This project seeks to raise awareness about, and create a protected area inside, the “biodiversity vertex,” a 100 km2 quadrant holding the ABSOLUTE greatest number of animal and plant species per unit area anywhere on Earth, hoping to secure its designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The creation of the reserve will stop a network of colossal open-pit gold mining operations through the direct purchase of various rainforest land lots totaling 2,200 hectares. Khamai Foundation has the opportunity to acquire these plots of land before the miners do, but only if we act quickly. We seek to achieve the following goals between 2026 and 2027:
1. Secure 2,200 hectares of rainforest via the expansion of Pitalala Reserve.
2. Help keep ~2.2–2.6 million tCO₂e from being dumped into the atmosphere.
3. Create an eco-tourism project to maintain and expand the reserve.
4. Provide an alternative income source to gold mining in the Río Anzu area.
5. Promote the research and conservation of Amazonian biodiversity.
Goal: This project seeks to raise awareness about, and create a protected area inside, the “biodiversity vertex,” a rainforest hotspot holding the ABSOLUTE greatest number of animal and plant species per unit area anywhere on Earth.
Proposed area: 2,200 hectares (5,436 acres)
Altitudinal range: 400–600 m.
Carbon stored: ~2.2–2.6 million tCO₂e.
152.7 hectares of 2,200 goal protected.
185 backers. 293 days to go.
Forest you’ll savePitalala Reserve |
The fundraiser for the Pitalala Reserve is officially launched. This allowed the team of Khamai Foundation to begin the fieldwork and the buy-sell negotiations.
A new population of the Endangered Spotted Rocket Frog (Hyloxalus maculosus) has been detected near the reserve, presenting a rare opportunity to protect it.
Thank to three grants (from EKO.org, World Rainforest Fund, and one from IGT), the foundation provides a down payment on a 78-hectare land lot to expand the reserve.
A large grant from the IUCN NL plus 143 backers took the fundraiser for this urgent expansion to ~80% of its goal. The funding gap was completed thanks to grants from the Hong-Barco family and the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, with a final push from EKO.org, IGT, and an anonymous donor.
Deadline for completing the purchase of an additional three land lots currently up for sale around the reserve, totalling 81 hectares.
