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What is Earth Day?
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It serves as a reminder of our responsibility to safeguard our planet for future generations.
Why do we celebrate Earth Day?
Earth Day is celebrated to raise awareness about environmental issues such as pollution, deforestation, climate change, and endangered species. It encourages individuals, communities, and governments to take action to preserve and protect the Earth’s natural resources.
Why is Earth Day important?
Earth Day is crucial because it brings people together to advocate for sustainable practices and policies. By promoting environmental awareness and activism, Earth Day plays a vital role in inspiring positive change and fostering a deeper connection between humanity and the planet.
Earth Day Facts
The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, and is credited with launching the modern environmental movement.
Earth Day is now observed in over 190 countries, making it one of the largest secular observances in the world.
The theme for Earth Day 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet,” the campaign focuses on accelerating clean energy, increasing accountability for environmental damage, and promoting community-scale climate solutions.
This Earth Day, your gift to Nature and Culture International helps protect some of the most biodiverse and threatened ecosystems on the planet. From the Amazon rainforest to Andean cloud forests, we work hand-in-hand with Indigenous peoples, local communities, and governments to conserve millions of acres of vital habitat. Every donation—big or small—drives lasting, locally led solutions for our planet’s future. Join us in safeguarding nature, culture, and life on Earth.
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Our Water Source Conservation Program promotes a network of Water Protection Areas (WPA) and other subnational conservation categories that identify and protect strategic ecosystems to guarantee water supply and conserve biodiversity in Ecuador. By protecting key water sources along the Amazon and Andes regions, the program strengthens landscape integrity, ecosystem functionality, and community well-being, promoting more resilient and sustainable territories.
The Water Source Conservation Program is possible thanks to the active participation of local communities, who engage in conservation by recognizing the value of water as the foundation of their food sovereignty, health, and sustainable development. This community-led approach strengthens local conservation and ensures long-term sustainability.
Investing in water source conservation means protecting water, conserving life, and strengthening resilient territories.
988,400 acres
by 2030
Protection Goal
37 WPAs established
across Ecuador
24 with the support of Nature and Culture International
Regions
Coastal Ecuador, Andes region, Amazon region
Ecosystems
Cloud forest, Amazon, páramo, lakes and wetlands, dry forest
Priority Landscapes:
The Water Source Conservation Program collaborates closely with both the government and local communities to ensure the comprehensive management of vital natural ecosystems, those that provide water and serve as havens for Ecuador’s rich biodiversity.
As a result of a joint analysis and planning process, Nature and Culture International and the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MAE) identified nearly 17.3 million acres (7 million hectares) of areas with very high water importance, primarily in paramos and cloud forests, strategic ecosystems for water regulation, storage, and supply.
Based on these findings, the Water Source Conservation Program drives a national strategy prioritizing Water Protection Areas to ensure territorial connectivity and conservation.
Where APHs cannot be established, the program implements alternative subnational models, such as Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas. These are adapted to local conditions to protect vital water sources and enhance regional governance.
Ecological Connectivity for Territorial Resilience
Water Protection Areas are not isolated spaces: they act as strategic nodes linking national protected areas with subnational conservation initiatives. This creates connectivity blocks that facilitate the movement of key species and maintain ecosystem balance at a regional scale. In this way, the Water Source Conservation Program directly contributes to the strengthening of priority biological corridors and the health of entire landscapes.
A landmark example is the Runahurco water protection area, which connects two national protected areas and several subnational Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas. This reinforces the protection of the Sangay–Podocarpus Connectivity Corridor, a vital part of the Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor initative
Similarly, the Southern WPA (APH del Sur) establishes a connectivity axis linking ecosystems from the Coast to the Highlands. This ensures water provision and regulation for thousands of people while strengthening climate resilience and biodiversity conservation.
Water: Sustaining Biodiversity
Water does more than just supply communities; it is the axis that sustains wildlife and ecosystem balance. Paramos, cloud forests, and other strategic ecosystems regulate the water cycle, creating the necessary conditions for the survival of thousands of species of flora and fauna.
