Announcing The Savia Foundation
- Nicolas Devos
- Jan 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 27
We are excited to announce that on December 6th, 2024, Savia Foundation received tax exempt status from the U.S. government. This makes us official in the United States, and means that any donations made to Savia qualify for a tax deduction. In other words, your donation can help the planet and reduce your federal tax burden. Please consider giving to help our cause.
Savia Foundation is an Ecuadorian-American organization that protects biodiversity worldwide. One fact inspires our work. In 2008, Ecuador became the first country to incorporate the Rights of Nature into its constitution. We believe that nature has an inalienable right to exist and thrive, in harmony alongside the people who inhabit it. But rights have to be defended: nature needs to be seen and heard for its rights to be more than dry ink on paper.
We also believe in the power of storytelling. Photography and videography are powerful means of transmitting the importance of environmental preservation. Through camera trap photography, we can gather reliable data on wildlife and generate images with an impact, convincing others to join our cause. And photographic tourism can be a powerful economic means for the people who live with and care for natural ecosystems.
We use our expertise as storytellers, conservationists, scientists and lawyers to document, protect and defend biodiverse ecosystems through land protection and restoration, research and education, photographic and video storytelling, and species monitoring. With our local partners, we help build sustainable, harmonic relationships between humans and the environment.
Our goal is lofty, and we are starting out small, so please consider joining our mission: donate, sign up to our mailing list, or enquire about other ways to help us make a difference.
Three Projects for 2025
The Chontayacu Ecological Reserve: Protecting an Andean cloud forest ecosystem on the edge of Sumaco National Park, Ecuador
Our 2024 accomplishments:
A nucleus of 100 hectares bought (80 of which are primary forest)
3000+ trees planted
Began biological monitoring of the area: herping, orchids, mothing & trail cams
ID'ed endangered species in the area: nymphargus siren, Andean bear, mountain tapir, eagle, cedar.
Our 2025 goals: Finance a bio blitz, expand reforestation efforts, acquire more land, and begin to develop economic initiatives through reforestation, patrolling and tourism.
The Sumatra Ecoeconomy Initiative: Fostering sustainable development while conserving the biodiversity of Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Children's Literature for Conservation: Developing a series of childrens' books to foster nature stewardship in the next generation of Ecuadorian Citizens
Welcoming 2025
We are a fledgling organization only beginning to make an impact for conservation. But although we are small, our effectiveness is driven by our breadth of expertise and proximity to the ecosystems and the partners with whom we are working. Your actions can make an immense difference, helping us grow and change the world for better.
Here are some ways you can make an impact:
Donate: Any amount drives our goals
Join our mailing list: We’ll keep you posted on progress!
Contact us: Do you have any special skills or experience that might help our project, and do you have time? All hands on deck!
With this introduction, we thank you and wish you a happy, healthy 2025.
Best wishes,
The Board of the Savia Foundation
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