We are raising funds to protect 297 acres (120 hectares) of pristine, wild, and precious Ecuadorian Cloudforest. This land is located near the ecotourist town of Mindo Ecuador just two hours north west of Quito.

The land sits in a biodiversity hot spot and is home to hundreds of animals including birds, amphibians, reptiles, bears, pumas, fungi. The land contains primary forest and has been protected so far because there is no road access. It is currently owned by an elderly gentleman who is hoping to sell before he passes so that he can leave on the cash value to his children. He is offering the land at less than market rate for ~$800 per acre (297 acres comes to about $240,000). Our full goal also includes processing fees, legal, and closing costs

This beautiful wild land borders the property of a registered Ecuadorian nonprofit called "Nuestra Tierra Aldea Creativa", owned and managed by Paulina Quilla Pakari and Sandra Elena ten Zijthoff. Read more about Sandra and Paulina and their team here.

From this fundraiser Paulina and Sandra have already purchased 6 acres (2.5 hectares) that has a rustic house that serves as basecamp and as a field station to study and protect the rest of the forest. Prior to this they acquired another 24 acres (10 hectares) bordering the forest and have constructed a beautiful, rustic home with 12 bunks, a kitchen, a ceremonial space, showers, dry toilets, greenhouse and sweatlodge.

During a 7 day vision quest Sandra received a vision/mandate to obtain the adjacent virgin forest for conservation purposes. Living close to this precious resource they have seen the land around them start to be developed for tourism, cattle farming, and they have a dream of keeping this large track intact and undeveloped to provide a refuge to wildlife and the biodiversity that surrounds the area.

Sandra and Paulina will be the boots on the ground, caretaking, protecting, and managing the property.

All funds raised through this campaign will go directly to land acquisition for conservation. Our full goal also includes processing fees, legal, and closing costs. The land purchased will be protected as a private reserve under the name of the nonprofit, Nuestra Tierra Aldea Creativa.

Please consider helping protect this precious natural resource. Any amount is welcome and helpful.

Sandra and Paulina would love to work with individuals or groups that are willing and able to donate amounts of $10,000 or more and would love to talk with you about your vision, prayers and inspirations for making this donation and write it into the directives of their conservation work. If you are interested in making a larger donation please contact them directly through the nonprofit's website.