The Pacific Equatorial Forest in coastal Ecuador is considered one of the most threatened tropical forests in the world; only 2% remains. Third Millennium Alliance (TMA) established the Jama-Coaque Reserve in 2007 to protect the nucleus of this forest. Today the Reserve covers 1,012 acres (409 hectares). Our goal is to expand the Reserve by 1,800 acres over the next five years. Another core element of our work is restoration of previously deforested land through reforestation and agro-forestation. Joining forces with the scientific community to develop the Reserve for research is a primary driver of our work. Engaging local communities through education, training, and job opportunities is a fundamental strategy of this project.

May 18, 2013: Visiting researcher David Burkart found an Ecuadorian Blue Glass Frog (Cochranella mache) in the Reserve. It's listed as Endangered by IUCN and has previously never been found this far south of its known range.

February 28, 2013: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), National Committee of the Netherlands, awarded Third Millennium Alliance a grant to expand the Jama-Coaque Reserve through the purchase 223 acres (90.5 hectares) of tropical rainforest and cloud forest.

January 21, 2013: As part of a long-term sustainable forestry initiative, Third Millennium Alliance volunteers and local landholders planted 6,500 native hardwood trees in 20 acres of previously-cleared land in the community of Camarones.This is the first year of a 5-year project to plant 35,000 native hardwood trees in 100 acres of deforested land.   

September 28, 2012: Resident biologist Mike Ellis has identified 214 species of birds in the Jama-Coaque Reserve, 16 of which are classified as "A1 Species" (i.,e., globally endangered or vulnerable), which establishes this reserve as one of the most critical hotspots for avian conservation in Ecuador, which is itself considered to have the highest avian biodiversity of any country on earth. His most recent finding is the Pacific Royal Flycatcher, spotted just across the river from the Bamboo House. 

July 12, 2012: One of the motion-triggered camera traps installed along a trail in the Jama-Coaque Reserve recorded a short video of an ocelot on his nightly hunt, which can be viewed here on youtube.

March 26, 2012: Embarking on a one-year research program to conduct a bird inventory in the Jama-Coaque Reserve, in his first two months at the site Mike Ellis has confirmed the presence of 135 different species of birds, three of which are endangered, including the gray-backed hawk, the slaty becard, and the grey-cheeked parakeet.

February 2, 2012: The Jama-Coaque Ecological Reserve has just expanded by 45 acres, through the acquisition of the rainforest and cloudforest at the headwaters of the Ronquillo Stream. Photo-trap cameras have recently confirmed the presence of at least one ocelot in this tract of forest. 

October 31, 2011: The infrared "photo-trap" cameras installed in the Jama-Coaque Reserve have confirmed the presence of the puma-like feline called jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi), which joins the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) as confirmed wild feline inhabitants of the Reserve.

May 29, 2011: Third Milennium Alliance has just expanded the Jama-Coaque Reserve by an additional 247 acres, through the acquisition of 25 acres of cloud forest and a land easement agreement with a neighboring rainforested property of 222 acres.

January 27, 2011: Third Millennium Alliance has just expanded the northern border of the Jama-Coaque Reserve through the acquisition of 86 acres of cloud forest at the headwaters of the Camarones River. This is one of the last tracts of primary-growth cloud forest left in the entire region. This acquisition was made possible by our sponsors; thank you for helping us bring this biological treasure under protection.

• Double the size of the Jama-Coaque Ecological Reserve through strategic land acquisition 
• Implement a monitoring and conservation program of endangered wild cats throughout the Pacific Equatorial Forest and adjacent communities
• Community "Micro-Foresting" - a subsidy program for small-scale farmers to reforest small patches of deforested land

Ongoing Projects

Internship at The “Bamboo House” Research Station for biological investigation and sustainable systems research, where we grow our own food and manage the land according to the principles of permaculture design.