There's world-wide understanding and support for conservation of lowland jungle rainforest, and of cloud forest, but there's little discussion about the need to preserve the area between them, foothill rainforest. The foothills host many species living only at this particular elevation (900-1500 m) as well as representatives from both higher and lower elevations.
Sadly, prime foothill forest continues to be logged at an alarming rate, threatening the very existence of many bird and animal species living in it. Donations to help purchase and preserve this foothill forest are desperately needed.
The non-profit Rio Pucuno Foundation (RPF) was established by the owners of Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary for the express purpose of buying and preserving foothill rainforest in Ecuador before it disappears under the pressure of chainsaws. We are proud of our private corporate efforts and accomplishments in Sumaco, but realize that any significant expansion of our work will depend on securing additional funding, outside of our company.
As a non-profit organization, Rio Pucuno Foundation is able to receive grants and financial contributions for conservation and education, operating separately from our privately-held company. It has been approved by the appropriate government agencies and is fully chartered under the laws of Ecuador.
Because Rio Pucuno Foundation is small, we are personally involved in all aspects of it and our reserve, so your donation to RPF will give you a rare opportunity: when you visit Sumaco, we can show you precisely the forest that your contribution helped save, you can walk on it and savor the unique quality of this foothill rainforest reserve.
We urge you to become involved, and to help Rio Pucuno Foundation with a donation today!
(Please visit next page, Projects and Ongoing Support)
US citizens' contributions to Rio Pucuno Foundation are now tax-deductible when made through World Land Trust-US. Please visit their website www.worldlandtrust-us.org and follow the steps to donate by credit card (be sure to type Rio Pucuno Foundation in the designation box below the billing information, under "additional information").
If you care to choose which of the RPF funds your donation should go to (see Funds section on next page of this website), enter its name immediately after designating Rio Pucuno Foundation to receive your donation on the WLT form.
You can also mail a check or money order to World Land Trust-US, 2806 P. Street NW, Washington, DC 20007. Make your check out to World Land Trust-US, and please indicate both in a cover letter and on the check that you would like the tax-deductible donation to go to the Rio Pucuno Foundation.
