PROJECT-SUPPORT ECUADOR

Country / Location

Ecuador / Vilcabamba

Ecuador is located in South America and borders Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean. The country is named after the equatorial line that runs through the northern part of its territory. The capital Quito lies at 2,850 metres above sea level and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

Ecuador is known for its geographical diversity, starting with the Andes, the Amazon rainforest, the coast, and the Galápagos Islands with their unique wildlife. Ecuador has around 18 million inhabitants, around 25% of whom are of indigenous descent. The official language of the country is Spanish. In addition, there are various indigenous languages among the population, of which Quechua is the most widespread.  

In Loja, in the south of Ecuador, the dry forests of the Tumbes region meet the evergreen cloud forests on the eastern slopes of the Andes. In this valley lies the Sacred Mountain, which is located in the municipality of Vilcabamba (‘Sacred Valley’ in Quechua) in the province of Loja.

General information

The Árbol co(n)razón association is a non-profit organisation that was founded in November 2017 to campaign for the protection and restoration of tropical rainforests. The aim of the organisation is to contribute to a future worth living with intact ecosystems, high biodiversity and a functioning global climate.  

Behind the organisation is a dynamic team of volunteers. They are passionately committed to the protection of nature and the sustainable use of natural resources. With broad expertise ranging from ecology to renewable energies, the organisation is working on the further development of its Sacred Mountain reforestation project. 

Beneficiaries

The reforestation of the Sacred Mountains began in November 2021, marking the start of the collaboration between Árbol co(n)razón and the Asociación Finca Sagrada. In a two-year pilot project, 19’000 trees were planted on around five hectares by August 2023. Rainwater harvesting structures were also created to stop erosion and nutrient leaching, and to rehydrate the soil. A survival rate of around 80% of the trees after one year speaks for the success of the pilot project. In addition, the effect of rainwater retention is also recognisable and wildlife camera images show that the planted area is already being repopulated.

By using permaculture methods, the Sacred Mountain can be efficiently and quickly transformed into a valuable habitat. This involves more than just planting trees. It requires improving soil fertility and creating forest-like conditions. Rainwater harvesting structures help to retain water and nutrients in the soil, preventing erosion. In addition, cuttings support the growth of young trees by mobilising nutrients, suppressing competitive grasses, binding nitrogen, and providing shade.    

At the same time, framework conditions are being created with other partners (e.g. researchers from the local university and representatives of other NGOs), so that reforestation can generate sustainable income. This enables an additional long-term improvement in living conditions for the local population.

Project-support

Project: Reforestation in the Sacred Mountain region

The success of the reforestation pilot project in the Sacred Mountain region, is now being expanded to protect an area of 70 hectares from wildfires with a green belt.  Basically, the trees are planted in ‘ecosystem restoration nuclei’. From these ‘islands’, the ecosystem can spread over the entire mountain, always allowing the spontaneous emergence of native trees. Further rainforest harvesting structures can be created in suitable places as part of the tree planting programme.

The area will be used as a test field to develop methods for the reforestation of dry Andean forests together with researchers. Sustainable sources of income, such as CO2 certificates and eco-tourism, are also to be promoted. The aim is to have a far-reaching ecological and social impact in the region.