This is mind-blowing: there’s a place in the Amazon that
scientists argue has more species per square kilometer than
anywhere else on the planet. Ferocious jaguars, emerald
green boas, powerful harpy eagles, shy tapirs, and more…all sharing
the same forest home (see lots of pictures below!!)
But Vladimir, this pinnacle of biodiversity is under critical
threat: the mouth of Ecuador’s Anzu River has been included in a
concession to a gold mining company, TerraEarth. The only way to
stop a mine from being ripped into the heart of this paradise is to
buy the surrounding land, ensuring the company can’t get the
legally-required permissions from landowners…because the landowners
would be *US*.
Actually, we’d help our local partner, Khamai, buy the land and
incorporate it into the neighbouring Pitalala reserve. The newly
expanded reserve would be a haven for nature and scientific
research, a rewilded paradise protected forever. If we can
act fast.
This sounds dramatic, but these are the stakes: can you chip
in to help us save what might *literally* be the most species-rich
place on Earth?
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Creating this protected area is urgent. Even aside from
the concession, illegal gold mining in the area is exploding and
miners are offering to rent or purchase land at above market value.
Owners are looking to sell and have already received offers from the
miners. Our partners are in touch with the landowners and have
the opportunity to acquire the land before the miners do (they
prefer the land conserved!) – but only if we act now.
This is what this incredible area should look like, pristine and
untouched – the part of the reserve that already exists:
But the surrounding land is being
devastated:
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And it’s happening fast:
It’s hard to find a more obvious case for urgent conservation
action. The place that might have more species density than
anywhere else on Earth vs total devastation to mine gold.
And we have great partners to do it. Khamai works with local
communities Mulchiyacu and Zatzayacu, to promote sustainable
economic alternatives to illegal mining, like ecotourism and
conservation-based employment, to ensure there’s incentive to keep
the land safe. They’ll also work to restore land that has already
been damaged, and eventually to get UNESCO protection status for
this irreplaceable piece of the planet.
Vladimir, our community has bought critically-threatened pieces
of nature before. But never in a place with *this* much natural
life…because there might not be another place on Earth to match it.
Can you chip in to buy and protect this part of the Ecuadorian
Amazon – and fuel campaigns like this to protect people and the
planet from profit-hungry corporations, worldwide?
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We wanted to include a few more pictures
of wildlife to share the richness and beauty of this place.
Here’s a tapir, poking its head out:
A coiled Emerald Boa:
A hiding Spix’s night monkey:
And a spectacular tree frog:
Their home could be destroyed. Or
we could prevent it. Join in:
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Your donation will help power
Ekō and our campaigns worldwide fighting for people and the
planet.
