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It is with decidedly mixed feelings that we announce the formal retirement of Dr . Robert Ridgely as President of Rainforest Trust . The much-attributed metaphor has never been more appropriate when we stand on Bob ’ s broad shoulders , allowing us to see further , and accomplish more , than we could otherwise .
Bob was already an acclaimed neotropical ornithologist when he and John Moore discovered the Jocotoco Antpitta Grallaria ridgelyi in southern Ecuador in 1997 , and it was his vision that protecting this shy and endangered species would mean protecting its habitat . And he set about doing just that — establishing Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco and the Tapichalaca Biological Reserve in 1998 .
For two decades , Bob has helped lead both Fundación Jocotoco and Rainforest Trust , putting that vision into powerful action . Under Bob ’ s leadership , the two organizations established and permanently protected reserves to save endangered , often range-restricted and endemic species . That has resulted in the protection of more than 34
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million acres and 800 Critically Endangered and Endangered species around the globe .
Here at Rainforest Trust , we are incredibly pleased that Bob will continue to provide us with his wisdom , vision , advice and strong shoulders as our President Emeritus and Member of our Advisory Council and Conservation Committee .
Bob visiting Fundación Jocotoco in Ecuador .
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The Jocotoco Antpitta Grallaria ridgelyi .
Bob stands in front of a monument of the Jocotoco Antpitta , which he and John Moore discovered in Southern Ecuador in 1997 .
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TOP : RAINFOREST TRUST ; BOTTOM MIDDLE : RAINFOREST TRUST ; BOTTOM RIGHT : RAINFOREST TRUST ; TOP RIGHT : PAUL S . WOLF / SHUTTERSTOCK |