By protecting water sources, the Water Source Conservation Program safeguards critical habitats, ensures ecological connectivity, and enables the mobility of key species. Rivers, wetlands, and micro-watersheds function as natural corridors that maintain gene flow and ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Water Protection Areas
Water Protection Areas are a legally recognized conservation category in Ecuador, specifically designed to protect water sources that supply local populations and sustain biodiversity.
They are an innovative tool because they prevent land occupation and extractive activities in strategic ecosystems. Furthermore, they allow for the active participation of communities in their management and conservation.
The Water Source Conservation Program is a strategic pillar of Nature and Culture International’s vision, as it consolidates connectivity between national protected areas and subnational initiatives.
Through WPAs and other conservation categories, the program expands and complements the national network of protected areas, guaranteeing long-term legal protection for key ecosystems.
The Water Source Conservation Program strengthens and complements strategic initiatives such as the Amazon Platform and the Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor by consolidating the ecological and legal foundation necessary for their sustainability.
The Water Source Conservation Program contributes through:
The creation of Water Protection Areas and Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas in strategic sites for the protection of biodiversity and water sources, strengthening connectivity between territories prioritized by these programs.
The integration of conservation, water, biodiversity, and climate resilience into a single, coherent territorial strategy.
In this way, the Water Source Conservation Program does not operate in isolation; instead, it coordinates and amplifies conservation efforts at both national and regional scales, strengthening ecological corridors, ensuring territorial governance, and consolidating Nature and Culture International’s long-term impact.
Ecosystems that provide water, such as paramos and cloud forests, also act as natural climate regulators.
By conserving water sources:
The capacity of ecosystems to store carbon is maintained.
Temperature and humidity are regulated at a regional level.
Vulnerability to droughts and floods is reduced.
The water quality necessary for the survival of species and communities is protected.
Water is an essential component of climate resilience: without healthy ecosystems and water availability, it is impossible to sustain biodiversity or guarantee human well-being.
Long-term protection is based on a model of shared governance and territorial co-responsibility.
The State, at its various levels, guarantees the legal framework, the official declaration of the areas, and their supervision. Water boards, local communities, and local governments (participate actively in management through management plans, monitoring, and conservation agreements.
Throughout this process, Nature and Culture International provides permanent technical assistance, strengthening local capacities and supporting territorial planning, as well as the design and implementation of management plans.
Results to Date:
As strategic allies of Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment and Energy, we have consolidated a work plan through 2029.
By 2026, we have contributed to the establishment of 24 Water Protection Areas and 3 Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas.
Furthermore, we have supported the design of key planning tools, such as the National Map of Potential WPAs and the Atlas of Water Protection Areas.
In the municipality of Gualaquiza, Morona Santiago province, the Runahurco protected area has been established, a key territory for the conservation of Andean-Amazonian ecosystems and local and national water security.
Runahurco is a vital reservoir, harboring outstanding biodiversity and crucial water resources. Cuyes and Cuchipamba rivers originate in this area, converging to form the Bomboiza River. The waters of the Bomboiza will serve as the foundation for four future hydroelectric projects, generating clean energy and significantly bolstering the country’s energy security.
Runahurco Water Proteccion Area
Spanning 178,065.7 acres, the area covers the following communities: Gualaquiza (urban), Nueva Tarqui, Chigüinda, San Miguel de Cuyes, Amazonas, Bermejos, and Bomboiza. Due to its size and ecological relevance, the Runahurco Water Protection Area is consolidated as the second-largest water protection area in Ecuador, only preceded by the Aguarico Chingual Cofanes Water Protection Area.
Communities Connected to the Runahurco Water Protection Area
The name Runahurco, which means “Mountain of the Runa” in Kichwa, evokes the ancestral relationship between humankind and nature. It represents the Runa, the being who walks, works, and lives in balance with nature and water.
“I felt immense joy when they announced that the new area was finally approved. We were afraid because of the ecological threats, but now we know that our water sources will be protected. Runahurco is a spectacular place, with so much fauna and flora that it is worth conserving every last bit.”, comments Giomayra Lalvay Jarro, from the La Florida community, Nueva Tarqui.
