Press Release

Ecuadoran Conservationist Named One of “50 People Changing the World”

The Explorers Club selected Javier Robayo for his leadership in conserving threatened biodiversity hotspots in western Ecuador 

WASHINGTON, DC, March 16, 2022 — Ecuadorian conservationist, biologist, and educator Javier Robayo was recognized today as one of “The Explorers Club 50: Fifty People Changing the World the World Needs to Know About” (“EC50”). Since 1904, The Explorers Club has supported scientific expeditions of all disciplines, including several “famous firsts”—first to the North Pole, South Pole, summit of Mt. Everest, deepest point in the ocean, and surface of the moon—and the work of household names including Jane Goodall, Theodore Roosevelt, Buzz Aldrin, and Sylvia Earle. The historically exclusive club launched the EC50 in 2021 to “expand the definition and reflect the great diversity of exploration” and to help amplify the voices of leaders from around the world who deserve a greater spotlight on their work.

Robayo is the executive director of Fundación EcoMinga, a nonprofit which maintains over 27,000 acres of protected areas in Ecuador’s Chocó and Tropical Andes. As a biologist and educator, he has led more than 200 research and teaching expeditions in Ecuador. His extensive, collaborative field work has led to the discovery of more than 10 species of orchids, a new genus containing two species of rodents, and a new genus of frog, and five other species of amphibians. He shows respect and love for the earth by helping his park rangers and young researchers recognize and protect species in this biodiversity hotspot. Robayo’s work focuses on highlighting biodiversity to prevent the deforestation of these irreplaceable forests, which are severely threatened by agricultural deforestation and mining exploration. 

Robayo was nominated for the award by Callie Broaddus, who received the same award in 2021 as the founder of youth-led conservation group, Reserva: The Youth Land Trust. About the announcement, Broaddus says, “I am thrilled that the Explorers Club is shining a light on the important work Javier does at such a critical moment for conservation in Ecuador. Extractive industries are threatening the survival of some of the world’s most biodiverse and unique ecosystems, including areas presumed to be protected. It is leaders like Javier who will ensure Ecuador’s youth have a livable future with clean drinking water, stable soil, and healthy ecosystems sustained by rich biodiversity.”

Peter Tobias, President of one of EcoMinga’s main partners, the Orchid Conservation Alliance, says, “It is a privilege to have collaborated with Javier Robayo and Fundación Ecominga on the preservation of some of the world’s finest orchid habitat. This honor is richly deserved. He and Ecominga deserve our continuing ardent support.”

To learn more about Robayo’s work and Fundación EcoMinga’s network of protected areas in Ecuador, visit ecomingafoundation.wordpress.com.

Photos courtesy of Reserva: The Youth Land Trust are available for media use with visible photo credit and can be downloaded here. For additional questions related to image use or other media, contact Callie Broaddus at callie@reservaylt.org.

# # # 

About Reserva: The Youth Land Trust

Reserva is a youth-led organization established in 2019 with the mission of empowering young people to make a measurable difference for threatened species and habitats through conservation, education, and storytelling. In 2021, Reserva announced the successful creation of their flagship project, the world’s first entirely youth-funded nature reserve, in partnership with Rainforest Trust and Fundación EcoMinga. Reserva seeks to engage local and international youth in the exploration, research, conservation, and storytelling surrounding Dracula Reserve, believing that new generations are crucial to the long-term success of conservation. Reserva’s vision is to build a network of similar youth-funded reserves around the globe. For more about Reserva, visitwww.reservaylt.org.