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When Mashpi Lodge opened its doors in 2012, it did so with a purpose greater than offering unique experiences in the heart of the forest. It was born from the transformative vision of its founder, Roque Sevilla: to demonstrate that tourism and conservation can become engines of sustainable economic development, where biodiversity, innovation and local communities are interwoven on the same path.
Today, that vision has achieved international recognition with Roque Sevilla and the work of Fundación Futuro being awarded the Kenton Miller Award for Innovation in Protected Area Management, granted by the prestigious International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This award honors the capacity to innovate in the management of the planet’s most valuable ecosystems and highlights models that transform conservation paradigms.
Protecting Life in All Its Forms
The award recognizes Fundación Futuro’s innovative mechanisms for safeguarding life in Ecuador’s Andean Chocó forests, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.
Fundación Futuro has developed governance and financing mechanisms that go beyond the traditional: from the creation of community DAOs such as Guayabillas — a blockchain-based digital tool that ensures transparency and local participation — to the NFTree initiative, which since 2019 has channeled over one million dollars from the private sector into restoration and conservation.
Innovation also goes beyond finance. This model places communities at the center of conservation. An inspiring example is the story of ASOMEG, the women’s association of Guayabillas, which transformed homemade recipes into export-quality products under the La Guapa brand. Their jams and granolas —now part of Mashpi Lodge’s menu— not only generate steady income, but also symbolize pride, community leadership, and forest restoration.
Sustaining this vision, today—alongside the more than 3,000 hectares already protected by the Mashpi Tayra Reserve—a plan is underway to expand protection to over half a million hectares through the Chocó Andes Network, a coalition of communities and organizations committed to conserving this unique corridor. Its goal is to build a true “ring of defense” that connects protected areas, maintains ecological corridors, and enables wildlife to adapt to climate change, ensuring the well-being of the Chocó Andino for future generations.
Mashpi Lodge: A Hotel Born of the Forest
Mashpi Lodge has become a living laboratory of conservation and applied science. Since its inception, the lodge has shown that it is possible to provide luxury experiences while being a driver of scientific research and sustainable development for local communities.
In the forests surrounding Mashpi, since 2012, scientists have discovered 24 species new to science, orchids, frogs, and insects. This knowledge does not remain in books: it fuels environmental education programs, scientific tourism, and regional conservation strategies.
Mashpi has also built a bridge between communities and the wider world. Local youth have found in the lodge opportunities for training and employment that strengthen their bond with the forest. Meanwhile, travelers from around the globe take home an experience that not only dazzles with natural beauty but also inspires the understanding that conservation is both collective and possible.
A Shared Pride
For Mashpi Lodge, being part of this story is a source of deep pride. It is not only about being a hotel immersed in nature: it is about being part of a network of people who understand the true luxury of crystal-clear rivers, towering trees, birdsong… of life in all its forms.
The IUCN Kenton Miller Award is not only a tribute to Roque Sevilla’s vision, but also a recognition of the efforts of the communities who protect and restore their forests every day, the scientists who research and discover, and the guests who, by choosing Mashpi, become allies of conservation.
This award reaffirms that the path undertaken by Fundación Futuro, Grupo Futuro, and Mashpi Lodge not only benefits Ecuador, but also offers the world a replicable model of conservation, innovation, and sustainable development.
