Coming in 2017 – A New Reserve?
2016 saw 40,000 acres added to the Cofan lands. 2017 promises to bring another major addition. Randy and the others at the Fundación Sobrevivencia Cofan (FSC) are making good progress on gaining title to 18,000 acres adjacent to the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, a reserve that’s included Cofan territory since 1991. The land survey and property description are complete; the process will be finalized as soon as the additional $10,000 needed to cover the remaining costs can be found. As Randy notes, “Gaining title to 18,000 acres for $20,000 – a little over $1.00 an acre – is the sort of deal we should all hope for!”
On Board with the Cofan
Mary Hason has been on board with the Cofan for many years, making generous donations and attending Randy’s talks when he visited Chicago. But earlier this year she got on board literally, jumping into a canoe that took her and two friends on a two-day camping trip on the Río Zábalo.
“My Cofan river guide, Alphonso, paddled as I watched two blue morpho butterflies lazily flutter overhead until the end of their territory where another pair took over and traveled with us. Three different kinds of kingfisher birds noisily announced our arrival in each new territory along with troops of monkeys swinging through the trees and watching us. The diversity of the plants and birds was incredible. Alphonso paddled me close to beautiful flowers and even a baby anaconda so that I could take pictures.
“The most fun was when he caught a good-sized fish that pulled us into the bushes along the shore. I paddled us back out as he slowly got the fish into the canoe. Next he paddled to the shore where he hopped out, cut a length from a 2” sapling, and knocked out the fish. That night at our campsite as we ate our delicious fish, I thought about our perfect day.
“The Amazon Rainforest Ecotour was one of the best experiences of my life. Randy’s ability to weave stories about the cultural and scientific importance of local plants, people, and ecology was captivating. Experiencing the daily lives of the Cofan in their village of Zábalo, eating their tasty foods, and falling asleep to the sounds of the rainforest in our very comfortable accommodations was wonderful.”
Jungle-Keeping
This fall, Randy enlisted two long-time supporters, Geoff Corriveau and his wife Sue, to help with a major jungle-keeping project – clearing and restoring Park Guard trails in the Cofan area surrounding the Gueppi River.
Once highly protected by routine Park Guard patrols, the area was now the victim of diminished Park Guard program funding. The Gueppi was left unpatrolled; illegal hunting and fishing became more and more frequent. It was time to reopen the trails and repair the vandalized ranger station and Geoff and Sue signed on.
From Randy’s report: “Cutting away logs and tree falls with the chainsaw…clearing the trail with machetes, hacking through re-growing brush and masses of vines…. The trail is in verified Bad Condition…camp at a pleasant rocky stream…almost out of gas for the chainsaw…at 4:30 p.m., we’re a long way from the nearest good campsite…begin to run along what remains of the trail to make it to the Uttetsu Nai’qui with time enough to make camp…a couple of large turkey-like birds fly up…by 7:30 p.m. turkey stew is bubbling…finally descending to a Gueppi tributary…the boat trip down the Gueppi is always amazing…as we move down the stream, the sensation of timelessness is strong…monkeys crash heavily through the trees; on the bank, countless birds fly up as we cruise down.”
The trail is now clear again, the ranger station repaired. "Returning, we half walk, half run as we move easily along the trail. Spix’s Guans fly up off the trail, woolly monkeys stare down at us, a small herd of collared peccaries runs parallel to the trail for a while..."
For now, the cleared trail and repaired ranger station will signal that the Cofan are watching. But unless regular patrols resume, the forest will again be in danger. $1500 a month is all it will take – a park guard’s salary, food, and transportation. Perhaps a day or two of Cofan “jungle-keeping” would be a nice addition to your Christmas list?