Jose DeCoux

Early in 2021, José DeCoux, the founder and manager of Reserva Los Cedros, announced that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma cancer. He is doing well, and receiving treatment at a private hospital in Quito. José indicated that he will not be stepping back from any of his duties as manager of Reserva Los Cedros, saying “it takes more than a little cancer to slow me down.”

With eco-tourism at an all-time low due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, friends and family have begun a grassroots fundraising effort to support DeCoux’s treatment and care during his recovery. Donations can be made here: gofundme.com/f/mhvqcb-help-jose-beat-cancer

We wanted to honor José during this difficult time, and give everyone that’s never had the pleasure of meeting him in person a glimpse of his incredible personality and drive. José has been the driving force behind conservation at Los Cedros since he help found it in the late 1980’s, and the work that he’s dedicated to saving this last remnant of Chocó rainforest is beyond comparison.

[One footnote: Jose forgets to mention that the Australian non-profit Rainforest Information Centre was integral to the founding of Los Cedros.]