Nature and Culture Mosaic Brochure 2022

CONNECT CONNECT AND PROTECT & PROTECT

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THE MOSAIC MODEL With support from donors like you, Nature and Culture International is concentrating our efforts in 13 large-scale eco-regional landscapes, or mosaics.

Collectively these mosaics cover about 30 million acres of wild places – including some of the largest carbon reserves, the most species-rich ecosystems in the world, and more.

This concept of creating large-scale mosaics that provide connection between protected areas is central to Nature and Culture’s strategy.

Protected areas are vital for the survival of nature and all that it provides us – clean water, food, medicine, and a stable climate. These areas also contribute to the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities.

Their effectiveness depends not only on whether they are intact and managed but also on whether they are connected to other protected areas.

By connecting protected areas, we allow wildlife to move and migrate, safeguard genetic flow between plant and animal populations, ensure species are better able to adapt to our changing climate, boost biodiversity and resilience in degraded ecosystems, and maintain overall ecosystem health.

Let’s take a look at these special places…

MEXICO

MOSAIC: SOUTHERN SONORA WHERE THE DRY FOREST AND SONORA DESERT MEET Southern Sonora Mosaic spans 1.7 million acres from the southern point of the Sonoran desert to the northern point of the tropical dry forest. Due to its location, the mosaic is home to diverse plant and animal species from both arid and tropical ecosystems. No such combination exists anywhere else in the world.

Within the mosaic, Nature and Culture manages our Monte Mojino Reserve and is supporting the creation of three new protected areas: El Pitayal State Reserve, Fishery Resource Reserve, and Cuenca del Mayo Federal Protected Area.

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? Endangered Species | The mosaic creates a wildlife corridor used by a range of national-level endangered species like the jaguar (Panthera onca), migratory global endangered species like the thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha), and endangered species like the lilac crowned amazon (Amazona finschi).

Rare Forests | Southern Sonora contains one of the last remaining Pitayal forests (Organ Pipe Cactus forest) in the world. The Pitayal is Mexico’s most endangered ecosystem.

Water Resources | Our Monte Mojino Reserve contains the Cuchujaqui Watershed, which provides 70% of the water used in the nearby community of Alamos. The proposed Cuenca del Mayo Federal Protected Area contains a watershed that provides water for several communities, cities, and agricultural lands.

MEXICO MOSAIC MAP SONORA

Navojoa Alamos

SOUTHERN SONORA MOSAIC

GULF OF CALIFORNIA SINALOA

CHIHUAHUA

Areas Nature and Culture is Helping to Protect Other Protected Areas Conservation Mosaic

ECUADOR

MOSAIC: PODOCARPUS EL CÓNDOR ONE OF THE MOST SPECIES-RICH FORESTS IN THE WORLD Podocarpus El Cóndor Mosaic spans páramo grassland and cloud forest ecosystems in southern Ecuador. The region is known for its high concentration of endangered and unique species.

Nature and Culture has exciting goals for this mosaic — and is already hard at work! We are creating and expanding protected areas, establishing monitoring and co-management programs with allies, and recovering environmental services through restoration programs.

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? Biodiversity Hotspot | The cloud forest along the eastern slope of the Andes has been characterized as the most species-rich forest ecosystem in the world.

The mosaic secures habitat for the spectacled bear and the newlydiscovered blue-throated hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus). It is home to around 800 bird species.

Plant Paradise | The eastern end of the mosaic may have the richest flora of any similar-sized area in the western hemisphere. Forty percent of its plant species are only found in this region.

Guardians of the Forest | The region is home to a significant indigenous population, principally members of the Shuar and Saraguro nationalities.

MOSAIC: SANGAY PODOCARPUS THE COUNTRY’S FIRST CONNECTIVITY CORRIDOR Nature and Culture partnered with the Ministry of Environment of Ecuador to declare Sangay - Podocarpus as the country’s first connectivity corridor! The mosaic extends over 900,000 acres of diverse and fragile ecosystems, linking Sangay National Park in central Ecuador with Podocarpus National Park in the south. 75% of Sangay Podocarpus is under protected status, including five areas protected under Ecuador’s National System of Protected Areas thanks to Nature and Culture’s diligent work.

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? Wildlife Refuge | Sangay Podocarpus Mosaic is home to (at least) 101 mammal species, 580 bird species, 162 amphibian species, 45 reptile species, and 31 fish species.

These numbers are increasing rapidly as scientific studies are undertaken and species new to science are discovered.