The creation of the RunahurcoWater Protectio Area began with local comunity initiative. They motivated the Municipal Government of Gualaquiza to start the processes to guarantee the protection of water sources. With key support from the Sole Water Authority, technical guidance from Nature and Culture, and funding from Re:wild, the Andes Amazon Fund, and the Stockel Family Foundation, the Water Protection Area was created. This designation serves as an effective tool to link conservation efforts with better local water source management.
The community is the heart of the Runahurco. Their participation was decisive in driving the establishment process and guaranteeing the legal protection of the ecosystems.
“To speak of Runahurco is to speak of water, and to speak of water is to speak of the continuity of life,” highlights Patricio Guzmán, technical expert for Zone 10 of the Ministry of the Environment and Water.
Runahurco protects the water sources that supply more than 14,200 people in the municipality of Gualaquiza.
“This has long been a share priority for of all Gualaquiza residents. […] Our greatest concern has always been how to protect our water. With the Runahurco Water Protection Area, we can ensure a better quality of life for our eight communities and contribute to the entire Amazon region, since the sources that feed major rivers and the national hydroelectric system originate here,”, said Francis Pavón, Mayor of Gualaquiza.
The recognition of Runahurco has renewed the communities’ sense of belonging and their commitment protecting water sources and forests. In this area, more than 90% of its 177,910 acres remain almost intact—a mosaic of páramos (high-altitude grasslands), cloud forests, and rivers that maintain the ecological balance of the entire region.
“Water protection areas safeguard the sources that sustain water, agriculture, and food security in the country. As an organization, we have provided technical and financial support to 24 of the 37 existing Water Protection Areas in Ecuador”, highlights José Romero, coordinator of the Water Source Conservation program at Nature and Culture.
Ecological Framework and Conservation Challenges
The ecosystems of the Runahurco are home to emblematic species such as the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), the lowland South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris), and the Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori), which is considered critically endangered in Ecuador, where the population is estimated at just 200 individuals.
“The Runahurco is today one of the most important refuges for the Black-and-chestnut Eagle in southern Ecuador—the jaguar of the skies. Its presence confirms the ecological quality of the area and its key role as a biological corridor between the Andes and the Amazon,” notes Nicolás Astudillo of the Fundación Cóndor Andino.
“The Runahurco water protection area is today one of the most important refuges for the Black-and-chestnut Eagle in southern Ecuador—the jaguar of the skies. Its presence confirms the ecological quality of the area and its key role as a biological corridor between the Andes and the Amazon”, notes Nicolás Astudillo of the Fundación Cóndor Andino.
Furthermore, the Runahurco APH is configured as a core area within the Corredor de Conectividad Sangay–Podocarpus, which is fundamental for maintaining ecological processes such as genetic flow and the mobility of species between the Andes and the Amazon.
Importance of Water Protection Areas
Water Protection Areas (APHs), established by the Sole Water Authority in compliance with Article 12 of the Water Resources, Uses, and Exploitation Law, grant legal protection to water sources declared of public and collective interest. This designation guarantees their conservation against activities that may compromise their ecological integrity or their function as providers of the vital resource for communities.
Gualaquiza has decided to ensure the continuity of the hydrological processes that sustain the ecosystems and the communities. The Runahurco APH represents a permanent commitment from the relevant authorities to guarantee water of sufficient quantity and quality, securing the present and future well-being of the entire population.
Welcome to Nature and Culture’s 2025 Newsletter
A conservation update on our wins across Latin America, and a look at the impact you’ve made on some of our biggest projects so far in 2025.
We have a lot to celebrate! You’ve helped create five new protected areas, including Corazón de la Amazonía and Cutervo in the Andean Bi-National Corridor linking key ecosystems in Ecuador and Peru. In Bolivia’s Chaco, communities are advancing wildfire prevention in one of the region’s most threatened landscapes.
Thank you for making this impact real.
The CUIDAR Project: Rights, Water, and Resilience supports sustainable water resource management, ecological resilience, and community participation across Ecuador and Peru.
The Mayo-Chinchipe watershed originates in southern Ecuador’s Zamora-Chinchipe province and stretches into the border regions of San Ignacio and Jaén in northern Peru. As a key tributary of the Marañón River—one of the main sources feeding the Amazon—it is a vital ecosystem for both biodiversity and water access in the region.
