Awarded to Neotropical Primate Conservation.

McKenna-Travers Award

McKenna-Travers Award 2016

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Poaching threatens South America’s only bear species

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New population of Critically Endangered monkey discovered

Mining and land clearance is making the Amazon Neotropical forests disappear rapidly. Sam works to protect the wildlife in general and endangered primates.

Sam Shanee

Community conservation increases endangered monkey population in Peru

200’000 of Peru’s primateds trafficked for pet trade or bushmeat yearly

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Success! Community Conservation Brings Critically Endangered Monkey Back From the Brink

Donate to Sam - Protecting the Rainforest from Deforestation

Sam is a founder of the Neotropical Primate Conservation aiming to conserve neotropical forest habitat and wildlife by creating private and community-run reserves to protect areas of the natural biological corridors connecting existing protected areas.

SDG 15 Life on Land

Fight Extinction

## In short
Sam is a Primate Conservationist fighting to save the wildlife of the neotropical Amazon by protecting the rainforest from deforestation. 

**Dreaming of the Amazon**
I’m from London originally, and as a child, most weekends, I would go and play in the forest outside the city. It was always my dream to run around in the Amazon rainforest. I studied a master’s program in primate conservation in the UK. After that, I went to South America and ended up looking for the yellow-tailed woolly monkey in Peru, which almost no one had seen for 20 years. Amazingly, we found it and I ended up staying here. 

**Forest under threat**
The area we work in is increasingly threatened by deforestation for mining concessions, commercial logging and land clearance along with human-wildlife conflict and wildlife trade. As a consequence, habitat is shrinking at an alarming rate, and the vast biodiversity of the region is at risk of extinction. It’s estimated that 50 % of the yellow-tailed woolly monkey original habitat is already lost, and the remaining forest is under enormous threat. 

**Monkey rescue in the Amazon**
Me and my organizations work is mainly focused on the protection of primates, such as the yellow-tailed woolly monkey. But in order to keep the rich biodiversity we work with reforestation projects, conservation work, scientific research and we fight wildlife trafficking. A majority of our time goes to community conservation efforts, which is key in protecting the critically endangered animals and their habitat. 

## My organization
Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of primates and their habitats in South and Central America. The NPC aim to promote conservation and protect biodiversity in the Neotropics by working in several ways:
- Facilitation and support for local conservation initiatives
- Protection of wilderness areas
- Rescue, rehabilitation and (where appropriate) reintroduction of animals to their natural habitats
- Scientific investigations of plants, animals and ecosystems
- Promotion of conservation education and public awareness
- Commercialisation of sustainable products on behalf of local communities

NPC was founded in 2007 by a group of friends who shared the same passion for conservation. The organization began as non-profit and was awarded UK charity status in August of 2009 (Registered Charity number 1131122). In 2014 it expanded with a Peruvian branch and again in 2016 opening a branch in Colombia. All three branches were set up in order to promote the conservation of Neotropical forest habitat and wildlife through the same means. Since 2007 NPC has been using primates as “flagship species” for community conservation projects.

The organization aims to create private and community-run reserves that will protect major areas of the natural biological corridors connecting existing protected areas. This will ensure long term habitat protection for the flagship species and all wildlife that share their habitats. Through this work NPC help local communities strengthen their stewardship of nature as well as protect their traditional and cultural identities, benefiting both humans and the environment. Running dozens of low-cost projects that have already proven successful, and using the experiences to promote efficient conservation globally is part of the organization’s work.

In short
Sam is a Primate Conservationist fighting to save the wildlife of the neotropical Amazon by protecting the rainforest from deforestation.
Dreaming of the Amazon
I’m from London originally, and as a child, most weekends, I would go and play in the forest outside the city. It was always my dream to run around in the Amazon rainforest. I studied a master’s program in primate conservation in the UK. After that, I went to South America and ended up looking for the yellow-tailed woolly monkey in Peru, which almost no one had seen for 20 years. Amazingly, we found it and I ended up staying here.
Forest under threat
The area we work in is increasingly threatened by deforestation for mining concessions, commercial logging and land clearance along with human-wildlife conflict and wildlife trade. As a consequence, habitat is shrinking at an alarming rate, and the vast biodiversity of the region is at risk of extinction. It’s estimated that 50 % of the yellow-tailed woolly monkey original habitat is already lost, and the remaining forest is under enormous threat.
Monkey rescue in the Amazon
Me and my organizations work is mainly focused on the protection of primates, such as the yellow-tailed woolly monkey. But in order to keep the rich biodiversity we work with reforestation projects, conservation work, scientific research and we fight wildlife trafficking. A majority of our time goes to community conservation efforts, which is key in protecting the critically endangered animals and their habitat.

My organization
Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of primates and their habitats in South and Central America. The NPC aim to promote conservation and protect biodiversity in the Neotropics by working in several ways:
Facilitation and support for local conservation initiatives
Protection of wilderness areas
Rescue, rehabilitation and (where appropriate) reintroduction of animals to their natural habitats
Scientific investigations of plants, animals and ecosystems
Promotion of conservation education and public awareness
Commercialisation of sustainable products on behalf of local communities

NPC was founded in 2007 by a group of friends who shared the same passion for conservation. The organization began as non-profit and was awarded UK charity status in August of 2009 (Registered Charity number 1131122). In 2014 it expanded with a Peruvian branch and again in 2016 opening a branch in Colombia. All three branches were set up in order to promote the conservation of Neotropical forest habitat and wildlife through the same means. Since 2007 NPC has been using primates as “flagship species” for community conservation projects.

The organization aims to create private and community-run reserves that will protect major areas of the natural biological corridors connecting existing protected areas. This will ensure long term habitat protection for the flagship species and all wildlife that share their habitats. Through this work NPC help local communities strengthen their stewardship of nature as well as protect their traditional and cultural identities, benefiting both humans and the environment. Running dozens of low-cost projects that have already proven successful, and using the experiences to promote efficient conservation globally is part of the organization’s work.

Mining and land clearance is making the Amazon’s Neotropical forests disappear rapidly. Sam works to protect the wildlife in general and endangered primates (monkeys) in particular.

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