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Conservation of the Angashcola Forest
Community-managed forests
protect ecosystems and sustain livelihoods
The 3,500 acre Angashcola Communal Forest Reserve
was formed by the Cochecorral Community of southern Ecuador with
the assistance of Nature & Culture International. Through an
effective process of social organization, the community maintains
the reserve in an effort to protect its water supply and to benefit
from the proper management of forest products.
NCI started working with the Cochercorral Community in 2002 assisting
in the legalization of community territory (the community did not
secure legal possession for over 70 years), participative regulation
as to appropriate land use in the area, and zoning concerns. At
the same time, the community’s farmers were trained to manage
the reserve and to set up agroforestry systems in certain areas
using species of wild native fruits like the toronche or Andean
papaya. A small rural company dedicated to the commercialization
and processing of native fruits has since gained a notable presence
in the local market.
The production and commercialization of native fruits has also motivated
the local Association of Organic Coffee Producers, Procafeq (300
producers), and they have also initiated the production of native
fruits, particularly toronche and cherimoya, on their properties.
Learn more about our work in the Andean Cloud
Forests of Ecuador:
NCI started working with the Cochercorral Community in 2002 assisting
in the legalization of community territory (the community did not
secure legal possession for over 70 years), participative regulation
as to appropriate land use in the area, and zoning concerns. At
the same time, the community’s farmers were trained to manage
the reserve and to set up agroforestry systems in certain areas
using species of wild native fruits like the toronche or Andean
papaya. A small rural company dedicated to the commercialization
and processing of native fruits has since gained a notable presence
in the local market.