Anthurium roquesevillae is the 23rd species found near Mashpi Lodge in the Andean Chocó Biosphere,
north of Quito, Ecuador

From plants to insects to amphibians, nearly two dozen species have been discovered in the Mashpi-Tayra cloud forest surrounding Mashpi Lodge since the luxury eco-hotel began welcoming guests in 2012. While binomial nomenclature can occasionally twist tongues, the most recent find should be easy to remember: Anthurium roquesevillae, a flowering plant named for Roque Sevilla, the visionary Ecuadorian environmentalist and entrepreneur who purchased the Mashpi-Tayra cloud forest, located within the Andean Chocó Biosphere north of Quito, shortly after the turn of the millennium.

Unlike, say, a name on a building, statue, or plaque, having one’s name assigned to a newly discovered species is an honor that keeps giving. Indeed, Mr. Sevilla called the naming—officially presented at the Jardín Botánico de Quito in May—“one of the proudest moments of my life.” Given all he has accomplished for Ecuador and its environment, that’s saying something.

Hailing originally from Quito, Mr. Sevilla was a student of economics and public administration, earning a master’s degree in the latter from Harvard University. He founded Ecuador’s first-ever environmental NGO and served as Mayor of Quito beginning in 1998. He is also co-founder of Grupo Futuro, one of the largest corporate groups in the country, whose foundation, Fundación Futuro, was behind the expansion of the Mashpi-Tayra cloud forest.

Mr. Sevilla also spent 14 years leading Metropolitan Touring, whose impactful hospitality offerings in Ecuador include Mashpi Lodge, the historic boutique hotel Casa Gangotena in the heart of Old Town Quito, and multiple expedition vessels in the Galápagos Islands.

He led the Yasuní-ITT Initiative, a groundbreaking effort to leave the oil reserves in Yasuni National Park’s ITT block untapped in exchange for international financial contributions. He is currently chairman of the Ecuadorian chapter of Endeavor, a global non-profit that supports high-impact entrepreneurs and fosters rapid growth, job creation, and investment in Ecuador’s economy. Most recently, he was named Honorary President of the newly launched Ecuadorian Space Society.

The 23rd new species described within the Mashpi-Tayra Reserve, Anthurium roquesevillae was first discovered in October 2022 when it caught the eyes of botanist Ricardo Zambrano and colleagues Karla Ayala and Maria Eugenia Sulen of the Quito Botanical Garden. Unable to immediately identify the plant, the trio collected a specimen for further examination. Two years later, while resuming a systematic study of anthuriums from the cloud forest, Zambrano undertook a rigorous analysis of the plant in collaboration with Tom Croat, an eminent botanist from the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Anthurium roquesevillae features leaves ranging from 18 to 28 cm, while its inflorescence—that is, its complete flower head—can reach up to 42 cm. It grows epiphytically, living atop other plants without harming them, and its small red and burgundy berries bring a vibrant touch to its surroundings. Most notably, the species is micro-endemic, found only along a single trail within the Mashpi-Tayra Reserve, making it both highly valuable and especially vulnerable.

The species named for Mr. Sevilla is significant not only because it was discovered within the Mashpi-Tayra Reserve, but also because of the visionary business model he implemented—one that financed scientific research and biodiversity conservation from the start. This model has directly contributed to the discovery of numerous new species within the reserve.

Together, these discoveries underscore the importance of continued research in the understudied Andean Chocó ecosystem. Bringing such biodiversity to light not only raises global awareness but also strengthens the case for conservation investment and sustainable land management in regions that might otherwise be threatened by mining and other extractive industries.