For more than two decades, Michelle Tapasco and her family have transformed adversity into opportunity. Displaced by Colombia’s armed conflict, Michelle built Montezuma Rainforest Reserve and Ecolodgeon the slopes of Tatamá National Park. What began as a mother’s determination to protect and support her daughters has grown into one of Colombia’s most respected community-driven conservation models. Today, Montezuma is internationally known for its astonishing birdlife home to nearly 600 species, including rare endemics found nowhere else and for its pioneering role as a woman-led conservation enterprise.

Michelle’s daughter Liseth is now carrying forward her mother’s legacy through Fundación WildVida,a community-based NGO designed to buffer Tatamá National Park and ensure conservation and community well-being go hand in hand. With the support of Colombian orchid expert Sebastián Vieira-Uribe, the foundation has surveyed private parcels bordering the park, uncovering possible new species to science and documenting rare plants thriving in secondary forests. These findings highlight both the resilience and the critical importance of these buffer zones. To secure their future, Fundación WildVida emphasizes the need for funding for more community outreachand deeper scientific research while also empowering local people to lead reforestation, develop sustainable livelihoods, and protect water and biodiversity. By building this partnership, the WildVida strengthens the connection between Tatamá’s ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.