A near-death experience during a wildfire transformed a rancher into a rainforest guardian

Juan Guillermo Garcés, once a rancher clearing forests with fire, turned a near-death experience into a lifelong mission to restore Colombia’s jungles, creating a 3,000-hectare nature reserve that now teems with rare species.

Anastasia Austin and Douwe den Held report for The Guardian.

In short:

Garcés turned a devastating wildfire he started as a teen into a turning point, dedicating his life to reforestation and creating the Rio Claro nature reserve.
The reserve is home to over 100 newly discovered species and owes its unique biodiversity to the karst forest ecosystem and deliberate conservation efforts.
Despite challenges from armed groups, deforestation pressures and land disputes, Garcés has inspired other landowners to convert pastures into reserves, contributing to Colombia's conservation goals.

Key quote:

"I have never really been the owner of these forests, nor could I be. If the law allowed, I would leave [the reserve] to the trees, to the animals. They are the true owners of this ecosystem."

— Juan Guillermo Garcés

Why this matters:

Garcés’ reforestation work has turned barren lands into lush ecosystems, drawing not just rare species but other landowners to the idea of swapping pastures for preserves.

www.theguardian.com

A near-death experience during a wildfire transformed a rancher into a rainforest guardian

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