Current Programs
The Chichipunta Conservation Alliance runs hands-on programs at the intersection of ecological science, community resilience, and sustainable land stewardship. Each project addresses a real and urgent threat to the Yunguilla cloud forest — and each one depends on the support of people who believe wild places are worth protecting.
Wildfire Response & Prevention
Wildfires are an increasing threat to the Chichipunta cloud forest. We work with local communities to prevent fires before they start, through firebreaks, training, equipment, and restoring burned sections of forest.
Erosion & Infrastructure
On steep mountain slopes, erosion threatens both people and forests. We are working on projects to stabilize roads and trails, restore native vegetation, and design nature-based solutions that will protect the land and those who depend on it.
Volunteer Work
Conservation thrives when people come together with big ideas and a passion for the planet. Volunteers join us in hands-on projects—planting trees, monitoring wildlife, and sharing in the daily life of both the forest and the community
Community Based Conservation
Conservation only works when the people who live alongside the forest are part of the solution. We collaborate with farmers, landowners, and families in the Yunguilla valley to build a shared vision for the land, one that honors local livelihoods while protecting the biodiversity that surrounds them. Because the strongest forest is one that a whole community is invested in keeping.
Sustainable Agriculture
The cloud forest and the farms that border it are deeply connected. When agricultural practices degrade the soil, pollute waterways, or push into wild habitat, everyone loses. We work with local farmers to develop and adopt practices that are productive, ecologically sound, and resilient to a changing climate — growing food in ways that leave room for the forest to thrive.
Biological Research Station
We are working toward our ultimate dream of building a modern field research station in the heart of the Chichipunta reserve. It will a permanent home for scientists, students, and educators working on the questions that matter most for cloud forest conservation. The station will support long-term biodiversity monitoring, climate resilience studies, and educational residencies that connect learners to the living laboratory of the forest itself. This is our most ambitious project yet, and we're just getting started.
Contact us
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