Main goal of our Treeclimbing projects
Positive social impact through the exchange of knowledge, skills, and perspectives, enabling safe and direct access to the canopy, unlocking a wide range of practical and scientific applications.
At TINKU, part of our collective is passionately committed to conservation and scientific exploration, with a specific focus on tree climbing as a powerful tool.
Our vision is to share this knowledge and make it accessible. By passing on this craft, we aim to empower both established organizations and marginalized groups—such as indigenous communities and afro-ecuadorians—to take an active role in research, forest protection, and the many practical applications of tree climbing.
Our team combines experience in fields such as natural sciences, tree climbing, and land-use planning. One of our members, Florian, has lived between Ecuador and Germany for many years, which strengthens our connection to the region and helps us foster meaningful exchange between different perspectives and realities.
Project Timeline
February 2024 - Río Canandé
March 2024 - Siekopai Remolino
April 2025 - Parque Nacional Yasuní
April 2025 - Guaycuyacu Reserve
April 2025 - Río Canandé
January 2025 - 2026 / "Blätterdach" - "techo de hojas"
Río Canandé
In 2024 - Leander Muffler, Julian Aguirre and Florian Groten conducted a 3 day Workshop in this "Jocotoco" reserve and taught the basics of tree climbing to the Jocotoco parkrangers, thereby supporting possible studies and reforestation initiatives in these tropical forests.
VideoBlog Río Canandé:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2zEO1DVNMU
Two specific tree species play a crucial role at the moment: Magnolia Dixonii and Magnolia Canandeana. These endangered species are found only in this area and are ecologically very valuable, but difficult to reproduce.
In 2025 - André Acuña, Arthuro Albornoz and Florian Groten conducted a 5 day Workshop, combining it this time with our latest project "Blätterdach" a documentary movie about treeclimbing in Ecuador.
https://www.youtube.com/@levitarmediahouse9764
Siekopai Remolino
In 2024, Leander Muffler and Florian Groten conducted a five-day workshop in the Siekopai Remolino, located in the northeastern region of Ecuador. The aim was to build a connection with this community, which is currently exploring sustainable and income-generating applications of tree climbing.
The Siekopai had previously received an introductory workshop from Big Canopy Campout, along with climbing equipment for several participants. It is a complex challenge to establish sustainable uses for Treeclimbing in these kind of comunitys.
At this stage, our main contribution is to share expertise and help connect community members with other ecuadorian tree climbers who may inspire and support the development of local applications.
Parque Nacional Yasuní
In 2025, Gyan Ros, André Acuña, Arthuro Albornoz, and Florian Groten conducted a five-day workshop with the park rangers of Yasuní National Park. The goal was to prepare them for a climbing expedition into the crown of a Ceibo tree.
This particular tree had been chosen by a harpy eagle—a key species at the top of the food chain and an indicator of a healthy ecosystem. To monitor the eagle's behavior, the rangers installed cameras and nets to collect data on its diet.
Climbing the Ceibo tree presented unique challenges. In addition to its height and thick, horizontal branches, the area was flooded with about 40 cm of water, requiring all gear to be rigged over standing water. To install the main anchor point, we had to set a secondary rope while standing on the first large branches. Reaching different parts of the crown to install cameras from multiple angles also required the abillity to traverse through the crown.
We focused on preparing the rangers as thoroughly as possible for these specific conditions, both technically and mentally.
The entire process was documented as part of our ongoing project: Blätterdach / Techo de hojas.
Guaycuyacu Reserve - Mashpi
Since almost 40 years, Jaime and Mimi have been protecting this area of about 40 hectars, implementing a way of agriculture and truly a way of life, they call -
"tropiculture"
Over the years, they have collected seeds from all over the world and brought them to Guaycuyacu. With over 600 species of fruit trees, the site now probably hosts the most diverse tropical food forest in Ecuador. They are also deeply involved in the local analog forestry community and actively promote this sustainable method of land use.
Since harvesting and maintaining such a forest requires climbing, Hermes, a member of the Awá culture, works as a climber for Guaycuyacu and nearby reserves. He often climbs up to 30 meters without any equipment—just using a long harvesting stick. It's truly impressive !
But Hermes is also open to learning new techniques. By combining his incredible natural climbing skills with modern rope-based methods, he is now able to carry out tree pruning and other tasks that would be impossible without equipment.
In 2025 André Acuña, Arthuro Albornoz and Florian Groten visited the reserve and conducted a 3 day workshop with Hermes. Hermes is also one of the main characters from our documentary movie "Blätterdach". We look forward to staying in close contact with Hermes and the Guaycuyacu project to explore how we can support them with knowledge exchange, training, and professional climbing gear.
What’s Next ?
Projects like these, especially in tropical climate zone, are still in their early stages and often complex to implement. We are constantly learning and committed to sharing this knowledge, particularly in these regions where such initiatives are most needed.
That’s why we aim to stay in close contact with all participants involved, to help establish a tree climbing network, support the assessment of ongoing projects, and contribute to their long-term development.
We are planning a treeclimbing course at "La Floreana" in 2026 in collaboration with Galo Chiriboga from REFA
Treeclimbing as a versatile tool
Seed harvesting
Due to increasing deforestation, seed harvesting plays a growing role in the cultivation of seedlings.
Ecuador, home to around 5,000 endemic plant species (20% of its entire flora), is a treasure chest of species found nowhere else on Earth.
In applied nature conservation, sourcing seeds from these rare and endangered species is therefore necesary to conduct effective research and reforestation programs. Reforestation programs with a considerable scale, wether its for research or just for biomass increase, must be able to reproduce the species in a systematic way, therefore harvesting these seeds is indispensable. In many cases, the seeds are located high up in the canopy and are difficult to reach, making modern tree-climbing techniques essential.
Land management
In many regions of Ecuador, traditional and sustainable land use knowledge has been largely forgotten—pushed aside by “conventional” methods and industries that often promise higher short-term economic returns for families.
Yet in the long term, we need to develop land use models that combine a sustainable vision for the future with a realistic economic foundation for people, families, and communities alike.
In alternative land use models such as analog forestry or syntropic agroforestry, tree climbing is becoming a versatile tool for managing trees at all stages of their development.
Research
The undiscovered treasures of the tropics also lie in the forest canopies. Their extraordinary biodiversity is partly due to the abundant light and lower predator density compared to the dark forest floor of tropical ecosystems.
These areas are difficult to access, and sample collection is often labor-intensive. Research in megadiverse regions like Ecuador’s tropical eastern slopes or the Chocó Andino frequently takes place in areas inhabited by local communities, where trained tree climbers can support scientific fieldwork.
Videoblogs
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