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In rainforest protection, location is everything. Many organizations buy large tracts of untouched forest in remote regions, and we support that. But Forest Guardians takes a different, bolder path. We protect ecosystems that are in immediate danger, near roads, towns, and illegal expansion zones. These are not pristine cores but fragile frontline.
We protect forest on the frontline of deforestation
Land here is under real, current threat
Costs are higher, but so is the urgency
Every 10 m² has outsized impact in conflict zones
Your support stops expansion where it actually happens
Our forest is located near Puerto Misahuallí, Canton Tena, in the Napo Region of Ecuador's portion of the Amazon Region. Here, the expansion of legal and illegal gold extraction has opened roads into previously intact forest areas, has altered river systems, and contributed to significant deforestation, mercury contamination, and erosion and sedimentation. These activities degrade ecosystems and affect the wellbeing and cultural continuity of Indigenous communities that depend on healthy rivers, soils, and forests. Local residents report visible changes in water quality, fish availability, and soil stability. These impacts are not distant, they appear daily, driven by unregulated extraction practices and weak enforcement. Despite these challenges, local communities continue to organize to safeguard their territories.
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The Project and its Immediate Surroundings
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Regional Context View
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Whole Administrative Region
The land we protect isn’t deep in untouched wilderness. It’s close to human settlements, near gold mining roads, cattle pasture expansion, or logging routes. That makes it more valuable to developers, and more expensive to buy. But it also makes it more meaningful to protect. We don’t believe in false scale. We believe in meaningful resistance. A single hectare here might be worth 20 deep in the jungle. Because this is where the forest breaks.
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“At the beginning of this project, negotiating land prices was a major challenge. Our aim was to reach a fair agreement while ensuring that our funds were used responsibly and efficiently. In the region, land prices are heavily inflated by economic interests and speculation, which makes meaningful conservation work more complex. But real impact means acting where it truly matters, so we did not opt for the easy way. The pace of deforestation in the Napo region is alarming, which is why we remained committed on the ground until we were able to secure a forest area that is both ecologically valuable and important for the sovereignty of the local community”,
Camilo, South America coordinator at V Social.
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“Beyond the immediate risk of deforestation in Napo, two key factors guided the site selection. A strong partnership with the Sinchi Warmi community was essential, as local stewardship and deep-rooted ties are critical in the face of increasing pressure from gold mining. At the same time, the region’s exceptional natural and cultural richness offers strong potential for tourism and other nature-based economies to support long-term conservation. The possibility of creating a sustainable alternative that works in harmony with nature and provides a dignified future for local communities was therefore central to choosing this location.”
Marie, Director of the V Social Foundation
By protecting edge forests, we:
We’ve made it simple. Sponsor just 10 m². Yes, it’s small. But when placed in the right place, it changes everything. 10 m² here isn’t symbolic. It’s strategic. You’re not adopting a tree. You’re blocking deforestation.