The critically endangered cotton-top tamarin, found only in Colombia’s tropical forests, is losing its home to decades of deforestation and habitat fragmentation. Restoring these forests is not just important—it’s essential for their survival. Without healthy, connected habitats, cotton-top tamarins have nowhere to live, feed, or raise their young, and their population cannot recover. Through our forest restoration efforts, Proyecto Tití is bringing life back to these vital landscapes—planting native trees, rebuilding wildlife corridors, and creating a future where tamarins and other native species can once again thrive. Every tree we plant is a step toward healing the forest and giving this remarkable primate a chance to endure for generations to come.
Restoring degraded lands is a complex but hopeful process, especially in regions that have been cleared for agriculture. The Los Titíes de San Juan Forest Reserve, once used for farming, is a powerful example of what’s possible when restoration takes root. Proyecto Tití has been working to transform this 2,200 acre reserve into thriving forest habitat, planting thousands of native trees to create safe spaces for cotton-top tamarins and countless other species. Beyond the reserve, we collaborate with local farmers to reforest parts of their land or enrich areas that were once vibrant forests but have been heavily impacted by years of cultivation. Thanks to the favorable growing conditions of the tropics, many of the newly planted trees begin producing fruit within just a few years—and as the forest returns, so does the wildlife. These efforts are not only healing the land but also restoring the ecological balance that tamarins and local communities depend on.
Proyecto Tití has established our own tree nurseries within the Los Tities de San Juan Forest Reserve, where our dedicated team propagates over 80 species of native trees with an annual production of more than 60,000 trees. These species are carefully selected to support the ecological integrity of the reserve and are planted both within the protected area and in surrounding conservation zones to strengthen forest connectivity.
To support our long-term restoration work, Proyecto Tití also maintains a seed bank containing tens of thousands of seeds representing a wide range of native species. This collection is vital for preserving genetic diversity, ensuring that restored areas are resilient, biologically rich, and capable of supporting the complex web of life that healthy forests sustain.
Proyecto Tití’s Tree Nursery
As our restoration efforts expand, we are extending this model to the community of Colosó, a key step in developing a mega corridor that will connect fragmented forests across the departments of Bolívar and Sucre. This ambitious initiative aims to reconnect habitats, enhance biodiversity, and create vital pathways for wildlife movement.
A new component of this work involves partnering directly with local farming families to establish small, community-based tree nurseries. We provide training and technical support to help families grow native tree species and then purchase the seedlings for use in reforestation projects within the corridor. This approach not only increases our capacity for reforestation but also provides meaningful income and strengthens community engagement in conservation.
Proyecto Tití’s restoration work is grounded in science, partnerships, and data-driven management. In collaboration with Fundación Ecosistemas Secos de Colombia we combine scientific research with traditional ecological knowledge to guide our restoration strategies.
Our monitoring program includes regular assessments of tree survival, growth rates, species composition, and wildlife use of restored areas. Using remote sensing tools and field data, we track progress and refine our techniques over time. This adaptive approach ensures that our efforts do more than just increase tree cover—they rebuild the ecological functions necessary for resilient, biodiverse forests.
Local community involvement is at the heart of Proyecto Tití’s forest restoration programs. These efforts create deep-rooted support for conservation while generating meaningful economic benefits.
In addition to our core team—most of whom are hired from nearby communities—we employ more than 50 local farmers each year during planting seasons at the Los Titíes de San Juan Forest Reserve and in neighboring forest corridors. Farmers play an essential role in the success of these projects, often transporting saplings by donkey or mule to remote restoration sites and contributing invaluable knowledge of the land.
We are committed to sourcing all restoration materials and supplies locally, further strengthening the regional economy and reinforcing the connection between conservation and community well-being. Through these partnerships, our forest restoration work not only protects critical habitats for cotton-top tamarins but also creates lasting, positive economic impacts for the people who share their home.
Within just a few years, the trees in newly restored areas begin to bear fruit, attracting cotton-top tamarins and other wildlife in search of food. These early signs of regeneration are crucial—animals begin to forage in young forests even before the canopy fully forms. As the trees grow and mature, offering greater cover and protection, the restored areas become essential stepping stones that allow wildlife to move safely through the landscape.
Every tree planted is a testament to hope, resilience, and collaboration. Together with our community partners, Proyecto Tití is restoring not just forests, but the balance of an entire ecosystem—one that supports cotton-top tamarins, countless other species, and the people who live alongside them. Our forest restoration work proves that when science, community, and compassion unite, even the most degraded landscapes can flourish again.
García-T, L. C., Guillen-M, R., & Savage, A. (2020). Inventario de mamíferos medianos y grandes en la reserva los Titíes de San Juan, Montes de María, Bolívar, Colombia. Mammalogy Notes, 6(2), 154.