Tandayapa Cloud Forest Station (TCS)

TCS is a research and conservation facility established in the Andes of Ecuador by Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). The station protects 200 hectares of montane forest within the Tropical Andes, a region of global ecological importance known for its exceptional biodiversity, high levels of endemism, and pioneering conservation efforts. It serves as a model for integrating biodiversity protection with sustainable development, ecological restoration, education, scientific research, innovation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Beyond conservation and research, the station fosters sustainable economic alternatives for local communities, promoting livelihoods that align with long-term forest stewardship. The reserve harbors extraordinary biological diversity, including emblematic mammals such as the Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) and the recently described Olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina), as well as a rich array of plants, insects, amphibians, and reptiles that further highlight its ecological significance.