A few years ago, Proyecto Tití launched an ambitious campaign to purchase a large property that would nearly double the size of Los Titíes de San Juan Forest Reserve. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, that dream became a reality. Today, we are excited to share that restoration efforts have officially begun in this newly protected area of the reserve.
With the recent rains, Proyecto Tití initiated restoration activities across more than 94 acres of land, planting over 8,000 native tree saplings as part of our goal to plant more than 21,000 trees by the end of May. These native trees will reconnect fragmented forests within the reserve and provide a safe haven for cotton-top tamarin and other wildlife. But forest restoration is not only about planting trees—it is about people. And few people represent the heart of this work more than Salvador Vásquez. Since 2017, Salvador has been a dedicated partner in Proyecto Tití’s restoration efforts in the community of Nuevo México, near San Juan Nepomuceno, Colombia.
A farmer and landowner, Salvador has watched the landscape around him change over the years as forests disappeared and wildlife habitat became increasingly fragmented. “The tamarins used to come down near my house in groups of five or six,” Salvador remembers. “You could see they were searching for places to move safely.” When Proyecto Tití first approached community members with the idea of planting native trees to reconnect forests and restore habitat corridors, Salvador did not hesitate. “The first thing I thought was, if there are no trees, we need to plant more so the tamarins can always move through the forest,” he says.
One of the first trees Salvador planted was a Peroba Rosa tree, a species he especially loves because of the shade it provides as it slowly matures. Alongside it, he planted a kapok tree —both native species important to the tropical dry forest ecosystem. At the time, these tiny saplings may have seemed insignificant. But today, nearly a decade later, those trees stand tall and thriving, offering food, shade, and shelter not only for cotton-top tamarins, but also for birds, insects, and other wildlife that depend on healthy forests. “These trees are like bridges,” Salvador explains. “They help the tamarins move safely from one area to another.”
Over the years, Salvador has participated in every annual planting effort organized by Proyecto Tití. Through hands-on training, he learned how to prepare soils, select healthy saplings, and care for young trees. What began as curiosity soon became passion. One moment especially stayed with him. “I saw a female tamarin carrying two babies,” Salvador says with a smile. “It impressed me so much because I had never seen them that close before.” For Salvador, seeing cotton-top tamarins using the restored forest was confirmation that the work mattered.
His land, once isolated, has become part of a growing network of connected forest that supports biodiversity, protects water sources, and helps reduce the impacts of drought and climate change. It is a powerful example of how restoration efforts can transform landscapes when local communities are directly involved. Today, Salvador continues to inspire others in his community to join the effort. “If there are no trees, we must plant more so the cotton-top tamarins can always move safely through the forest.,” he says. His story reminds us that conservation grows one tree, one family, and one commitment at a time. And as restoration expands across the newly protected areas of Los Titíes de San Juan Forest Reserve, community leaders like Salvador are helping ensure a future where cotton-top tamarins—and the forests they depend upon—can continue to thrive.