Ecosystem Services | The mosaic secures important water resources for local populations. Its páramos and forest ecosystems contribute to the mitigation of climate change by storing 108 million tons of carbon.

Collaborative Effort | The declaration is a result of joint work between Nature and Culture, national, regional, and local authorities, universities, communities, and other partners. Nature and Culture will continue to ensure the protection and management of areas within Sangay - Podocarpus.

MOSAIC: MORONA SANTIAGO DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS, LUSH FORESTS, INDIGENOUS CULTURES Located in southeastern Ecuador, Morona Santiago Mosaic possesses outstanding natural beauty, active volcanoes, and diverse ecosystems. From tropical forests to glaciers, this mosaic holds an entire spectrum of ecosystems, with striking contrasts between the snowcapped peaks and the forests of the Amazon.

Nature and Culture is currently working with local communities and authorities to conserve at least 70% of the provincial territory (Morona Santiago Province) within the mosaic. We are identifying priority areas, promoting the declaration of reserves, and strengthening management efforts.

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? More than 30 Ecosystems | Morona Santiago spans at least 30 ecosystems. Its tropical lowland evergreen forest ecosystem has one of the greatest capacities to store carbon, contributing to the mitigation of global climate change.

Extensive Forest | This mosaic contains vast forests. However, it is currently experiencing one of the highest rates of deforestation in Ecuador.

Ancestral Cultures | Areas within the territory are the ancestral homelands of Achuar, Shuar, and Kichwa indigenous cultures. These people have lived in harmony with nature for generations.

MOSAIC: PASTAZA ECUADOR’S LARGEST CARBON RESERVE Pastaza Mosaic spans 7.3 million acres in the Province of Pastaza, located in eastern Ecuador, including parts of the Amazon rainforest. This is considered by scientists to be one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth.

Partnering with indigenous nationalities and local and provincial authorities, Nature and Culture aims to ensure the protection and sustainable management of the mosaic’s incredible biological and cultural diversity from increasing threats.

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? Highly Biodiverse | A single hectare (2.47 acres) in the region may contain more tree species than are native to the continental United States and Canada combined.

Carbon Reserve | Pastaza stores 1,700 million tons of carbon, nearly double the amount of Canada’s carbon emissions in 2018.

Cultural Richness | The mosaic is home to the Achuar, Shuar, Shiwiar, Andwa, Kichwa, Waorani, and Sapara indigenous nationalities.

Increasing Threats | Nature and Culture estimates that from 2016 to 2018, 3,000 acres of forest in Pastaza were deforested each year, primarily due to agricultural expansion. Oil drilling, illegal logging, animal trafficking, and development are other major threats.

MOSAIC: DRY FOREST ECUADOR’S MOST THREATENED ECOSYSTEM Located in southern Ecuador, the Dry Forest Mosaic comprises part of Ecuador’s remaining tropical dry forest and includes areas with the greatest number of unique species in the world.

Our efforts in the mosaic focus on the creation and management of conservation and development areas, where local people sustainably interact with their environment and play an integral role in its conservation.

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? Threatened Habitat | Over 95% of tropical dry forest has been lost or degraded due to human activities.

The mosaic contains some of the last remnants of tropical dry forest in Ecuador.

Birder’s Paradise | The mosaic is home to 55 unique bird species one of the highest concentrations of endemic (meaning found nowhere else on the planet) birds in the world.

Undiscovered Plants | Almost 20% of the plant species in the area are also endemic. According to botanist Eduardo Cueva, there are several possible new plant species yet to be discovered in this area.

Quito

Guayaquil

SANGAYPODOCARPUS MOSAIC

MORONA SANTIAGO MOSAIC

PODOCARPUS EL CÓNDOR MOSAIC DRY FOREST MOSAIC

COLUMBIA

Yasuní

PASTAZA MOSAIC

PERÚ

Areas Nature and Culture Helped to Protect Other Protected Areas Conservation Mosaic

PERU

MOSAIC: NORTH ANDES WATER RESOURCES FOR 2 MILLION PEOPLE North Andes Mosaic is home to some of the most diverse, fragile, and complex cloud forests on Earth. Many conservationists consider them the world’s greatest conservation priority.

Nature and Culture is currently working with local communities and authorities within the mosaic to conserve forest and páramo ecosystems, maintain water resources, and secure habitat connectivity for species like the mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) and spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus).

