Ecuador

15 ha hectares

Fundacin Ecosistemas en Accin is actively engaged in land restoration efforts in both the Andean and Amazon regions of Ecuador. Their work focuses on combining scientific approaches with ancestral ecological knowledge to restore degraded landscapes and promote sustainable land management practices. In the Amazon, the organization is collaborating with the Kichwa Indigenous community of Atacapi (located in the Tena region, Napo Province) to restore biodiversity through regenerative agroforestry systems known as chakras. These systems support deforestation-free cacao production and preserve native species, while empowering the community through participatory planning and ecological education. Currently, the organization is implementing a bio-input production center (biofactory) to reduce reliance on external agrochemicals and promote soil regeneration. In the Andean region, particularly in the parish of Alquez (Cotopaxi Province), the organization is developing an action plan for sustainable agriculture. This includes capacity-building workshops aimed at certifying rural farmers under the Agricultura Familiar Campesina framework, which encourages agroecological practices, local seed preservation, and reduced land degradation. The organization also lead environmental education initiatives that emphasize the spiritual and ethical responsibility of caring for the Earth, guided by the principles of interconnection between humans and nature. If selected, Additionally, community participation is often affected by economic hardship, migration, and insecurity, which reduce the continuity of local engagement. For example, in response to the global cacao price increase, some farmers are expanding cultivation by clearing native forests, threatening ecological integrity. Ensuring sustainable land use requires constant education and alternatives such as agroecology and organic inputs.