by Monserratte Vásquez
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In December 2024, we made a visit to the Santa Lucía Ecological Reserve in Pichincha’s northwestern parish of Nanegal. Including Los Cedros Scientific Station (LCSS) staff and key players from the Manduriacos Valley, we went with the aim of learning more about other conservation projects in northwest Ecuador.
This experience was made possible thanks to a small grant from the Ñeque Fund calling for “Trainings and meeting spaces between women protectors of territories, communities, and environmental justice.” Our objective focused on strengthening organizational and community capabilities toward the conservation of the Los Cedros Protected Forest (LCPF) to comply with the 2022 – 2026 Management Plan that establishes within LCPF management a coadministration mechanism between the communities, LCSS, and the national environmental authority.
The Santa Lucía Ecological Reserve and LCSS share similar characteristics—such as geography, community projects, and conservation objectives—motivating us to form strong bonds through experince exchanges and permanent support networks between reserves in the Chocó bioregion and Ecuadorian Tropical Andes.
Our Santa Lucía Reserve visit was an exceptional and enriching experience. It broadened our horizons and perspectives for our conservation efforts, while also aiming to improve LCSS organization and provided services. It was such a fulfilling exchange, and we recognize their generosity as our hosts to share what they have learned throughout the years in their commitment to conservation.
We feel honored to network with the Santa Lucía Reserve team and look forward to aligning with them around conservation, research, scientific tourism, and environmental education.
We highly recommend visiting the Santa Lucía Reserve!
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