OUR STORY

The Origins of Proyecto Tití

As a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Anne Savage dreamed of starting the first conservation program dedicated to cotton-top tamarins in Colombia. Guided by her mentor, Dr. Charles Snowdon, Anne began turning that dream into reality in 1987, when she established the first long-term field research program on cotton-top tamarins at INDERENA’s primate field station, Proyecto Primates, in Colosó. There, she began her long-term collaboration with Felix Medina who had an amazing amount of local knowledge and expertise in the field and together they collected the first extensive field data on this critically endangered species.

Anne soon realized that science alone would not be enough to save cotton-top tamarins from extinction. Conservation, she understood, required the support of the people who lived alongside the tamarins and depended on the same forest resources. To succeed, local communities had to become active partners in protecting the species and its habitat.

Early Education and Community Engagement

That same year, Proyecto Tití launched its first informal education programs, introducing children from the local school in Colosó to the importance of conserving cotton-top tamarins. Anne led field trips to the research station and nearby forests, inspiring a new generation to see the value of protecting their environment.

Recognizing that conservation also meant reducing dependence on forest resources, Proyecto Tití began developing sustainable alternatives for local communities. One of the earliest innovations was the binde, a small clay cookstove that dramatically reduced firewood use. This commitment to practical, community-centered conservation laid the groundwork for the diverse sustainability programs Proyecto Tití leads today.

Building Community Trust, Building a Team

Throughout the 1990s, Proyecto Tití grew—quietly, intentionally, and always with Colombia at its heart. Anne worked alongside a small but deeply dedicated group of Colombian biologists and educators, including Luis Soto, whose decades of fieldwork and leadership helped establish a foundation of scientific rigor and local trust.

In 1998, Proyecto Tití moved to Santa Catalina, a town that would become the center of its operations. A research station was established at Hacienda El Ceibal, where long-term behavioral studies expanded. Conservation education became part of daily life in schools and homes. Families joined in. Children learned. Forests were protected.

By the end of the decade, Proyecto Tití had evolved beyond a research initiative—it had become a national model for community-based conservation, rooted in Colombian leadership and driven by science and education.

Expanding the Vision: A Binational Effort

To ensure long-term sustainability and global support, Proyecto Tití, Inc. was established as a 501c3 in the United States in 2004, with Dr. Anne Savage serving as Executive Director.

The following year, the dream of building a fully Colombian-led conservation organization came to life. In 2005, Rosamira Guillen, former Director of the Barranquilla Zoo, joined Proyecto Tití as the Executive Director of Fundación Proyecto Tití, the newly established Colombian nonprofit dedicated to leading conservation efforts on the ground.

Rosamira’s vision and leadership transformed Proyecto Tití into a binational alliance—deeply rooted in Colombia’s culture and ecosystems. She built bridges between communities, government agencies, and international partners, raising national awareness of the cotton-top tamarin as a cherished symbol of Colombia’s natural heritage.

Protecting Forests, Empowering People

Under Rosamira’s leadership, Proyecto Tití’s education programs expanded to reach new communities, while research findings began shaping Colombian conservation policy. The organization launched new community-based initiatives that empowered local families to become active participants in conservation through sustainable livelihoods, environmental education, and reforestation.

In 2015, Proyecto Tití took a major step forward in habitat protection with the creation of Los Titíes de San Juan Forest Reserve, a privately owned and managed reserve that serves as the cornerstone of the organization’s forest restoration work. Located in the heart of cotton-top tamarin territory, this reserve has grown through continuous reforestation and restoration efforts aimed at connecting it to the Santuario de Flora y Fauna Los Colorados National Park—creating one of the largest protected forest corridors for cotton-top tamarins in northern Colombia.

Alongside this ecological work, Proyecto Tití partnered with local farmers and communities to promote sustainable agriculture and forest conservation practices that improve livelihoods while protecting vital habitats.

WHY CHOOSE US

Full Circle: The Mega Corridor Initiative

In 2021, Proyecto Tití returned to Colosó, where the dream first began. There, Proyecto Tití and our partners launched the Mega Corridor Program, an ambitious effort to connect fragmented forest patches across the region. True to its origins, this initiative combines science, education, community engagement, and sustainable livelihood initiatives, ensuring that conservation success is shared by both people and wildlife.

Two Organizations, One Mission

Fundación Proyecto Tití in Colombia and Proyecto Tití, Inc. in the United States, are two organizations that operate as one unified team with a single objective - to secure a future for cotton-top tamarins and the forests they call home.

Together, they continue to demonstrate how a vision that began with a single student’s dream has grown into a powerful, collaborative movement—one that protects wildlife, empowers people, and inspires hope for generations to come.

Our Mission

Proyecto Tití is a multi-disciplinary conservation program dedicated to protecting the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin and the forests it calls home in Colombia. We work toward a future where healthy populations of cotton-top tamarins thrive in forests safeguarded by individuals, communities, and the Colombian government.

We envision a world where the cotton-top tamarin stands as a proud symbol of the natural heritage of Colombia’s Caribbean region, and where people live in harmony with nature, ensuring the survival of this remarkable species and the rich biodiversity of its forest home.