Preserve our natural reserve

For more than 28 years Daniel Cruz and his family have owned what we now know as Hacienda Jimenita Wildlife Reserve, located 15 minutes from Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito and 27 km from the center of the city. The family had the dream of preserving the banks of the Chupahuaico and Chiche rivers, which has primary forest, regenerating the canyon and the rest of the property that had been affected by farming. Among the plants that we can find are: pumamaquis, polylepis, cholanes, tilos, chilca, among others.

Over the years, they have seen how wildlife has returned to the reserve, and have observed how more than 90 species of birds have found a home in the area, among which are the giant hummingbird and the sword-bill hummingbird, Vermillian Flycatcher, southern yellow grossbeack (huiracchuro), crimson manteled woodpecker, rufus chested tanager, Harris hawk, among others. All this has been an incredible achievement, but now we face a new threat: the plague of the "Susanita", a bright orange plant, which attracts the attention of those who see it. This plant has a very high propagation capacity. The problem is that it has the ability to climb even the tallest trees, hence suffocating them. Being an invasive plant, it is occupying spaces of native vegetation, which in the medium and long term could cause the disappearance of some species typical of the canyon.

This is a struggle that the Cruz family cannot fight alone, and they need everyone's help to protect this natural treasure and continue regenerating and caring the canyon by planting approximately 1000 native trees. Together we can preserve Hacienda Jimenita Wildlife Reserve for present and future generations and thus ensure that the beauty of nature lasts forever.

At the same time, we think it is very important to develop a program to teach, mainly to children, knowledge and love for nature. It's easier to love something that is known.