In its fourth phase, after consolidating more than a decade of work across the Colombian departments of Santander, Antioquia, Cesar, Vichada, Arauca, and Putumayo, the Vida Silvestre Project (PVS) is expanding into Casanare, in Colombia’s Orinoco region. Through 2028, the project will focus on conserving landscape species—such as the puma and a striped catfish found in the Cusiana River—while strengthening conservation agreements, restoring forests, and working alongside local communities. By empowering residents to steward their lands, monitor wildlife, and lead conservation efforts, PVS aims to ensure that biodiversity protection is driven by the people who know these landscapes best.

In Colombia’s upper Saldaña River basin, the Torrent Duck is helping researchers understand how healthy rivers, intact forests and conservation efforts shape aquatic ecosystems.