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History

How and when did the successful forest protection project originate?

The SelvaViva rainforest conservation project was initiated by four dedicated individuals: Christine and Siegfried von Steiger, Angelika Raimann, and Remigio Canelos. The protection of the rainforest is its central focus.

  • 1990 Angelika Raimann traveled to the Amazon region of Ecuador and met her future husband, Remigio Canelos, as well as Christine von Steiger.
  • 1991 Angelika Raimann moved permanently to Ecuador. During a visit by Christine and Siegfried von Steiger, the idea arose to develop sustainable conservation measures for the rainforest.
  • 1993 Christine acquired 39 hectares of land, on which the amaZOOnico project was established. In 1994, amaZOOnico opened as a state-recognized wildlife rescue center and continues to operate today.
  • 1994 the SelvaViva Rainforest Conservation Cooperative (GSR) was registered in the commercial register of the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. Prior to this, the first 200 hectares of land had been purchased.
  • 1994 with support from the GSR, the Runa Huasi ecotourism project was founded to generate income for the local Kichwa community. It was finally closed in 2020/2021.
  • 1998 the forest was officially recognized as a protected forest under the name Selva Viva. Today, approximately 1,700 hectares of forest are protected.
  • 2001 Christine founded the private, state-accredited school "Sacha Yachana Wasi Christina"; in 2012, it was nationalized through the initiative of the parents.
  • 2011 Angelika died in a traffic accident.
  • 2016 the Fundación para la Conservación y Protección de los Bosques del Ecuador Selva Viva (FCP) was founded. (This became necessary because in 1995, GSR Selva Viva was placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With the establishment of the Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment and the associated transfer of data and documents, GSR ceased to exist as a legally competent entity. For several years, it was no longer possible to legally acquire land or conduct other business.
  • 2021 Siegfried died unexpectedly. A new website was designed and launched in 2026.
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