Meet the conservationists: Proyecto Washu brings together people, primates and forests in Ecuador

Trained as biologists, Nathalia and Felipe soon realised that the key to successful conservation lies in engaging the local communities. They embarked on a new journey in which socio-economic and ecological aspects are equally integral to Proyecto Washu’s mission: protecting Ecuador’s endangered primates. Nathalia Fuentes, co-founder and co-director of Proyecto Washu together with Felipe Alfonso-Cortes, stresses, ‘We only want to be passengers; the projects belong to the communities.’

Header photo: Odilia Zambrano from Cristóbal Colón smelling a cocoa fruit she produced. © Francesca Angiolani

Today, on International Primate Day, the founders of the Ecuadorian NGO have an important message to the world. ‘Primates are a true reflection of ourselves, reminding us that we are part of nature. Primates are wonderful beings with fascinating lives. They help maintain the balance of ecosystems, and protecting them is our responsibility as humans and a necessity for the future of the planet. This is why it is crucial to work alongside communities in conservation; together, we can ensure a sustainable future for both biodiversity and human well-being.’

Planting the seed for Proyecto Washu

Nathalia grew up in Ecuador’s bustling capital, Quito, yet always felt deeply connected to nature. ‘I was the kind of kid who was always up in trees or digging in the garden.’ Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, and Nathalia grew up surrounded by all kinds of species. ‘During my studies, I observed wild monkeys for the first time. The very moment I saw them, I knew this is what I wanted to do with my life,’ shares the conservationist.  

Sadly, the howler monkeys that inspired Nathalia in her life mission died because their habitat was destroyed. ‘This deeply affected me. Nevertheless, I continued my path. In a next research project, a professor encouraged me to think long term and provided us with the knowledge we needed for a conservation project.’ Through this research project, Nathalia met Felipe.

Felipe grew up in Colombia’s capital Bogotá. ‘My parents showed me documentaries for National Geographic and the Discovery Channel. Those images inspired me to become a biologist. Only I did not want to make films, I wanted to observe the animals,’ shares Felipe. ‘During my studies, I finally had the opportunity to be far away from the city, surrounded by wildlife, and to meet spider monkeys for the first time. It was an adventure, but after a while I wondered if studying species was enough. What more could we do?’

The young biologists decided to take the advice of their professor: to think big. They started a conservation project in Ecuador: Proyecto Washu was born.

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We were blinded at first, as we did not see cocoa was an opportunity: it connected a sustainable income for the communities with conservation.

• Nathalia Fuentes, co-director Proyecto Washu

Cocoa: an unexpected opportunity

Nathalia and Felipe found a suitable site in Ecuador’s province Esmeraldas, where the jungle touches the Pacific coastline. Here, they saw for the first time the forests of the Tesoro Escondido families. ‘I saw many spider monkeys in this large forest. Soon, we asked ourselves how to conserve this place, after our experience in a highly deforested area in Colombia,’ tells Nathalia. Walking through the forests and cocoa plantations, they did not see that the solution was already there. ‘We were blinded at first, as we did not see cocoa was an opportunity: it connected a sustainable income for the communities with conservation. The people in the area were also keen to safeguard the forest, and just like that it all came together.’

Nathalia, Felipe and other colleagues founded Proyecto Washu in 2012, and in 2013 they started developing socio-environmental agreements and strengthening the agricultural families’ skills. ‘As biologists, the social activities were a challenge for us. But we wanted to involve the local people, have participatory processes,’ Nathalia emphasises. ‘We only want to be passengers; the projects belong to the communities.’ ‘It is important to understand the socio-economic situation,’ Felipe continues. ‘We need to grasp why deforestation is happening and what alternatives people have. These factors are different everywhere.’

Felipe perceives the socio-economic situation of the families as one of the biggest concerns. ‘Conservation is very much aligned with the socio-economic situation in the area. The living conditions of the communities must be improved, which ties into social justice and the need for an alternative economic system. The people living in rural areas need to have access to better education, better water, better medication: a fair standard of living. If they do not have this, it is more difficult to safeguard the forests and wildlife. But this means changing a lot of things. I am not pessimistic, however, because conservation projects also plant seeds for the communities, they create new opportunities.’

