The 1,000 hectare (2500 acre) Guandera Biological Reserve, named after one of the characteristic tree species of the region, the banyan-like guandera (Clusia Flaviflora) is a center for field research, education, and community service. Founded in 1994 by the Jatun Sacha Foundation, it conserves a small portion of the last sizable highland, Inter-Andean valley forest left in northern Ecuador. Less than 4% of this forest type remains. Located in the Carchi Province, approximately 11 kilometers east of San Gabriel (a small town), the Guandera Biological Reserve lies on (IN) the transitional area between the ridges of "Loma del Corazon," and "El Mirador" where the forest abruptly ends and turns to paramo grassland. This tropical wet montane forest at 3100-3600 meters, and the paramo above it possess a surprisingly diverse flora and fauna for such a high altitude site. Some of the documented trees of this area reach a height of 30 meters, remarkably tall for such elevations, and stretch 20 meters across, counting all the multiple trunks. In addition, this forest is one of the last inter-Andean valleys still frequented by Spectacled Bears (Ornatus tremarctos) and high elevation parrots and toucans. The reserve is available for use by researchers, university groups conducting field courses, natural history visitors, and tour groups. Initial inventories of flora, avifauna, and herpetofauna have been completed, as have sod studies. Both foreign and Ecuadorian university groups have been hosted at Guandera, and its environmental education program for local high school students is ongoing. There is also an on-site plant conservation center dedicated to high altitude plants.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Long affiliated with the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Jatun Sacha foundation offers volunteer opportunities for Ecuadorian and international volunteers at the three Biological Research Stations it owns and manages in Ecuador's tropical forests. Volunteers help with agroforestry, reforestation, environmental education, health, nutrition, construction and basic research projects. The three work sites include: The 3150 hectare Bilsa Biological Station located in western Ecuador, the 1000 hectare Guandera Biological Station protecting highland Andean forest, and the 2000 hectare Jatun Sacha Biological Station in Amazonian Ecuador. For more information visit their web site: www.jatunsacha.org or email Gabriela Cadena, Volunteer Coordinator, Jatun Sacha Foundation at volunteer@jatunsacha.org.