Participating in the ATBC Conference on Tropical Conservation

The Amazon Research and Conservation Collaborative (ARCC) recently participated in the 2025 Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) Conference, held in vibrant Oaxaca, Mexico. This global gathering of tropical scientists and conservationists provided an exciting platform to share our research, deepen our understanding of biodiversity, and build meaningful partnerships to protect tropical ecosystems.

At the conference, ARCC shared new developments from our conservation work in the Ecuadorian Amazon, including recent Indigenous sustainable business partnerships, novel approaches to documenting Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and advances in territorial mapping and forest monitoring.

ARCC also delivered two research talks. The first, presented by ARCC President Ethan Duvall, introduced new findings on the ecological drivers behind the formation of mineral licks—biodiversity hotspots critical to Amazonian wildlife such as tapirs, monkeys, and parrots. The second, presented by Media Specialist Joseph See, explored how the international spotlight from COP16 has increased commercial interest in Colombia’s Inírida flowers—Guacamaya superba and Schoenocephalium teretifolium—putting pressure on their fragile white-sand savannah habitat and highlighting the urgent need for sustainable conservation strategies.

Beyond presenting, ARCC was proud to connect with representatives from fellow conservation organizations in the Amazon, including ACCA Peru, Instituto Juruá, and the Tiputini Biodiversity Station. These new connections are already opening doors to future collaborations across the Amazon.

For more about our work, visit rainforest-arcc.org, and learn more about the ATBC Conference here.