Mary in the Maycú Reserve in Ecuador. Credit: Mary McEvoy
This June, Mary McEvoy – our Carbon Programme Manager – visited our partner Nature and Culture in Ecuador (NCE’s) stunning Maycú Reserve in Zamora-Chinchipe Province. During her visit, she encountered first-hand the devastation wrought by illegal gold mines, the dogged determination of those returning trees to pasture, and the importance of collective action for conservation success. All while sighting the threatened Orange-throated Tanager (Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron), a bird that NCE did not spot all last year.
WLT: Can you tell us why you went to Ecuador and who you visited?
Mary: For the Carbon Balanced programme, we regularly meet up with our partners in the field to conduct due diligence, observe the progress of our conservation activities and discuss technicalities associated with the projects. Because we’re selling a product from them, in the form of carbon credits, we need to check that conservation and reforestation efforts are on track and that the latest carbon calculations are as accurate as possible.
The Maycú Reserve sits at the intersection of the Andes and the Amazon, creating a vast melting pot filled with life. Credit: NCE
WLT: What conservation challenges did you witness while you were there?
Mary: Illegal gold mining was everywhere, not just on the Nangaritza River but also on the smaller tributaries too. You can see very clearly the destruction they are causing because to mine for gold here basically involves mining the riverbed, which changes the river’s course and causes flooding on the opposite bank. They also use mercury and cyanide to extract the gold which is horrendous for human health and the health of the river and entire ecosystem.
On the day we arrived, it was very quiet because the miners had travelled en masse to Zamora, ironically protesting the government’s treatment of illegal miners.
A sadly common sight along many of Ecuador’s rivers, including Río Nangaritza. Illegal gold mining is booming in Ecuador, harming the environment and human health. Credit: Mary McEvoy
And while they were away, there was a huge flood. It had been raining extremely heavily for a few days and the river level rose ferociously, flooding all the mines. Standing there, watching that, was so surreal. To be honest, it felt a bit like nature’s retribution. Like the river had just had enough.
This photo shows the two main threats present in this part of Ecuador: illegal gold mining and deforestation for pasture, in the typical triangular shape. Credit: Mary McEvoy
WLT: What were your wildlife highlights?
Mary: We saw lots of birds and one of the highlights was going to the place where NCE see the Orange-throated Tanagers. This is one of the reserve’s flagship species and they are typically found in more open areas like riverbanks where there are lots of Cecropia trees.
As we were driving there, I used the Merlin bird app on my phone to play the Orange-throated Tanager’s call. The vehicle then stopped and we got out and straight away, I heard that call, the exact one I’d just been listening to. So we all whipped around “Where is it?” and saw this beautiful bird fly into a tree, land, and then stare straight at us. The NCE team were really pleased because the last time they’d seen one was December 2022 and they were worried they may have disappeared, given the loss of Cecropia trees on other riverbanks.
So I felt extremely lucky to have been part of that. It was a real highlight.
An Orange-throated Tanager, the flagship species of the Maycú Reserve. NCE protects some of its only surviving habitat in Ecuador. Credit: Lars Petersson
WLT: Can you describe some of the people you met and did they inspire you in any way?
Mary: Someone who really inspired me was Maycú Reserve’s ranger Joel. I heard that his father had also been a ranger and you can really see that he’s grown up in this environment and with this influence. Joel is only young, he’s in his 20’s but it was really inspiring watching him work.
He also has a really positive presence in the local communities and supports a nearby farmer’s association with their surveillance operations and protecting their land. In turn, they help Joel with the more arduous reserve patrols up towards the Peruvian border. Maycú Reserve also contains the local town’s water treatment plant which Joel manages and cleans so there’s a very strong recognition from the local people that the reserve is important.
Crossing the river to the Maycú Reserve, Joel at the front of the boat. The trip was taken by boat after the floods damaged the cables supporting the tarabita (a kind of cable car) normally used to get across. Credit: Mary McEvoy
WLT: Can you describe the reforestation taking place at the reserve?
Mary: NCE’s tree planting efforts on former pastures were very impressive because this is not an easy environment to work in. Some of the restoration sites are really punishing as the ground is extremely boggy and prone to flooding. We went to some of the restoration sites and the forester, Carlos, was telling me that it has been very difficult, with flooding year-on-year and many trees unable to survive. The local community have helped a lot with this situation because they suggested particular local species well-adapted to wet conditions. These aren’t species that you’d typically find on a forester’s list so it’s really interesting how they’ve worked this through with the local people.
Carlos describes the challenges of tree planting at the Maycú Reserve. Credit: Mary McEvoy
WLT: What would you like people at home to know about Ecuador?
Mary: I think we hear a lot of statistics about Ecuador being mega-biodiverse and the top site for birds in South America or the world and these statistics are quite easy to read but harder to fully grasp. But when you’re there, you really do feel it and you know instinctively that it’s a very special place for biodiversity and, in spite of the threats, still incredibly rich in life. The people are also really friendly and on board with conservation. Given the chance to make something of the forest, they will jump at it.
Click here to learn more about the extraordinary work of NCE, bringing together local communities for the protection of wildlife in Ecuador.
