LOCATION: THE MEGA-DIVERSE "NAPO REFUGIA" OF AMAZONIAN ECUADOR
The rainforest of the LSC borders the Napo River and is crossed by small streams and fluvial swamps; this relatively small, 14.5 hectare plot is surrounded and supported by the much larger, 2200 ha Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve. Jatun Sacha is the largest private rainforest reserve in the upper Amazon Basin, includes all major habitat types found within the region (with the exception of lakes), and is (unlike most other Amazonian reserves) easily accessible by road (a spectacular 6-hour descent of the Andes from the capitol of Quito).
Thousands of people from around the world have visited Jatun Sacha since its founding in 1985; in addition to extensive forest holdings (with more than 40 kilometers of well-marked and maintained trails), the reserve also features the Center for Amazon Plant Conservation (botanical gardens and research facility), the Alinahui ecotourist lodge, four forest observation towers (treehouses and canopy tower), a canopy walkway, a bar/nightclub, and a central headquarters building housing the dining hall, offices, and gift shop. A large permanent staff operates the facility year-round (including English-fluent administrators), ensuring that you and your students are well cared-for and have the best possible experience in the Amazon Rainforest.
Located in the heart of the mega-diversity "hot spot" region of the upper Napo River basin (the "Napo Refugia"), the flora and fauna at Jatun Sacha is among the most biodiverse known for any single site worldwide, and includes (so far) 545 species of birds, 143 species of amphibians and reptiles, 800+ species of butterflies, and more than 1500 species of vascular plants (among taxa surveyed; most other groups have yet to be studied by appropriate specialists, as is the case with many Amazon rainforest areas). For more information on the web about Jatun Sacha and the Jatun Sacha Foundation (which also owns and operates three other biological field stations in other parts of Ecuador), see: www.jatunsacha.org