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.

Read more: Happy people … happy forests?