dry forests of the Pacific lowlands.

In 2007 we inaugurated the Tropical Conservation Experience - Galapagos, Andes & Amazon, an entire semester in Ecuador!  This program, a collaboration between the Ceiba Foundation, Ecuador's Universidad San Francisco de Quito and the University of Wisconsin provides instruction and hands-on training in terrestrial and marine ecology, and conservation science. Students live with host families and get credit for Spanish study as part of a 16-credit semester. The semester concludes with a one-month internship for a local conservation organization. More information is available here.

Beginning in 2000, Ceiba has offered several scholarships for course participants. This year two Ecuadorian students were awarded full scholarships, specifically intended to make the course accessible to local students.  Scholarships are awarded through a separate application process, information for which is available online.

Volunteer and Intern Program

Over the past several years, Ceiba has made available a number of volunteer and intern positions to assist us in our conservation projects. We have enjoyed the participation of a number of students and graduates, whose efforts have been both productive and diverse:  mapping the El Pahuma Orchid Reserve trail system, surveying the reserves orchids and birds, developing an in-vitro orchid propagation program, designing layout of a guide to El Pahuma's orchids, and improvement of the botanical garden at the reserve.  Descriptions of the work carried out by our previous volunteers, interns and researchers can be found here.

Tropical Forestry Research

Ceiba is planning future research to study tropical tree plantations and their use by native wildlife in Costa Rica.  Our study will compare forestry programs which use native tree species to plantations composed of introduced tree species such as teak, and particularly focus on the role that tree plantations can play as biological corridors between isolated forest fragments.  The native tree plantations we will study, on the property of EARTH (College of Tropical Agriculture), connect a number of forest fragments on the college property and form a buffer around a large forest reserve. Already, monkeys and other forest wildlife are being seen moving through several of the buffer plantations.  Ceiba staff conducted preliminary surveys of the area in 1997, and we plan to return for in-depth surveys in the upcoming years.  Currently, we are preparing grant proposals to acquire funding for field seasons beginning by 2003.

Shade Trees In Pastures

Pastures in the tropics are frequently unproductive, and pose major barriers to animals that shy away from open spaces.  Research conducted by Ceiba in Panama and Costa Rica indicated that retaining shade trees in pastures and farms may improve soil quality, provide better habitat for birds and facilitate bird movement between forest fragments.  The findings of this research were presented at the 1997 AFO/ABA Joint Conference in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Wildlife Monitoring Program

Ceiba authored a wildlife monitoring program for the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in Amazonian Ecuador to track the effects of visitors and researchers on local wildlife.  Although ecotourism may help protect these forests, visitors can have negative impacts that must be managed to ensure the future of the station's wildlife populations.  To receive a copy of the wildlife monitoring program, which may be adapted for use at any other conservation site, please contact Ceiba.

Read Our Annual Newsletter

To read more about the foundations current priorities and past achievements, please feel free to browse through these issues of our annual newsletter, Kapok:

Kapok 2006
Kapok 2005
Kapok 2004

Further Inquiries

For detailed descriptions of any of our projects, please contact Ceiba directly.