We BeLeaf!

 

We BeLeaf!
Is a new campaign to save 12.4 hectares (30.6 acres) of the last highly threatened lowland tropical rainforest in Mompiche-Ecuador, in order to connect 220 hectares of rainforest already protected by Save the Paradise Foundation and the network of protected areas of Mompiche.

We need to raise 40.000 USD / 34700 euro!
A bunch of awesome graphic designers got on board for this beautiful campaign.

 

 

Why is it so important to save these 12.4 hectares?

On the map below you can see how much of the rainforest we have managed to save so far: the patches of protected rainforest by the foundation (light green/lime), patches purchased by our strategic partners (green) and the network of landowners of Mompiche (orange) and the red patches, owned by local landowners, which are now for sale. Usually they will be sold for monoculture purposes, which means that the area will be deforested and transformed into palm oil plantations, balsa plantations or cattle farms. Save the Paradise is hoping to purchase and save these last patches with your help.

 

It is imperative to save these 12.4 hectares in order to connect all the patches of the conservation network and unite 232 hectares of the wildlife corridor where the biodiversity can flourish.

 

But there is more: If we succeed our corridor will connect to the land of a real state company named Bay State.  This company has agreed to join the network of protected areas with approximately 300 hectares of rainforest. But only if our protected patches reaches the areas they own. This way the corridor could expand to nearly 500 hectares.

 

 

What is a corridor?

Wildlife corridors are connections across the landscape that link up areas of habitat. They support natural processes that occur in a healthy environment, including the movement of species to find resources, such as food and water.

Corridors can contribute to the resilience of the landscape in a changing climate and help to reduce future greenhouse gas emissions by storing carbon in native vegetation. They can also support multiple land uses such as conservation, farming and forestry.*

*source: https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/conservation/wildlife-corridors

 

What are the costs per patch? (see on map below the patches in red)

 

1.4 hectare: 7000 dollar

0.6 hectare: 3000 dollar

5.8 hectare: 12.500 dollar

4.6 hectare: 15.000 dollar

 

 

How will the donations be used?

37.500 dollars will be spent to purchase the patches of rainforest marked in red.

2.500 dollar will be spent on administrative costs: notary, taxes and lawyers.

As you can see the prices of the different patches vary, that’s because each patch belongs to a different owner putting their own price.

 

 

 

Current situation

The Esmeraldas region, and therefore the canton of Muisne, are part of the Chocó Rainforests area, which is part of the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena Biodiversity Hotspot. The area includes dry tropical forests, lowland rainforest, highland rainforest and mangrove forests. It is one of the highest biodiverse areas in the world and is highly endangered, with only 1% of the original land cover of the dry forests remaining.

Spanning nearly 3 million hectares (7.4 million acres) along the coast, Ecuador’s Chocó region is known as a biodiversity hotspot with high levels of endemism, among the richest region for plants in the western hemisphere. However, this ecosystem is also one of the most threatened in the world. In Ecuador, it has been one of the most affected by deforestation in recent decades.

 

Source: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/09/new-report-reveals-northern-ecuadorian-region-has-lost-61-percent-of-forests/

 

 

 

 

 

Save the Paradise - Who we are

 

Save the Paradise is a nonprofit foundation legally based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and operating on the west coast of Ecuador, Esmeraldas province. The foundation’s core purpose is to protect the threatened tropical rainforest in Mompiche from deforestation and becoming an agricultural, industrial, or commercial property.

 

 

Where are we standing now?

 

Thanks to the support of a lot of nature lovers our project is growing. We began with the dream to save the rainforest of Mompiche in mid 2019. In the beginning we experienced a lot of obstacles and challenges but slowly on, more and more people started supporting us and  today we are protecting 34 hectares in the foundations name! Together with liked minded people we created a network of protected areas that sum 220 hectares. This is a game changer, the amount of protected hectares are increasing and so our voices are becoming stronger.

 

We love transparency

 

As a non profit foundation we have the obligation to show how the donations have been spent so the donors can see where their support is used. Every year we upload the foundation’s expense report on our website.

 

Everything is connected

 

Saving the rainforest is our prime objective but it's clear that we can only succeed if we can engage and gather the community to work together in the same direction.

 

 

 

 

That's why we are creating ARANYANA.
A women empowering project for gender equality and economical independence for the women of Mompiche and the neighbour communities.

Save the Paradise is developing a project to create a new organic and sustainable chocolate brand made by local women. The organic cacao is harvested on the purchased land where agroforestry is being combined. Cacao trees are growing in the shadow of older bigger trees.
We will update you soon about this awesome project, please stay tuned for more news!