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? Water Resources | The forests and páramos located in the Andes of Piura are a source of water for about two million people. This mosaic’s also supplies irrigation for more than 1.2 million acres for agricultural purposes.

Sacred Places | Local people use lakes within the páramos, or ‘huaringas,’ for shamanic rituals.

Unknown to Science | North Andes Mosaic spans over one million acres – and much of it has yet to be studied and documented. The last ornithology (or bird science) expedition took place in 1998.

Nature and Culture aims to support additional expeditions and research in the mosaic. There may be new species yet to be discovered in the region!

MOSAIC: DRY FORESTS OF THE MARAÑON SOUTH AMERICA’S GRAND CANYON Nestled between breathtaking Andean peaks, the Dry Forests of the Marañon encompasses 1.2 million acres of dry forest, savanna grassland, and montane forest along the Marañon River.

Our local team is working to protect this unique place by declaring new reserves, monitoring species, and supporting sustainable land and natural resources management.

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? South America’s Grand Canyon | The deep and rugged canyon, known as the Grand Canyon of South America, is recognized as the area with the most endemic species. The area’s natural wealth is often compared to that of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.

Rare Species | The Marañon is home to hundreds of threatened and endemic species, or species found in only one location on the planet. More than half of the birds and reptiles found within these dry forests are endemic to the area, and more than 143 species of plants solely exist in this ecoregion.

Unique Landscape | The area’s high level of endemism is attributed to its unique microclimate and landscape, as well as the fact that the region served as a refuge for many species during the last ice ages.

MOSAIC: NANAY - TIGRE ACHIEVING CONSERVATION & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Nanay-Tigre Mosaic in Loreto is important for forest protection and climate mitigation efforts due to its large forest areas, huge carbon stock, and extraordinary biological and ethnic diversity. However, Loreto has the second-highest deforestation rate in Peru, which is closely linked to the lack of options for sustainable income-generating activities. Nature and Culture is partnering with indigenous communities, authorities, and organizations to achieve sustainable conservation and empower communities in this vast and diverse mosaic.

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? Amazonian Animals | From the endangered giant river otter to the rare harpy eagle, Nanay-Tigre is home to a spectacular array of animal species.

Carbon Storage | The mosaic’s lush forests secure 700 million tons of carbon.

‘Fruitful’ Development | Nature and Culture is supporting indigenous communities within the mosaic to develop a sustainable fruit harvesting business. The business will protect the area’s habitat and rich biodiversity by increasing the value of standing forest and secure sustainable livelihoods for communities. Communities are receiving training to safely harvest Amazonian aguaje and camu camu fruits for commercialization as well as training to monitor the forest and develop management plans.

MOSAIC: HUÁNUCO A BIRDING HOTSPOT The Huánuco Mosaic spans 3.6 million acres of forest and páramo ecosystems within one of the most biodiverse places on the planet – the tropical Andes. This region contains numerous endemic species.

Nature and Culture plans to continue working with local and regional authorities and communities within the mosaic to create new protected areas, manage and expand existing reserves, and monitor rare and threatened bird species.

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? Birding Hotspot | A birdwatcher’s dream, the mosaic’s cloud forests are humming with an amazing array of bird species, including the endemic black-bellied tanager (Ramphocelus melanogaster) and endangered golden-backed mountain tanager (Cnemathraupis aureodorsalis).

Nature and Culture is currently supporting efforts to monitor the golden-backed mountain tanager.

Climate Solution | Huánuco’s forests not only regulate local and regional climate by producing atmospheric moisture and rainfall, but they also mitigate global climate change by storing carbon dioxide.

Critical Resources | Local communities rely on the mosaic’s non-timber resources. These resources include freshwater basins and plants with medicinal value.

ECUADOR NANAY - TIGRE MOSAIC

PERÚ

NORTHERN ANDES MOSAIC

MARAÑON DRY FOREST MOSAIC

HUÁNUCO MOSAIC

Trujillo

Chimbote

PACIFIC OCEAN

Areas Nature and Culture Helped to Protect Other Protected Areas Conservation Mosaic

COLOMBIA

MOSAIC: SOUTHERN CHOCÓ ONE OF THE WORLD’S WETTEST RAINFORESTS This mosaic is located in the Chocó region of western Colombia, one of the most biologically rich areas on the planet.

It encompasses one of the world’s wettest rainforests with more than 39 feet of rain annually, as well as mangroves, rocky cliffs, and coastal plains intersected by mountains.

