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Carving the River from the Tree

One day, the god Carabí decided that he wanted to find water, so that he and his family could wash and drink. The water was hidden in a rock by a woman named Conga, and she refused to give Carabí the water. He tricked her and learned to make the key she used to extract the water from the rock; he then turned her into an ant. However, before being transformed, Conga had swallowed the entire river, and so the water was no more. Yet Carabí did not give up: he recruited his family, the monkey, the squirrel, the otter, and the fox, and they all worked together to get water out of the ancient tree Jenené. Before felling the tree, they all climbed on a raft so as they would not drown when the water flooded the forest, and after 15 days on the raft, they finally arrived on dry land. Ever since, the rivers, the forest, and the animals have been living in harmony.

Carabí is the god of the Emberá Chami people, a riverine hunter-gatherer group who reside in Panama and Colombia. Traditionally, many Indigenous groups do not believe that land can be owned, and so they are taken aback when they find their home invaded by outsiders with machines used to cut down the forest. And so, despite the great efforts of their god to ensure access to the rivers in the forest, they must once again fight to find a home alongside the monkey, the squirrel, the otter, and the fox.

“It is a game of musical chairs,” says Drea Burbank, co-founder of the B Corp Savimbo, which seeks to help the Emberá Chami. “They keep getting displaced due to economic colonialism — companies keep purchasing their land, and they are unaware, until one morning someone appears and begins chopping trees.” Currently, some members of the Emberá Chami, a very traditional deep-jungle group, have been restorted to living in barracks in prison-like conditions. Three generations are now involved in the process of finding a new location in the jungle to call home, and Abuelo, the elder shaman, is determined to succeed soon. He wants to die in the woods, teaching his children about their traditional ways, like his ancestors before him.

Not Charity

Our Caquetá and Putumayo regions […] will be ours only in name, and not in practice, as long as we fail to connect them to our territory with the enlivening bond of a commercial and industrial current. […] It is therefore our most urgent national duty to consolidate our right and to assert it, exercising it, that is to say, colonizing […] the mutilated part of our fatherland.

Santiago Pérez Triana, Por el sur de Colombia: Excursión pintoresca y científica al Putumayo, 1908 (quoted in Wylie, 2013)

Abuelo found an area of pristine deep forest at Pada Kera, within the Putumayo Amazon, which could be a wonderful location for the group to live and to continue pursuing its traditional ways of life. But for that to happen, they need money.

“They do not like charities — it creates dependency,” Burbank explains. “In their eyes, the land was stolen from them, and they do not want to accept it back as a gift. They want it to be their legal… home, and respected as such.” To help fund the purchase of the land they have raised some money by selling handmade traditional jewelry, hosting ecotourists, and working to track Jaguars for Savimbo. Once the land is theirs (again), the Emera Chami can provide a priceless service for us all: conserving the forest and its biodiversity, and acting as a barrier to block access to the rest of the pristine mountain that borders the area to be purchased.

No one protects the wilderness as well as the Indigenous people that have inhabited it since time immemorial. Indigenous peoples make up about 6 percent of the world’s population, but they conserve roughly 80 percent of all biodiversity.This statistic may be hard to believe, but it is acknowledged by the United Nations, World Wildlife Fund, and some governments; in Australia, for example, there is a growing trend of handing control of parks to Aboriginal groups. The traditional ways of life that have developed in harmony with the surroundings, as well as generational knowledge and language to describe the land and understand its dynamics, all make stewardship by such groups the best option for conservation — far better than leaving the land free from human intervention.

Once purchased, Pada Kera will be protected under a special Colombian legal structure that treats the land as a legal subject and the Emberá Chami as its guardians. Because it is pristine primary forest at the border of the Tropical Andean biodiversity hotspot, the conservation effect of saving this land will extend far beyond its technical perimeter.

Ugliest bear or fattest dog?

It is often easy to forget just how deep and mysterious the Amazonian forest is; being so concerned with conserving what we know, we often forget how much is not yet known. Burbank describes how, shortly after arriving in the region, her colleagues observed video footage of the forest and exclaimed that it had captured “the ugliest bear ever.” Upon inspection, the group decided that it was, instead, “the fattest dog ever.”

A conversation with a National Geographic expert proved that the second guess was closer to reality: it was, in fact, the Near Threatened Bush Dog, one of the rarest animals in the Amazon, once believed to be extinct. Despite the name, the Bush Dog looks nothing like a Golden Retriever; in fact, it is more closely related to the Maned Wolf than to your domestic pet. Because it is extremely elusive, not much is known about this species, other than this amazing fact: it is a dog with webbed feet that can therefore swim with ease!

