Science-based conservation: The Lessons of Reassembly

In the midst of the extraordinary biodiversity of the Chocó lowlands, where the croak of frogs, the song of birds, and the soft patter of rain on the leaves combine to create a unique melody, Jocotoco inaugurated the Chocó Lab in 2021. Located in our Canandé Reserve, our largest reserve that now covers more than 43,800 acres (17,700 ha), this scientific station marks a milestone in the conservation of this highly threatened ecosystem.

?"The Chocó Lab is more than a laboratory; it is an example of how science, technology and community engagement can transform the future of our ecosystems," says our CEO, Martin Schaefer.

In fact, our Chocó Lab is the core of an innovative research project: Reassembly. This ground-breaking initiative, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and supported by more than 20 universities from Ecuador and Germany, explores how the Chocó forest can regenerate on its own after being cleared. Working closely with Fundación Jocotoco, Reassembly sought to unlock the secrets behind the remarkable resilience of this unique ecosystem. The work has been a resounding success.?

Over the past three years, the Reassembly team worked in our Canandé Reserve. Some of the forests in Canandé had previously been cleared before we protected the land. The team identified 43 forest plots at various stages of recovery, from abandoned grasslands to maturing forests. Advanced tools such as bioacoustics, artificial intelligence, and metabarcoding - identifying multiple species in a sample by sequencing DNA or RNA - allowed us to measure biodiversity on these plots. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we analyzed how species interactions (such as predation, pollination, and seed dispersal) break down when a forest is cleared and rebuild when nature is given a chance to heal.

The data collected showed that in just 20 years, a cleared forest in the Chocó can recover biodiversity to levels comparable to that of a mature ecosystem.?

"What we are observing here is extraordinary: a surprisingly high rate of regeneration compared to other regions," explains Nico Blüthgen, the project's principal investigator. "We call it 'reassembly' because it involves the reassembly of the entire ecosystem, from the smallest interactions to the entire community. This process is critical to the holistic recovery of the forest."

One fundamental truth emerged from Reassembly: nature can heal quickly, if we let it. This is a? simple yet powerful statement that challenges the narrative of irreversible loss and provides a model for action. That undoubtedly is already one of the key contributions of Reassembly to the global debate during the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.?

A Collective Effort

The project's success relied on the dedication of researchers and local experts. PhD students braved remote, muddy trails to collect data, developing innovative methods to quantify ecosystem recovery. Without easy access to identification tools for tropical species, they created open-source models that can now identify the songs of 300 bird species and 60 frog species.

Essential to his effort were parabiologists - local field assistants with deep knowledge of the land - and Jocotoco′s park rangers, whose experience and connection to the ecosystem were invaluable. This synergy of science and traditional knowledge not only enhanced the project`s outcomes but also strengthened ties with local communities, ensuring lasting benefits.

Jocotoco is now a leader in applying cutting-edge technology to conservation. The same technology and models pioneered through Reassembly are now being implemented across Ecuador. This work has even attracted the interest of institutions such as the World Bank and European Central Bank, which see these methods as a way to quantify and value conservation strategies.

As our CEO, Martin Schaefer explains: "This use of technology and artificial intelligence allows for efficient, scalable and cost-effective monitoring, laying the foundation for sustainable green financing strategies."

In a world where centuries of environmental destruction have eroded the natural foundations of our cultures, economies, and well-being, the message that nature can heal quickly has never been more important. Historical knowledge and scientific evidence warn us about the dangers of overexploiting our natural worldas seen in the collapse of civilizations like the Sumerians, Romans, and Mayansyet we continue to fail to act with the urgency required. After decades of studies, projections, and deliberations, governments and international treaties have fallen short. And yet, Reassembly proves that with protection and care, nature has an extraordinary capacity to regenerate. In our Canandé Reserve, science, technology, and community knowledge come together to tell an inspiring story of resilience, offering us a hopeful vision for the future.

Want to learn more about Reassembly? Click here