Launched in April 2022, the CUIDAR Project is supported by the Belgian and Flemish governments, Join For Water, and Protos Andes, in partnership with Nature and Culture International, the National University of Loja, and the National University of Jaén.
The project focuses on conserving water ecosystems to strengthen local communities’ socio-ecological resilience and ensure sustainable access to clean water, especially for those most vulnerable to water scarcity. As part of this work, the team has implemented improvements to water supply systems in the communities of Palanda, Chinchipe, San Ignacio, and Jaén.
Photo: Water Treatment Plant, El Porvenir del Carmen – Ecuador
The Mayo-Chinchipe watershed is a cross-border system that connects both ecological and social processes, directly linking communities in Ecuador and Peru to the water resources they depend on. This deep interconnection has been essential in promoting an integrated water management approach, where the conservation of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the watershed.
The CUIDAR project team recently carried out a field visit to the Mayo-Chinchipe watershed to assess progress after three years of implementation. The evaluation confirmed that the project is on track, strengthening both environmental conservation efforts and the well-being of the communities that rely on these water sources.
Water Management and Ecosystem Protection
A key focus of the CUIDAR Project has been to improve water infrastructure, protect strategic ecosystems, and restore degraded areas to ensure reliable access to clean water for human consumption.
Origin of the Mayo-Chinchipe – Cerro Toledo Watershed, Palanda – Ecuador
In the communities of Palanda, Chinchipe, San Ignacio, and Jaén, the project has prioritized upgrades to water supply systems, especially in areas most vulnerable to water scarcity.
At the same time, conservation efforts are being carried out in partnership with local communities to protect critical ecosystems such as páramos, montane evergreen forests, and inter-Andean dry forests—all essential for climate regulation and water retention.
In the lower Jaén area, where the Chinchipe River meets the Marañón, specific strategies have been implemented to combat soil degradation and maintain vegetation cover, helping to reduce the impacts of land use change on the landscape.
Restoration and Water Protection in the Mayo-Chinchipe Watershed
To safeguard water quality and availability, the CUIDAR Project takes a comprehensive approach that combines water source protection, reforestation, and community-led governance.
As part of this effort, restoration activities have been carried out to protect key water sources, helping to sustain the water cycle and reduce environmental degradation.
A major focus has been on reforestation through productive conservation. In partnership with the Valladolid Parish Government and the Ecological Coffee Growers Association of Palanda (APECAP), the project has restored 82 hectares using agroforestry systems with coffee, which both rebuild vegetation cover and promote sustainable farming practices among local coffee producers in Ecuador.
In addition, conservation agreements with local organic producers committed to forest conservation, have helped protect 381 hectares of native forest in Ecuador. These agreements support sustainable land management and long-term ecological stability in communities that depend on the watershed.
Acuerdos de conservaciónAcuerdos de conservaciónAcuerdos de conservación
In Peru, the CUIDAR Project has partnered with coffee cooperatives La Prosperidad de Chirinos, Valle del Café, and Los Lirios to improve sustainable production systems. These efforts have resulted in nine conservation and compensation agreements, protecting 2,042 hectares of forest in collaboration with local communities.
As part of this partnership, 29 hectares of agroforestry systems have been established in the districts of La Coipa and Chirinos, along with the reforestation of 3 hectares of montane forest. This reforested area helps connect the northern and southern sections of the El Chaupe, Cunía, and Chinchiquilla Regional Conservation Area in San Ignacio.
In parallel, water resource management has been strengthened through the creation of the Water School, which provides training for local government technicians. Additionally, new binational committees have been formed to promote community leadership and participation in water governance and conservation.
Victoria Alberca, president of the La Chacra Organic Producers Association (Ecuador), shared: “If we want a sustainable and equitable world, we must protect water and safeguard the Mayo-Chinchipe watershed. This is more than just a process; it’s a collective journey that requires the involvement of women, men, and diverse communities. Protecting water also means recognizing and strengthening women’s leadership, which is key to the fair protection of this vital resource.”