The people living in rural areas need to have access to better education, better water, better medication – a fair standard of living.

• Felipe Alfonso-Cortes, co-director Proyecto Washu

From Esmeraldas to Manabí: follow the monkey

Proyecto Washu focusses on the conservation of primates, including the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps). In their activities,the team follows the monkeys. Populations of brown-headed spider monkeys are currently found on the western slopes of the Andes, in Esmeraldas, Imbabura and Carchi – a small province bordering Colombia. ‘The population in the coastal province of Manabí was a surprise since they were believed to be extinct in the area. It us unique that they have been able to survive in such a fragmented habitat,’ says Felipe. The conservationist explains that although spider monkeys typically remain in the tree canopy, in Manabí they occasionally descend to cross a field. This behaviour is not without risk; however, due to deforestation, large predators are no longer present in the region.

Supported by the IUCN NL Landaankoopfonds, Proyecto Washu is expanding the newly established Ateles-Chocó Reserve in Manabí. The first part of the protected area was established at the end of 2022, in collaboration with Fundación Cóndor Andino, and the next step is to increase the habitat of the small population brown-headed spider monkeys by strategically acquiring plots. Compared to Esmeraldas, Manabí has a much higher deforestation rate, mainly due to cattle ranching. As a result, the forests are severely fragmented, leaving only small, isolated patches for the brown-headed spider monkey and other species.

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People owning large extensions of land, compared to the communities in Esmeraldas, creates different dynamics, according to Nathalia. However, they can apply the methods developed in Esmeraldas to the situation in Manabí. ‘We adapt the participatory methods, socio-environmental agreements and other methods. In Esmeraldas, the model allows for both agricultural activities and forest and wildlife conservation. Organic cultivation, for example, contributes to a better, most sustainable use of the land and provides an opportunity to create agroforestry projects that can improve forest connectivity. In our activities, we apply a gender perspective and include youth in particular. We want to connect the lives of the families with the primates and the forest.’  

Illegal wildlife trade

In addition to habitat loss, the spider monkeys are also severely affected by illegal wildlife trade. Proyecto Washu saves captured monkeys, brings them to a safe place and, if possible, releases them back into the wild. ‘It is heartbreaking to see an animal that is close to us suffering from illegal trafficking. It is beautiful, however, to see them recovering and see two spider monkeys hugging. At the same time, we are worried that after a long rehabilitation process there will be no forests, no safe place, left,’ shares Nathalia emotionally.

I feel that what we are doing works, but we are a small team and time flies. I want to take our work to the next level, for which we need to secure sufficient funding and expand our team. Time is catching up with us.

• Nathalia Fuentes, co-director Proyecto Washu

Climate changes increases urgency

Climate change makes reforestation even more urgent, according to Felipe ‘Before, the weather seasons where more clearly defined; farmers knew more or less when it would rain and when the dry season would start. Now, they do not know when to sow. Cocoa plants are also affected: when it rains heavily when they are flourishing, the flowers fall meaning there are no fruits, which is terrible for the farmers. Another topic is lack of water, affecting nature and people, but also cattle. Because there are almost no forests in Manabi, the region is very vulnerable. If we do not act now, the prediction is that in 30 years the monkey population will be extinct in the area. And severe drought would also be very hard for the communities, possibly forcing them to move away.’

Time is one of the major challenges for Nathalia. ‘I feel that what we are doing works, but we are a small team and time flies. We want to take our work to the next level, for which we need to secure sufficient funding and expand our team. Time is catching up with us. At the same time, they are grateful for what they have been able to achieve so far, says Felipe: ‘Over the years, all our work has been made possible thanks to everyone who has contributed to and been part of Washu, as well as the farming families who are part of this project – Por la vida del Chocó!’.

About the Land Acquisition Fund

The main threats to world’s biodiversity are the ongoing loss, fragmentation and degradation of natural habitat. Nature is the foundation for all life on Earth, and we need to save what is left. The IUCN NL Land Acquisition Fund supports conservation NGOs around the world to secure, protect and connect nature. Every year, a number of land acquisition projects is selected after a thorough selection process.