Amazon Research and Conservation Station

Hello Supporters

We’ve been active since our last update. We hosted Brian Sachson and Joseph Del Valle from the non-profit Kay Pacha, located in the USA. Kay Pacha has pledged to help us launch another fundraiser and match any funds we raise to bring solar electricity and internet to the Aquicuana Reserve. During their stay with us, we filmed a documentary that will be shown in New York City in 2025 to raise awareness and support for our projects.

We’re excited to announce that we received funding to provide a 5-year scholarship to a student from our neighboring community, Warnes. We conducted outreach and already selected our recipient, Pamela Alvaez Chao. She’s 18 years old and will pursue a degree in education in Riberalta. She is currently enrolled in a preparatory course for her exams to enter the university. Kay Pacha was very interested in the project and will also look to secure funding so we can offer a second scholarship soon.

We’re currently hosting a researcher from Belgium, Tijl Timmermans, who is identifying medicinal plants in the reserve. Working alongside local informants, Tijl is seeking to gain an understanding of traditional plant-medicine healing practices; while helping to preserve the local knowledge. We’re also making signs and a guide book so visitors can walk the trails, while reading about plants of the reserve and their local uses.

We are receiving many inquiries from researchers looking to come tour center in 2025. We’re now looking for an educator to coordinate and supervise the arrivals of researchers and volunteers looking to stay at our center. The educator will also be in charge of our environmental and English languages classes held at our community outreach center.

We’re fortunate that the rainy season has begun and forest fires in the reserve are no longer a concern until next dry season. We’re excited about the prospects of 2025 where the station should take on an even more active role. We appreciate all your continued support and send our very best from the Bolivian Amazon.

Regards,
Erik Taylor

Since our last update, we successfully completed the construction of two new cabins to host volunteers and researchers. Overlooking the Aquicuana Reserve Lake, our volunteers and researchers can stay in style and comfort. These accommodations will greatly assist our efforts to attract researchers -- allowing them to focus their energies on the work at hand, after a wonderful night’s rest. We are very grateful to everyone who helped make this a reality.

We are especially grateful to the Kay Pacha foundation as they continue to support our efforts to protect the Aquicuana Reserve. Kay Pacha will have a documentary screening of their new film on July 17^th in New York City. They will also visit us in October, when we hope to construct our third cabin this year.

Our focus over the next few months will be on securing solar energy. This project will bring a much-needed sustainable energy source to the Aquicuana Reserve, allowing us to power our research station and community outreach center. With solar energy we will expand our conservation projects and increase our environmental education efforts. We’ll be running a separate fundraiser in the coming weeks to help us achieve this goal.

Exciting times ahead! Stay tuned and stay in touch.