RESEARCH STAYS

The Tesoro Escondido Reserve is the perfect place to carry out research stays of any level. Students can develop already established projects by our research group or generate their own topics. 

Scientific research is a key topic for the Tesoro Escondido Reserve, therefore we offer students a special fee and the support of parabiologists and guidance of experts without an extra cost.

 

The Ecuadorian lowland Chocó is a place with an amazing diversity as well as with complex interactions of its inhabitants, both of which have been so far understudied. Some research topics we are offering now are:

  • Bat diversity and their role as seed dispersers
  • Study on the populations and ecology of glass frogs, Centrolenidae family
  • Projects on sustainability and gender in local farmer communities
  • Diversity and ecology of lizards
  • Population status of the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey Ateles fusciceps fusciceps in all the Canandé corridor (Canandé, Tesoro Escondido and Corridor reserves)
  • Study of illegal traffic of species and bush meat extraction; looking for solutions with different actors of the area
  • Population status of the river otter Lontra longicaudis in the area
  • Population status and threats of the Great Green Macaw Ara ambiguus
  • Study and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict

University courses

At the Tesoro Escondido Reserve there is the possibility of carrying out courses at high school or university levels in different topics, especially focused on the study of tropical forests. The reserve is located in a unique area of the Chocó biodiversity hotspot. The Chocó lowlands are characterized by a high diversity and endemism.

We provide facilities and a trained team to support in all activities, which can be carried out in primary forest, natural regeneration and reforestation areas. Thanks to our local farmer collaborators, studies can be also carried out in cacao and other croplands.

We can organise full trips including flights, accommodation and activities in Quito, transportation to the reserve as well as full time support and lectures by experts in the biodiverstiy of the area.

We can also combine courses focused on more than one ecosystem, thanks to our collaboration with Fundación Jocotoco, who runs 15 reserves in all the country.