Primatologist Citlalli Morelos-Juarez is leading a conservation project in the Ecuadorian region of the Choco rainforest, one of the last coastal rainforests on Earth, a biodiversity hotspot within a biodiversity hotspot. 

Key to her success has been embedding herself in the community with “anthropological immersion”, setting up a parabiologist programme that empowers local women to learn about sustainability for the benefit of their communities and for the forest's delicate ecosystem. 

We follow Dr. Citlalli and Yadira as they help protect the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey, a keystone species, and the habitat of at least 7000 species of plants and animals, a quarter of which are found nowhere else on earth. 

“Now that I’m more involved with the project I’m really thinking about the wellbeing of my children. This place doesn’t have a price, I want my children and future generations to see it as it is – it makes me proud to think I can help that to happen.” – Yadira Giler