Hello, I just wanted to ask people to ask many questions about Refugio Paz de Aves, since this is the first I've heard of this recent fund-raising effort in the face of the most recent stated threat to the important site. The problem is, there are no controls over ownership and protection of this site, and what is to prevent future similar threats and future similar appeals for more money? Instead of an infusion of cash to the family, wouldn't it be preferable for the land to be placed in a trust and managed by a non-profit such as Nature Conservancy or BirdLife.org? What safeguards exist for preventing yet another appeal for a cash infusion once the current owners again increase the size of their families? My limited understand of the situation, based on a mere handful of visits, is that a lot of this is very money-driven. Yes, the site is special, but in my experience, there is no limit on the appeals for regular cash infusions in this type of situation. I'm sorry to throw iced water on the GoFundMe appeal, but It smells fishy to me without a change in ownership that would safeguard the land in perpetuity. I'd like to know more. A lot more. -Ken Archambault, Birmingham, Alabama On Sunday, July 17, 2022, 01:04:08 PM CDT, Jim Forrester <
jimf at cogenix.com> wrote:
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Thank you for forwarding the link to the Refugio Paz de las Aves Go Fund me campaign. We visited them in 2004, and it really is a magical place. The Refugio is in the Mindo area not far from Quito, which is probably the best place in the world to see a huge number of hummingbird species, perhaps 40 in a week. The Refugio is absolutely a can't miss place there, and we can't recommend it highly enough, so please support them and visit the Refugio if you get a chance. Jim
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