About us

We are the Amazon Research & Conservation Collaborative (ARCC), a registered 501(c)(3) U.S. non-profit organization.

Our mission is to support the conservation of biodiversity and culture in western Amazonia through interdisciplinary research, community engagement, and communication initiatives.

What we do..

We work to conserve biological and cultural diversity in the Amazon Rainforest via three main approaches:

Interdisciplinary Research

We inform conservation action through collaborative research, both scientific and non-traditional.

Community Engagement

We partner with indigenous communities to empower local change and future conservation leadership.

Communication

We foster advocacy and develop community-based conservation strategies through educational programs, media storytelling, journalism, and peer-review publication.

Where we work..

Our work is primarily based in the Ecuadorian Amazon. This region supports the highest biodiversity in the Amazon Basin (and potentially the world), but is also experiencing the the highest rates of increasing human pressures, such as deforestation, oil extraction, and illegal gold mining. This region is also home to more than 10 indigenous nationalities, including three sub-groups in voluntary isolation.

What is at stake..

Our work is necessitated by a sad reality: rates of biodiversity loss and cultural extinction are higher than ever before in the western Amazon Rainforest.

The Ecuadorian Amazon lost 650,000 hectares of pristine rainforest between 2008 and 2016.

Recent research has also highlighted an approximate 50% decline in bird abundance in one of Ecuador’s most remote regions of the Amazon.

What activities are responsible?

There are several main drivers of biodiversity loss in the Ecuadorian Amazon which set the focus of our work:

  • Oil extraction - including road development, oil and gas pollution, and influence on indigenous groups

  • Illegal gold mining - including habitat destruction and mercury contamination

  • Wildlife trafficking - including illegal bushmeat hunting and pet trade

Our Guiding Values

  • Indigenous Rights and Collaboration

    We believe in respecting and empowering indigenous communities through equitable partnerships.

  • Prioritizing Conservation Impact

    We believe in constantly re-evaluating how our work can drive the largest positive change.

  • Transparency and Accountability

    We believe in the highest standards of communication, transparency, and accountability in our work.

  • Capacity Building

    We believe in strengthening local capacity and resilience through skill development and community-led initiatives.

Photo by Naia Hoeneisen

Message from our President:

“The hard work has begun.”

“ARCC’s goal is to be a leader in the protection and restoration of the Amazon, particularly the Western/Ecuadorian region which faces unapparelled and rapidly increasing threats to biodiversity and Indigenous peoples. Our role is to execute, support, and empower research and community-based initiatives that can influence social, ecological, and political change.

What sets us apart is our approach—we collaborate with an incredible array of indigenous communities to simultaneously address the inextricable issues of biodiversity conservation and community well-being. Our projects are strategically diverse in scale and approach, spanning the scope of ecology, sustainable economics, journalism, and education.

We founded ARCC with the idea of channeling the resources and passions of donors and sponsors towards on-the-ground initiatives that truly make a difference. As we grow, so will the impact of our work. Eventually, we hope to have the funds to support a diverse and dedicated team to execute and manage a suite of crucial projects.

I firmly believe that the important work is not hindered by a lack of passionate people, and certainly not the talents they provide. It’s hindered by the support provided—financially, professionally, and collaboratively. We are going to break those barriers and work alongside the Amazon to ensure its brightest future.”

—
Ethan Duvall
Founder, President