{"id":246248,"date":"2025-01-21T12:47:08","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T11:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/?p=246248"},"modified":"2025-02-03T15:03:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T14:03:54","slug":"khamai-secures-ecuadorian-rainforest-with-support-of-the-land-acquisition-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/news\/khamai-secures-ecuadorian-rainforest-with-support-of-the-land-acquisition-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Khamai secures Ecuadorian rainforest with support of the Land Acquisition Fund"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Khamai Foundation safeguarded 42 hectares of Ecuadorian rainforest this month, supported by the IUCN NL Land Acquisition Fund. It became part of the new Pitalala Reserve, which is only the start of a much bigger ambition. \u2018Although it is only a drop in the bucket of rainforest conservation, the establishment of Pitalala in this particular segment of the Amazon is critical in stopping the advance of a major gold mining operation,\u2019 states the NGO<\/a>. <\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Photo: Pitalala Reserve \u00a9 Khamai Foundation<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n

Rich rainforest under threat<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

The Ecuadorian Amazon is among the most biodiverse places on Earth. Khamai Foundation is dedicated to protect a forested area in the \u201cbiodiversity vertex\u201d by establishing a new private protected area: the Pitalala Reserve.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

The so-called World\u2019s Biodiversity Vertex is situated on the foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes, slightly south of the equatorial line at an altitude between 400 and 900 metres. A model based on reptiles suggests that this is the most species-rich segment of the Amazon Rainforest. Research on butterflies and vertebrates supports this theory. But cattle ranching, logging and \u2013 in particular \u2013 gold mining threaten this unique natural area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n

\u2018Our support to local conservation NGOs, like Khamai, often acts as a catalyst to generate additional funding. It may initiate a chain reaction that leads to increased financial contributions from a diversity of donors.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n