Cindy Díaz Horna, representative of the Chontalí Integrated Development Association (Peru), shared:
“The Water School brings together many people committed to conservation, but what inspires me most is teaching young people—especially girls and boys—that protecting our biodiversity not only transforms our environment, it also empowers us, especially women. This is what true development looks like: actively caring for our water and our lands.”
Cindy Díaz Horna, Asociación para el Desarrollo Integral de Chontalí (Perú)Victoria Alberca, President of La Chacra Organic Producers Association (Ecuador)
As the CUIDAR Project moves forward, these efforts are shaping a replicable model for water restoration and management in cross-border ecosystems. They demonstrate that conservation is not only possible—it’s essential for ensuring equitable access to water across the region.
Binational Cooperation for Water Conservation
Patricio Jaramillo, Nature and Culture International’s CUIDAR Project Coordinator in Ecuador, emphasized:
“The union of local efforts and international cooperation through the CUIDAR Project reaffirms our commitment to protecting fragile and degraded ecosystems.”
He added:
“This collaborative work has not only improved access to water—both in quantity and quality—but has also strengthened cooperation between Ecuador and Peru, supporting the well-being of border communities and the natural environments they depend on.”
Patricio Jaramillo, CUIDAR Project Coordinator – Ecuador, Segundo Jaramillo, Mayor of Palanda – Ecuador, Bart Dewaele, Director General of Join For Water
In Peru, work is underway on the Binational Watershed Plan, led by the National University of Jaén, to better understand the shared water systems between Peru and Ecuador. The plan identifies major threats to these ecosystems—such as illegal mining, logging, and burning—which increase the vulnerability of montane forests and páramos.
This document will serve as a key tool for informed decision-making and the development of cross-border cooperation projects, focusing on building technical capacity and restoring degraded areas in collaboration with local communities.
“It is crucial to work in an integrated way and with the active participation of the Local Water Authority,” said Iván Mejía, Project Manager at Nature and Culture International Peru.
“This area is part of the Andean-Amazonian Transboundary Conservation Corridor, covering over two million hectares of páramos and montane forests in Peru and Ecuador. Through projects like CUIDAR and funding initiatives such as the Northern Andes Water Fund, we have managed to integrate local communities, authorities, and international cooperation in protecting and restoring these natural water sources,” added Mejía.
The Mayo-Chinchipe watershed is a clear example of how cross-border water management and ecosystem conservation are possible when countries and communities cooperate. The strategies of the CUIDAR project could serve as a replicable model in other Latin American watersheds facing similar challenges.
Felipe Serrano, Ecuador Country Director for Nature and Culture, emphasized that the community has much to be proud of—not only is this the place where cacao was first domesticated, but it’s also the source of the Mayo-Chinchipe watershed. These water sources are vital for maintaining the region’s hydrological and ecological balance, supporting both biodiversity and local livelihoods.
During his visit to communities in the Mayo-Chinchipe watershed, Bart Dewaele, Director of Join For Water, praised the CUIDAR Project for staying true to its goals and effectively coordinating with local stakeholders. He also highlighted that involving women from the outset not only gives them a voice but also strengthens community support.
Equipo binacional del proyecto CUIDAR
“The CUIDAR Project is a powerful example of international solidarity because it aligns the water needs of people with those of nature,” said Dewaele. “It’s also a binational initiative, spanning the Mayo and Chinchipe watersheds, which flow across both Ecuador and Peru. This project unites two peoples who were once in conflict. In that sense, CUIDAR is a peace project—built through shared care for water.”
Indeed, water knows no borders. But its conservation depends on the collective action of communities, governments, and organizations working together to protect this vital resource for both current and future generations.
Over a decade of grassroots conservation leads to the creation of a new Water Protection Area in southern Ecuador
On December 24, 2024, Ecuador officially declared the Corazón de la Amazonía (“Heart of the Amazon”) Water Protection Area (WPA). This is a major milestone in the ongoing effort to safeguard water sources, biodiversity, and the integrity of Andean-Amazonian ecosystems. Spanning 46,950 acres, the new area responds to an urgent need to secure clean water, preserve native forests, and support sustainable land use.