The land the Embera Chami hope to purchase is home to many other species, including the Endangered Siren Glassfrog, Endangered Mountain Tapir, and Endangered Giant Otter — the last of which can grow to over two meters long and hunt piranhas, caimans, and even anacondas! Approximately 8,800 endemic species are believed to inhabit this land, and who knows what other unique and unexpected animals may yet emerge!

This region of the Amazon, the Putumayo, is situated within Colombia. It suffers from a high deforestation rate of 0.46 percent annually, mainly due to logging and cattle ranching — a rate that is higher than that of neighboring Ecuador. Since a peace agreement was signed in 2016 between the Colombian government and FARC guerrilla group, deforestation rates have risen due to easier access to the land in the absence of an armed conflict, an increase in coca cultivation, and a delay in the realization of licit agricultural alternatives promised in the peace agreement. This makes the protection of the forests and the animals in them, as victims of the peace agreement in which they were not considered, even more urgent.

Their own home

Burbank grew up in the mountains of Idaho, in the USA, spending her childhood in a protected forest, where even the sound is protected by laws prohibiting excessive motor noises. “The Amazon is ten times more magical, but it is not nearly as well protected. I realized that I wanted the people who live there to have the same access to nature that I had.”

Sadly, the Emberá Chami currently do not have access to nature in a way that might allow them to live their traditional way of life. The attempt to raise funds through eco-tourism only highlighted the depth of the problem. When trying to dance in front of the visitors, one tribe member told Burbank, “we can’t show our culture when we’re losing it.” They no longer perform for tourists; instead, they sell their jewelry and help rangers track wildlife to earn money.

Let us not look at the conservation of the forest as a favor returned to the world by a grateful people awarded a charitable gift. Instead, by making a donation to TiME and voting for Pada Kera, you will be allowing an Indigenous group to reclaim their ways of life on protected land and to provide services that have global value: protecting the animals, including the history of evolution carried in their bones, and the primary forest — an ancient forest that soaks up the world’s carbon emissions and, if chopped down, would take thousands of years to grow back — and contributing to the fresh air we all breath. In exchange, the Emberá Chami can go back to their ways of life, expressing hope to restore the harmony of the forest, the animals in Pada Kera and the rivers carved from the tree once upon a time.

We thank Drea Burbank for her help in preparing this article.

Author: Noga Syon


Cabral, Márcia M. M. et al. “Feeding habits of giant otters Pteronura brasiliensis (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in the Balbina hydroelectric reservoir, Central Brazilian Amazon”. Zoologia (Curitiba) 27:1 (2010): 47-53.

Murad, Cesar Augusto and Jillian Pearse. “Landsat study of deforestation in the Amazon region of Colombia: Departments of Caquetá and Putumayo”. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment 11 (2018): 161-171.

O’Connell, Ronan. “Australia hands control of its newest national parks to Indigenous peoples”. National Geographic (2022). https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/australia-hands-control-newest-national-parks-to-indigenous-peoples

Van Dexter, Kristina, and Ingrid Visseren-Hamakers. “Forests in the Time of Peace.” Journal of Land Use Science 15: 2-3 (2020): 327–42.

Wayne, Robert K., et al. “Molecular Systematics of the Canidae”. Systematic Biology 46:4 (December 1997): 622–653.

“Emberá Chami”. Unbounded World. https://unboundedworld.com/project/embera/

“The Emberá Chami Documents”. Columbia Support Network. 2008. https://colombiasupport.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/The-Embera-Chami-Documents.pdf

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[INTERVIEW IN SPANISH] – Entrevistamos a Santiago Rosado Hidalgo, biólogo y fotógrafo en la reserva El Silencio de Colombia, y colaborador de This is My Earth. Buenos días Santiago, ¿cómo te presentarías? Buenos días, mi nombre es Santiago Rosado Hidalgo, soy un biólogo colombiano y me dedico desde hace años a las estrategias de conservación…

TiME ∙ Oct 1

12 min read

The Cry of the Jocotoco

In 1997, the ornithologist Dr. Robert Ridgley and his scientific team discovered a new species of bird, until then unknown to science. It is a beautiful, long-legged, land-dwelling bird with a distinct call, from which its name, Jocotoco Antpitta, was derived. Deemed Endangered by the IUCN Red List, the Jocotoco is estimated to have only…

TiME ∙ Sep 12

13 min read

“We should let people understand the true cost of their choices because nobody is paying for the disaster that has been caused”

We had the privilege to hold an interview with Amanda Sturgeon, CEO of Built by Nature and contributing author to All We Can Save (allwecansave.earth), with her, we’ve discussed architecture, sustainability solutions and This is My Earth‘s contribution to nature conservation. How do you define yourself? I’m CEO of Built by Nature. I’m an architect,…

TiME ∙ Aug 28

10 min read

Wildlife trafficking is one of the world’s biggest international crimes

Wildlife trafficking is one of the world’s biggest international crimes Opinion column from Noga Syon - September 2022 (Part 2)