We are working with in-country partners like the Humboldt Institute within the Southern Chocó Mosaic to declare two new protected areas and establish sustainable management plans to ensure lasting conservation impact.

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? Key Biodiversity Area | An estuarine and coastal zone within the mosaic is considered a wetland of international importance and a global Key Biodiversity Area due to its diverse ecosystems and species richness.

Mangrove Forests | Mangrove forests in the mosaic protect against storm surges and coastal erosion and provide nursery habitat for juvenile shrimp and fish that are important foods for local communities. These ecosystems also store massive amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate climate change.

Rare Species | Many plant species within the mosaic are found nowhere else in the world. The most toxic animal on earth, the golden poison frog, resides in the Chocó rainforests.

PANAMA

Apartadó

PACIFIC OCEAN SOUTHERN CHOCO MOSAIC

Medellín

Bogotá

Areas Nature and Culture is Helping to Protect Other Protected Areas Conservation Mosaic

BOLIVIA

MOSAIC: GUARANÍ A SANCTUARY FOR JAGUARS Guaraní Mosaic spans over 18 million acres in Bolivia, containing Chaco dry forest, Pantanal weltland, and Andean Yungas forest.

Of the 50,000 people that inhabit this vast area, 60% are of indigenous Guaraní origin. The Guaraní people rely on the mosaic’s forests and ecosystems for food, water, medicine, and shelter.

Nature and Culture is working with local partners like Natura Bolivia and Nativa within the mosaic to protect and manage its great forest area and maintain habitat for species like the threatened jaguar (Panthera onca) and guanaco (Lama guanicoe).

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? Forest Cover | 80% of the mosaic is covered by forests. This forest cover stores a large amount of carbon, helping to mitigate climate change.

Extensive forest cover is especially important for far-ranging animals in the region, including jaguars, peccaries, and lowland tapirs.

Jaguar Habitat | According to recent studies, Guaraní Mosaic could be home to 1,000 jaguars!

Kaa Iya National Park, located within the mosaic, likely has the largest population of jaguars in a protected area in the world.

Increasing Deforestation | Despite its large size, the mosaic is increasingly threatened by fires, expanding agriculture, and cattle ranching.

Recent data reveal Bolivia is currently experiencing one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world.

MOSAIC: IÑAO - TARIQUÍA WATER CORRIDOR A CORRIDOR FOR WATER AND WILDLIFE The Iñao – Tariquía Water Corridor Mosaic boasts a great variety of wildlife, including the military macaw (Ara militaris), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), and spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus).

Despite this rich biodiversity, land is increasingly threatened by agriculture and livestock farming, which risks diminishing the quality of water resources.

In partnership with Natura Bolivia, Nature and Culture aims to ensure the protection and management of wildlife habitat and resources within the mosaic through the creation of conservation areas.

WHAT MAKES THIS MOSAIC SPECIAL? Water Resources | Water resources within the mosaic secure safe and abundant water for more than half a million people, including nearby local and indigenous communities and cities.

Rare Plants | Iñao – Tariquía Water Corridor contains many threatened and endemic plant species, or plants found nowhere else on the planet. Species include the endemic cactus Cleistocactus candelilla and endangered guabiyu fruit tree (Myrcianthes pungens).

Wildlife Corridor | Spanning four national protected areas, 10 subnational protected areas, and protected areas under Reciprocal Agreements for Water, the mosaic maintains connected habitat for the spectacled bear and other farranging species.

Santa Cruz de la Sierra

GUARANI MOSAIC

PARAGUAY

WATER CORRIDOR MOSAIC ARGENTINA

Areas Nature and Culture Helped to Protect Other Protected Areas Conservation Mosaic

ABOUT US Founded in 1996, Nature and Culture International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving biologically diverse landscapes in Latin America, in concert with local cultures, for the well-being of the planet.

We’ve successfully implemented a community-based conservation model, resulting in the legal protection of more than 21 million acres of forest ecosystems and other habitat in Latin America.

OFFICES United States 1400 Maiden Lane, Del Mar, CA 92014 dogood@natureandculture.org NatureCulture natureculture_org savingnature Ecuador Loja, Cuenca, Puyo nciecuador@naturalezaycultura.org nci.ecuador nciecuador Peru Lima, Huánuco, Iquitos, Chachapoyas, secretaria-peru@naturalezaycultura.org naturalezayculturainternacionalperu nciperu Mexico Alamos dogood@natureandculture.org NaturalezayCulturaMexico www.natureandculture.org