Corazón de la Amazonía is located in southern Ecuador in the province of Zamora Chinchipe. Approximately 80% of its area lies within the rural municipality of Valladolid, while the remaining portion is in the urban municipality of Palanda.
This marks the country’s 35th Water Protection Area, with Nature and Culture providing essential technical and financial support for 23 of them. In partnership with the Vice Ministry of Water and the Department of Environmental and Water Education, 85 more potential areas have been identified for potential to expand this national strategy.
The roots of this achievement stretch back to 2008, when a school in Valladolid helped establish the Ciudad de Loyola Reserve, and the community created the Corazón de la Amazonía Parish Reserve. Ten years later, these efforts merged into the Palanda Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Area.
“The WPA Corazón de la Amazonía represents a long-held dream and years of struggle to protect our water,” said Ana Rodríguez, president of the Valladolid Municipal Government. “It was named through a democratic process and reflects more than a decade of community commitment.”
Ana Rodríguez, president of the Valladolid Municipal Government
The WPA’s creation was made possible through the collaboration of local and national governments, Nature and Culture International, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE), and international partners Re:wild and Join For Water, as part of the CUIDAR Project.
“Our partners’ support not only helped create this WPA, but it also laid the foundation for its long-term protection,” said José Romero, Watershed Protection Program Coordinator at Nature and Culture. “Protecting water is everyone’s responsibility.”
Vital Ecosystems, Rare Wildlife
Corazón de la Amazonía spans Andean páramo and cloud forest ecosystems, both essential for the ecological functions they provide, including water regulation, carbon capture, soil conservation, and regional bioclimate stability. They are also home to a rich biodiversity, including endemic species that are highly sensitive to environmental changes. One notable species is the Jocotoco antpitta (Grallaria ridgelyi), an emblematic bird and bioindicator species whose presence helps assess the health of habitat and environmental changes.
Jocotoco antpitta (Grallaria ridgelyi), an emblematic bird and bioindicator species
Laying the Groundwork for Long-term Protection
While the WPA’s management plan is still in development, initial steps are already underway. Local and national authorities are working together to tackle threats like mining, deforestation, and agricultural expansion.
Progress is already being made through conservation agreements with locals, particularly near water sources. These agreements set commitments for sustainable land use, native vegetation protection, and conservation of key ecosystem services.
The Corazón de la Amazonía WPA spans ecosystems known for their essential ecosystem services
At the same time, local teams are developing tools like zoning maps, community patrol protocols, and participatory monitoring systems to support a comprehensive land management model that helps prevent deforestation, extractive pressures, and unsustainable land use.
Sustainable Production and Impact Monitoring
The WPA supports conservation-friendly livelihoods, including agroforestry, deforestation-free silvopasture, and traditional farming of crops like plantain, cassava, maize, sweet potato, taro, and cacao. Monitoring of these practices—led by local governments with support from Nature and Culture and funding from Re:wild—tracks indicators like water quality, stream flow, and forest cover to guide future land management.
Cacao is a sustainable crop compatible with conservation
“Everyone knows Palanda is the global origin of cacao, and that should be a source of pride, said Felipe Serrano, Executive Director of Nature and Culture in Ecuador. “But there’s another equally important element that should live in the hearts of all Ecuadorians: Palanda and Valladolid are also the origin of water. From this watershed flows the water that feeds the Marañón and the Amazon rivers. The water in these rivers exists thanks to the cloud forests and to a community that had the strength to protect these ecosystems.”
The WPA Corazón de la Amazonía is vital for water security not only in Palanda, but throughout the Mayo-Chinchipe watershed, as part of the Andean Binational Corridor – a conservation initiative led by Nature and Culture that connects ecosystems across Ecuador and Peru.
Cuencas hidrografícas en el Corredor de Conservacion Transfronterizo Andino Amazónica
“This WPA not only protects water, but unites a region to conserve diverse ecosystems and the life they support, forming part of a natural heritage for a just and sustainable future.” said Segundo Jaramillo, Mayor of Palanda.
The Heart of the Amazon beats thanks to the commitment of a community that, for over ten years, has worked together to conserve its water sources and biodiversity.
