Support the Pacto-Amagusa-Mashpi Field Guide for Birds

We need your help to bring an invaluable resource to life—a comprehensive bird guide for the Pacto-Amagusa-Mashpi biological corridor in Ecuador. Our updated goal is to raise $10,000 by January 31, 2025.

Your support will help protect one of the most biodiverse regions of the world and foster sustainable ecotourism.

Hello friends,

When I volunteered to teach English here in Mashpi Amagusa, I did not know what to expect. The immensity of the landscape, the foliage with its seemingly infinite shades of green, the orchestra of animals whistling and chanting their complex melodies day and night—this place is like nothing else. And did I mention the birds of every color, shape, and size? There are so many different species that if you saw only one a day, you would be here for over a year! Fortunately though for the guests of Mashpi, in a couple hour stroll you can easily see over a hundred distinct types of hummingbirds, tanagers, woodpeckers, toucans, parrots, etc. The scale of biodiversity in this region is almost inconceivable.

Birdwatching, and ecotourism in general, is an amazing opportunity for humans from across the world to appreciate all that this amazing planet has to offer. And who better to guide these travelers than the people who have grown up and lived here all their lives? That is why this guidebook will prove to be such an invaluable resource for all the young, aspiring guides that I have come to know. This is a book made by and made for the people from here that uses the bird names from here.

This project is a joint effort between the owners of the Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Sergio Basantes and Doris Villalba, and photographer Antonio Jaramillo. I cannot think of a better group of people to spearhead this project than Doris and Sergio. Their love for the land and their stewardship of this beautiful place I have come to call home is second to none. So please, help make this project a reality. My students, and the generations of students that will come after, thank you.

The Need

The forests of the Chocó Andino region, specifically the Pacto-Amagusa-Mashpi corridor, are under severe threat from deforestation and agricultural expansion. These lush, verdant forests are home to nearly 400 bird species, many of which are critically endangered. Among them is the elusive Chocó Vireo, whose habitat is shrinking at an alarming rate.

Our Goal

We are creating a photographic bird guide that will showcase the incredible diversity of avifauna in this region. This guide aims to educate the local community and visitors about the importance of preserving these precious ecosystems. By promoting birdwatching and ecotourism, we hope to foster sustainable practices that support both economic stability and environmental conservation.

The Project

Our project is currently 45% complete, with most photographs and texts for 350 species already documented. However, we need your support to finish this vital work. Our immediate goal is to raise $5000 in the next 4 weeks to cover essential fieldwork and initial production costs. Our final goal is $20,000 over the next three months, which will enable us to complete the guide, finalize editing and design, and print 1,000 copies.

Community Impact

This field guide will become a key tool for training new birdwatching guides in the 23 communities of Pacto. By providing detailed information and stunning visuals, the guide will help local residents become knowledgeable and skilled birdwatching guides, fostering sustainable ecotourism and creating new economic opportunities in the region. Additionally, we will be donating a portion of these books to small schools that belong to the Mancomunidad del Chocó Andino, ensuring that even the youngest members of our community can learn about and appreciate their natural heritage.

How You Can Help

Your contributions will directly support:

• Continued field research to document all bird species

• Professional editing and design of the guide

• Printing and distribution of 1,000 copies

• Training programs for new birdwatching guides

By donating, you will be playing a crucial role in preserving the unique avian biodiversity of Pacto-Amagusa-Mashpi and supporting sustainable tourism that benefits local communities.

Join Us in Making a Difference

Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal. Together, we can ensure that future generations will marvel at the beauty of these birds and the forests they call home. Let's protect this natural treasure and inspire a global community of bird lovers and conservationists.

For Ecuadorian donors who prefer to make a direct deposit, please use the following account details:

Banco Pichincha

Cta. Ahorro

Número: 2208274408

Doris Villalba

Cl.1721148888

For those interested in sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to:

info at mashpi-amagusa.com

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Chauncey Willburn

Volunteer, Mashpi Amagusa