TiME ∙ Aug 28

9 min read

The transfer of animals from one location to another carries diseases, which spread and mutate easily

Wildlife trafficking is one of the world’s biggest international crimes Opinion column from Noga Syon - September 2022 (Part 1)

TiME ∙ Jul 16

3 min read

“If you want the funding you need your followers and fans to vote in your favor”

SAM SHANEE on WHY protect Biodiversity through THIS IS MY EARTH – PART 4/4  What makes This is My Earth so special? This is My Earth’s funding model based on supports through crowdfunding and voting is fairly unique and it helps the people and the organizations like us who are waiting for the funding, to…

TiME ∙ Jul 13

19 min read

“TiME is this little animal running under the nose of more prominent corporations and saving the land before it’s too late”

This is My Earth Interviews artist Tomer Baruch. Hi Tomer! Thanks for your time. Can you please introduce yourself to the This is My Earth community? My name is Tomer, I am a musician, and I’ve created an Instagram account named “Animals and Synthesizers.” In that account, I take animal videos and compose electronic music…

TiME ∙ Jul 11

2 min read

“This is My Earth has been great in securing financing for land purchases”

SAM SHANEE on WHY protect Biodiversity through THIS IS MY EARTH – PART 3/4 How has your experience with This is My Earth been? Over the last few years we’ve worked several times with This is My Earth, they’ve been very great in securing financing for land purchases to extend or to create new land…

TiME ∙ Jul 8

3 min read

“Local communities are, by far, the best allies for nature conservation”

SAM SHANEE on WHY protect Biodiversity through THIS IS MY EARTH – PART 2/4 Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of primates and their habitats in South and Central America. NPC aims to promote conservation and protect biodiversity in the Neotropics by working in several ways. NPC uses monkeys as…

TiME ∙ Jul 8

2 min read

This is My Earth explained in 1 minute

We have created this short video to explained most of the things we do: This is My Earth explained in 1 minute

TiME ∙ Jul 5

3 min read

“Even though there are wild areas with intact forest you can see that some of them don’t have any monkeys left”

SAM SHANEE on WHY protect Biodiversity through THIS IS MY EARTH – PART 1/4 Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of primates and their habitats in South and Central America. NPC aims to promote conservation and protect biodiversity in the Neotropics by working in several ways. NPC uses monkeys…

TiME ∙ Jul 4

6 min read

An electronic music party raises funds for TiME, and ocean animals are the performers

“An organism is an evening dedicated entirely to the seam between the animal and the life. A protected space where algorithms can flourish and animals know how to play.” This is how artist Tomer Baruch introduces the party that will take place on the night of July 4 in Tel Aviv. Co-organized by the good…

TiME ∙ Jun 26

2 min read

Ask This is My Earth for funding: Here is how

This is My Earth is always actively looking for new nature conservation projects that have a key scientific and environmental interest. As you know, ours is a crowdfunding system through which empowered citizens around the world make small (or large) donations, as a gift, individually or in group, and vote on which nature conservation project…

TiME ∙ Jun 22

2 min read

What can YOU do to protect the planet? Join TiME’s team and help us spread the word through a monthly newsletter!

This is My Earth (TiME) is looking for a volunteer to craft their monthly newsletter to members. TiME is a non-profit, international environmental organization that seeks to protect biodiversity by purchasing land for conservation in biodiversity hotspots, in collaboration with local communities and organizations. Join our team and help TiME spread the word about: ·…

TiME ∙ Jun 19

22 min read

“Insects have survived the last five mass extinctions our planet has faced; but this time is different”

Dave Goulson (born 30 July 1965)  is Professor of Biology (Evolution, Behaviour and Environment) at the University of Sussex. Specializing in the ecology and conservation of insects, particularly bumblebees, Goulson is the author of several books, including Bumblebees: Their Behaviour and Ecology (2003), Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypses (2021), and more than 200 academic articles. In 2006 he founded the Bumblebee Conservation Trust,…

TiME ∙ Jun 14

2 min read

The first international meeting of TiME volunteers puts Communication on the agenda

The first international meeting of volunteers of This is My Earth · TiME was held in virtual format on June 13th. People from all over the world, under the coordination of the organization’s Director of Volunteers, Reut Gilad, contributed their ideas and visions on communication, collaboration and how to grow the conservation project for almost…

TiME ∙ Jun 13

3 min read

We have created This is My Earth’s Annual Report for you

This is My Earth 2021 annual report collects the most relevant milestones achieved by the organization in the fields of conservation and biodiversity. It is open access and contains a fully transparent report.