A conservation update on our efforts across Latin America, and a deeper look at some of our biggest projects yet.
Welcome to the summer edition of Nature and Culture’s Newsletter. We have a lot to celebrate! From Peru’s Mar Tropical de Grau to the rain-soaked Chocó rainforest of Colombia, journey with us as we explore thriving landscapes and the communities that protect them.
The effectiveness of our collaborative efforts is remarkable, and none of this would have been possible without you, our Nature and Culture Community! Since our founding, in total we have protected 26 million acres, preventing 3.9 billion tons of CO2 emissions!
As you read through our Impact Report, we invite you to join us in celebrating our achievements.
Here’s a look at some of the incredible work you helped support over the last year.
On February 1, 2023, two Indigenous nationalities came together with the Provincial Government of Morona Santiago, Ecuador to create the 3,057,670-acre reserve, named Tarímiat Pujutaí Nunka in Shuar, which roughly translates to “Territory of Good Living.”
With the generous support of our donors and partners, Nature and Culture has been working since 2021, to facilitate a participatory process that led to the protection of this massive connected Amazonian forest. This process involved hosting 21 community meetings, during which 893 community members shared their traditional ecological knowledge, worldviews, and visions for a sustainable future within their ancestral territory to preserve natural and cultural resources for future generations.
The declaration of this area aims to improve the quality of life for local communities through sustainable development opportunities, while safeguarding its 744 million tons of above-ground carbon stores.
Tarímiat Pujutaí Nunka joins as the centerpiece of the Amazonian Platform, a collaborative alliance uniting 7 Indigenous nationalities and 3 Provincial Governments in protecting 11 million acres of continuous Amazonian rainforest. About the size of West Virginia, U.S. in total, this impressive biological corridor collectively sequesters an estimated 2.3 billion tons of above-ground carbon.
The opportunity for Nature and Culture to attend the international climate conference, COP27, in 2022, and amplify Indigenous voices in climate action was a significant milestone for the organization. In 2023, we continued to build on the momentum and champion the presence of Indigenous leaders in pivotal international forums.
In March 2023, Josefina Tunki, former President of the Shuar Arutam Nationality, journeyed to the United Nations Water Conference in New York alongside Nature and Culture, Executive Director, Matt Clark. Josefina delivered a compelling presentation on the critical issue of water resources in the Amazon. Josefina’s perspective was enriched by her deep connection to the land, stemming from her leadership in safeguarding the 3-million-acre protected area, Tarímiat Pujutaí Nunka. She is fighting to keep her ancestral territory free of mining activities that have devastated her community.
Later in the year, our esteemed partners, Governor of Morona Santiago, Tiyua Uyunkar and Pastaza Governor André Granda, took the stage at COP28, proudly representing the Amazonian Platform—a testament to the collaborative efforts between Nature and Culture, subnational governments, and local Indigenous communities. They shared the remarkable successes achieved in protecting the Ecuadorian Amazon. Together, we’re safeguarding an astonishing 11 million acres of pristine forest, forming the largest biological corridor in Ecuador.
By facilitating the participation of Indigenous leaders in global dialogues, we are supporting them in reshaping the narrative on conservation and climate action. Their invaluable insights, rooted in millennia of lived experience, are indispensable in shaping policies and solutions. As we forge ahead, Nature and Culture remains steadfast in our resolve to amplify Indigenous voices, ensuring that their rightful place at the forefront of the environmental movement is acknowledged and respected on a global scale.
In 2019, we celebrated the establishment of the Ñembi Guasu protected area, safeguarding 3 million acres in the Bolivian Gran Chaco. That same year, the world watched in horror as wildfires ravaged the country’s southern region of Santa Cruz.
Since then, Nature and Culture and one of our local implementation partners, have been working to ensure the long-term health of the Ñembi Guasu area. We’re doing this in several ways, including the creation of a management framework and sustainable finance mechanism, the development of a firefighting patrol, and post-wildfire reforestation projects. Recognizing the growing risk of fire in Bolivia’s precious dry forests, we have provided firefighting tools, conducted fire safety awareness campaigns, and devised emergency firefighting strategies to mitigate future disasters.
