When Manuel Simba first set foot in the area, his view was dominated by man-made ditches snaking through the landscape. These ditches served the purpose of draining water for farm animals such as sheep and cows. “It was disheartening not to spot any deer or condors,” Manuel recalls.
Fast forward to today, strolling along a trail in the Antisana Water Reserve, Manuel reflects on the remarkable transformations he’s witnessed. “Now, it fills me with joy to witness deer, Andean condors, black-faced ibises, and even wolves freely roaming these lands,” he says, a proud smile spreading across his face.
At 58, Manuel, with his gray hair and piercing eyes, has dedicated himself to safeguarding the moors, particularly the Antisana, since 2015. Situated between the provinces of Pichincha and Napo, roughly a hundred kilometers from Quito, Ecuador’s capital, this area serves as a crucial water source for cities like Quito.
“My father, a farmer, instilled in me a love for nature and the importance of caring for the land,” Manuel fondly reminisces about his childhood.
As he speaks of the moor’s rejuvenation, Manuel’s face lights up with pride. He shares anecdotes of bears and pumas captured on camera traps.
Not too long ago, sightings of such animals were rare despite the Antisana Ecological Reserve being a biodiversity hotspot in Ecuador. Home to 418 bird species, 73 mammals, and 61 amphibians and reptiles, the reserve faced challenges due to insufficient protection and the intrusion of non-native animals, prompting many native species to abandon their habitats for over a decade.
“The western side of Antisana volcano suffered extensive damage, primarily due to cattle farming,” explains Robert Hofstede, a Dutch biologist specializing in moor ecology.
For years, vast cattle ranches dominated the Antisana landscape. In 2019, journalist Cristian Corral reported that in 1977, José Delgado acquired a massive estate known as Pinantura, which later became the reserve. At its zenith, Delgado’s estate housed approximately 20,000 cattle.
However, by 2020-2021, the last of the cows were removed from the land as part of an initiative to conserve soil and water. Susana Escandón, coordinator of the Sustainable Water Conservation Areas Program, highlights that after the cattle were removed and restoration plans were implemented, the vegetation gradually began to reclaim the land.
Escandón elucidates that the moor, with its mosses, grasses, and sponge-like vegetation, plays a vital role in carbon storage and providing water to a significant portion of Quito’s population.
Maintaining healthy vegetation is crucial for preserving ecosystem balance, allowing various species to coexist harmoniously. Unfortunately, the introduction of domestic animals disrupts this balance by altering natural food systems and impeding access to vital resources such as water and sunlight.