TiME ∙ May 22

7 min read

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲: This is our TiME List of protected animals

Since This is My Earth started saving lands in danger in 2016, the list of species and animals that have since been protected has not stopped growing. The international motto chosen for Biodiversity Day 2022 is𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲, and its objective is to promote the idea that we are all part of…

TiME ∙ Apr 18

7 min read

Join EARTH DAY global campaign to #InvestInOurPlanet – Download our Action Toolkit!

This is My Earth joins #InvestInOurPlanet campaign on the occasion of the Earth Day 2022 with a video and materials created by our network of volunteers.

TiME ∙ Mar 16

4 min read

Some highlights from the IPCC Climate Report

The Working Group from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) from the United Nations invited TiME · This Is My Earth as a guest organization at the press conference where the 6TH ASSESSMENT REPORT – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability was presented. On 27 February 2022, this international Working Group from the United Nations finalized…

TiME ∙ Feb 22

7 min read

History of the region’s Cacau-cabruca · Chronicles from Brazil

In 2020, hundreds of volunteers from all over the world helped us save an endangered land in the Sierra Bonita area of ​​Brazil (Google Maps +). Together, through TiME, we raised US$ 148,373 which helped Instituto Uiraçu organization – our partner in the area – to get down to work with the task of preserving…

TiME ∙ Feb 22

9 min read

Biodiversity faces its make-or-break year

The  United Nations decade-old plan to slow down and eventually stop the decline of species and ecosystems by 2020 has failed as most of the plan’s 20 targets have not been met. Among the strategic goals which have not been accomplished, there is the need to address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity…

TiME ∙ Feb 20

3 min read

Scientists map 80% of unknown species

New map shows where the 80% of species we don’t know about may be hiding in the very interesting study "Shortfalls and opportunities in terrestrial vertebrate species".

TiME ∙ Dec 30

12 min read

TiME’s Newsletters

Here you will find links to the 50+ newsletters we have published in recent years. Don’t miss the opportunity, if you haven’t already, to register and receive our emails with our latest updates, news and campaigns in our action of nature protection, education and solidarity. 2023 August 2023 – The birding adventure of a lifetime…

TiME ∙ Dec 29

2 min read

The ecological impact of war in Africa

Today’s declining number of large mammals around the world has been explained by many factors, including low reproductive rates, habitat destruction, and overhunting. However, uncertainties about the effects of armed conflict has complicated conservation planning and priority-setting efforts. In the past 70 years, humans have waged war continuously in the world’s most biodiverse regions. Between…

TiME ∙ Nov 30

6 min read

This is My Earth in Kenya with Professor Uri Shanas

The following interview with founder and co-chair Uri Shanas was published in our August 2016 newsletter: Hello, Uri. You’ve recently returned from Kenya. Can you tell us why you went? Kenya is one of the last places on earth where one can experience nature in all its might and beauty, so I was excited to visit TiME’s…

TiME ∙ Nov 29

3 min read

Chatting with Jasmine, a 12-year old TiME supporter

We spoke to Jasmine, daughter of two of TiME’s Board of Directors, Ondine Sherman and Dror Ben-Ami. She recently donated 1800 NIS (about 470 USD) to TiME, nearly a third of the gift money she received for her Bat Mitzvah. First of all, we asked Jasmine to explain a Bat Mitzvah: Jasmine: “In Jewish culture,…

TiME ∙ Nov 28

3 min read

A visit to TiME’s first biodiversity hotspot land purchase

“Please, Nestor, please continue to point out the orchid flowers,” I cried almost breathlessly to the CEO of Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) while we climbed up the land TiME had just purchased. “You know we both need these stops so we can catch our breath.” Nestor Allgas and I were trying to keep pace with…

TiME ∙ Nov 25

1 min read

Protecting megafauna and raising money for conservation

This piece was published in our March 2017 newsletter:

TiME ∙ Nov 21

4 min read

Ivory Belongs to Elephants

Since the dawn of humanity, we have been actively fighting nature: drying swamps, cutting down forests, using strong pesticides (such as DDT) and hunting wildlife to extinction (think of the dodo, Tasmanian tiger, passenger pigeon and many, many more). Today, experts believe that we are facing a sixth mass extinction, which is entirely attributable to…

TiME ∙ Nov 20

6 min read

Gold in Africa – an interview with Henry Gold, TiME board member

For TiME’s February 2017 newsletter we interviewed board member Henry Gold, co-founder of Canadian Physician for Aid and Relief (CPAR)and TDA Global Cycling: You worked in Africa for quite a few years. Can you tell us what kind of work you were doing? I’m trained as an engineer, but in 1984 I quit engineering and…

nogasyon ∙ Nov 14

7 min read

TiME is money

Can we quantify TiME’s contribution to the world? The response to this question is likely to follow one of two main approaches. Some would argue that even if we can put a dollar figure on TiME’s work, we should not; some things should not be measured in money, and attempting to do so seems to…

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