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 Extending
from Panama, through Colombia, down to Northern Ecuador, the Chocó
is one of the last coastal tropical rainforests on Earth. Conservation
International recognizes it as part of 34 biodiversity hotspots
worldwide. Collectively, these hotspots contain more than 50%
of the world's plant species and 77% of all terrestrial vertebrate
species in just 2.3% of the earth's surface.
The Chocó is home to more than 11,000 species of vascular
plants and 900 species of birds. According to Bird Life International,
it is one of the most important areas in the world for endemism
in birds. Unfortunately, the Chocó is also in great danger
of disappearing. In the province of Esmeraldas alone, between
25,000 and 62,500 acres of primary Chocó rainforest disappear
each year. The direct causes of this natural massacre are logging,
mining, ranching and commercial farming. However, the roots lie
in the poverty and lack of resources, such as quality education
and healthcare, of the local people.
Today, only about a dozen Chocó communities in the
province of Esmeraldas have not sold their timber to commercial
loggers. Together, they represent approximately 75,000 acres of
pure forest, and the focus of Earthways support in this region.
Our goal is to attract resources to help these communities defend
their territory and traditional lifestyles unconditionally, such
as through community run ecotourism projects. At the same time,
we hope that these efforts inspire other communities in surrounding
areas to restore previously logged or mined land by participating
in reforestation and wildlife re-introduction programs.
With rapid Global Climate Changes, increasing world pollution
and the growing scarcity of natural resources, people today are
finally realizing the importance of conserving our Earth's natural
areas. Though some may fear it is too late, we believe that it
is everyone's responsibility to save and replenish what remains
of such biological and cultural treasures. We urge you to help
support our efforts to preserve the Chocó Rainforest.
Below are links to view photo slide shows of the threats the
Chocó Rainforest is up against, that we have personally
witnessed:
Photo Slide Show: Logging in the Chocó
Photo Slide Show: Deforestation Damage
in the Chocó
Photo Slide Show: Illegal
Wildlife Trade in Ecuador
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