Katrina died suddenly on 16th May 2010 while travelling in Peru. She had spent time in Quito Ecuador volunteering at an orphanage Ninez y Vida and improving her Spanish.

Since her death, money raised in her memory has been given to the orphanage and to protect vital rainforest habitat in the Yanacocha Nature Reserve above Quito. This reserve is managed by a local charity, Fundacion Jocotoco, with the support of the World Land Trust. The drinking water supply to the city of Quito is derived from this reserve.  

The money raised was put towards building an interpretation centre at the Yanacocha reserve. We are very pleased to know that the Centre is now finished, as the attached photographs show. The centre is going to be formally opened in either July or October this year. Nigel Simpson of Fundacion Jocotoco tells us that a number of projects including a cooperation between Kew Gardens and the new Ecuadorian State University of the Amazon are planned to further conservation of the area.

In order to keep a connection with the reserve and maintain their important work, we will continue to donate money in Katrina’s memory towards funding the salary of the reserve ranger, employed from the local indigenous community in the adjacent village of Yanacocha. Ranger Silvio Calderón who has been in post for seven years is one of two rangers working to protect the 2,670 acre Yanacocha Reserve. This arrangement was set up last year and Silvio post is now secure, thanks to everyone who has given money via this site.

We shall continue to support Silvio’s work and the reserve long term. If you would like to find out more about the organisations involved please follow these links:

http://www.worldlandtrust.org/news/2014/05/meet-silvio-keeper-wild-yanacocha-reserve

http://www.worldlandtrust.org/

http://www.worldlandtrust.org/about/partners/jocotoco

 The Jacks Family