The Hermandad Marine Reserve, created in 2022, has now been officially incorporated into the Galapagos Biosphere Reserve during UNESCO’s 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, held in Hangzhou, China in September 2025.
With this inclusion, the reserve now spans 20.6 million hectares, reaffirming Ecuador’s commitment to conservation and sustainability.
Ecuador’s Minister of the Environment, Inés Manzano, praised the continuous efforts of Galapagos park rangers and the local community in fostering a harmonious relationship with nature, highlighting their work on her social media platforms.
Source: Primicias
Porroglossum hildeae, the newly discovered orchid. Photo: Courtesy of the National Institute of Biodiversity.
New Orchid Species Discovered in Northern Ecuador Andes
A group of scientists from various organizations and research institutions recently discovered a new orchid species in the Río Manduriacu Reserve, located in Ecuador’s Imbabura province.
The newly identified epiphyte species grows at an altitude of 1,600 meters in a cloud forest ecosystem. Since it has only been found in two specific locations within the reserve, researchers are recommending it be classified as critically endangered. The orchid measures up to 9 cm in length and has striking yellow-orange petals.
Named Porroglossum hildeae, the species honors Hildegarden Toeppfer, a nature enthusiast and Czech refugee in Ecuador, whose descendants contributed to the establishment of the Río Manduriacu Reserve.
Source: El Universo & PhytoKeys