Great Leaf

Forest “La Esperanza” is a vibrant initiative located in the Ecuadorian Chocó region, in Manabí, integrating conservation, ecological restoration, and sustainable development. It was founded in 2020 together with Anelio Loor, a forest guardian for more than two decades, and since then it has enabled the recording of threatened species such as howler monkeys, as well as new tree varieties. This biodiversity refuge, isolated from other forest areas, plays a key role in the health of numerous species and in the provision of important ecosystem services.

The project is built around three main pillars:

Ecological restoration:
This includes the propagation and planting of native species, the reforestation of areas degraded by cattle ranching, and ongoing monitoring to improve restoration practices. One of the main goals is to create ecological connectivity corridors that strengthen landscape resilience.
Education and community engagement:
The project promotes training processes for local communities in agroforestry, agroecology, ecological restoration, bio-entrepreneurship, and ecotourism, empowering them to become key actors in forest protection.
Scientific research:
It contributes to knowledge on biodiversity, ecology, animal behavior, and restoration processes, generating information that supports and guides the project’s other lines of action.

Funding comes from international grants, individual and corporate donations, partnerships with universities, and volunteer work. Its sustained growth has been made possible thanks to the commitment of companies and institutions from different sectors, either through one-time donations or institutional projects that contribute to restoration goals and community development around this unique forest.

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