Ecuador

Connecting Science and Community Empowerment to Protect a Global Biodiversity Hotspot

Organisation

Fundación Jambatu

Website

Support area

Conservation of biodiversity

Funding

138180 €

Project duration

Jun, 2024 – May, 2026

The Valley of Intag, located in the Tropical Andes Biodiversity Hotspot, faces significant threats from farming and metal mining, which particularly endanger amphibian species, with about half at risk of extinction.

The project protects these amphibians by involving local communities in conservation efforts. Local residents receive training in water quality and amphibian monitoring, and they are supported in switching to sustainable farming for long-term income. The project includes a breeding program for the longnosed harlequin frog, aiming to breed and release them into suitable areas while preserving their genetic diversity.

Membership of the Atelopus Survival Initiative (ASI) lets the project share knowledge and help other ASI members protect endangered species in their regions.

Capacity development

IKI Small Grants supports Fundación Jambatu in their organisational capacity development through:

Communication capacities and public relations
Promoting the professional development of the employees of Fundación Jambatu

About the organisation

Fundación Jambatu is involved in five areas, namely ex-situ and in-situ conservation measures, research, education and biobanking, to study and protect amphibians. Its aim is to implement the action plan for conserving amphibians in Ecuador by working with scientists, conservationists, educators and the local community. Its director is a recognised authority in amphibian conservation and taxonomy. The organisation has received both national and international funding and currently hosts 50 species in its ex-situ programme, including 15 species of the genus Atelopus, one of the most endangered vertebrate groups. This means the organisation has the largest number of Atelopus species in an ex-situ species conservation programme worldwide.