Expeditions and Discovery - Conservation International

A salamander that looks like E.T., a stunning lizard, a transparent frog, and seven insects are among the species discovered in the Nangaritza River Basin of Ecuador. See photos and video of the species and learn more about this isolated and diverse area of the Andes. CI is hoping that the discoveries will encourage the government of Ecuador to strengthen the protection of the area, which is close to a "peace park", created to cement the end of hostilities between the two nations in the late 1990s after decades of conflict over the disputed border. Learn more >>

	About our work We share our planet with millions of incredible species. CI and collaborating scientists race against time to find, name, and protect these species.
	Where we explore To identify the best sites to explore, we start with consultations with expert scientists, who generally know which places have been explored and where the gaps in data are.
	Dispatches from the field The closest you can get to untouched wilderness from your home computer, CI's dispatches from the field take you into the action as it's happening. Be the first to hear about amazing discoveries and see species new to science direct from the researchers and photographers in the field.
How we discover Discovering a species new to science is not an easy task. It takes the dedication of many scientists travelling to very remote areas for extended periods of time.
	What we've found Meet a few of the many species new to science that we've discovered in the remote places of the earth and sea. From invertebrates to birds to mammals and more, we know there are more out there.
	Human benefits Species are a critical component of all healthy ecosystems. The discovery of species new to science provides many benefits to humans.
	Get involved So the Race is on...to find and describe species before it’s too late. If we let these species go extinct, we all lose out on the unique and miraculous gifts they provide.