Helping communities adapt to climate change is crucial because, despite efforts to mitigate its causes, the impacts of climate change are already being felt globally. These impacts often disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. By supporting adaptation measures, such as building resilience, enhancing infrastructure, and implementing early warning systems, communities can better withstand the effects of climate change and minimize associated risks to livelihoods, health, and well-being.
In the last eight years, Nature and Culture has documented more than 450 species of birds in areas we protect in the northern Tropical Andes of Peru, 24 percent of the country’s recognized avian species. Our work here spans a 3,763,481-acre ecoregion of high-altitude grasslands and cloud forests.
Two new subnational areas are in the works which will join to surrounding protected areas between the departments of Huánuco and San Martín, Peru. This ecoregion provides critical habitat connectivity and food resources to birds and other wildlife in the region.
Monitoring wildlife within the areas we protect is just one way we gauge the efficacy of our work. It also allows us to prioritize new areas for conservation as species’ ranges shift in response to climate change.
In Ecuador, Water Protection Areas (WPAs) are a unique conservation measure aimed at safeguarding water resources for local populations and protecting key watersheds and their surrounding ecosystems. These areas legally shield forests and natural ecosystems from harmful activities like mining, ensuring a clean water supply and food security for local communities. From 2019 to 2022, our team in Ecuador spearheaded a comprehensive national-level hydrological study. This effort culminated in the creation of a Priority Map of Hydric Zones covering approximately 17.3 million acres. The study was instrumental in aiding the Ecuadorian government in prioritizing its watershed conservation projects, called Water Protection Areas.
Since the inception of this conservation mechanism, 32 Water Protection Areas have been established, 20 with Nature and Culture’s support. In 2023 alone, 12 areas were established, protecting 150,000 acres, and bringing positive change to the lives of 85,000 residents.
In Ecuador, Water Protection Areas (WPAs) are a unique conservation measure aimed at safeguarding water resources for local populations and protecting key watersheds and their surrounding ecosystems. These areas legally shield forests and natural ecosystems from harmful activities like mining, ensuring a clean water supply and food security for local communities. By prioritizing water source protection, we also engage local populations in conservation and ensure the preservation of the remarkable biological and cultural diversity in these regions.
Recent Achievements: Four New WPA’s in the last month
In October of 2023, four new WPAs were declared in the Amazon and Southern Sierra regions of Ecuador, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition, Nature and Culture International, and local organizations. On October 3rd, the Verdun Water Protection Area was declared, becoming the first water protection area in the province of Loja and the 23rd at the national level. With an area of just over 20,000 acres, the water protection area benefits approximately 8,000 residents, both directly and indirectly.
Similarly, on October 12, 2023, two key Water Protection Areas were established that protect water in the Amazon: Yantzaza and El Pangui.
With these two WPAs, the total number of areas in Ecuador reached 26. The Yantzaza Water Protection Area covers an area of 7,845 acres and benefits over 19,000 people in the region. On the other hand, the El Pangui Water Protection Area benefits around 1,280 people and spans 10,410 acres.
Finally, on October 20th, the Retén Ichubamba Water Protection Area was declared, the 27th in the country, covering 11,104 acres, ensuring access to water and food sovereignty for 4,109 residents of the Guamote region in the province of Chimborazo.
NATURE AND CULTURE’S ROLE IN ESTABLISHING WATER PROTECTION AREAS IN ECUADOR
Between 2019 and 2022, Nature and Culture International led a national-level hydrological study, resulting in a Map of Zones of Hydric Importance by level of priority that spans approximately 17.3 million acres. This study served to help the government of Ecuador prioritize the protection of their watershed projects.
Map of Zones of Hydric Importance in Continental Ecuador. Prepared by Nature and Culture International.
To date, 27 Water Protection Areas have been established, with Nature and Culture contributing to the creation and management of at least fifteen of these areas, covering a total of 156,404 acres.
The Ecuadorian environmental water authority requested the support of strategic allies such as Nature and Culture to achieve a goal of 445,000 acres protected under its Water Protection Plan before the end of 2023, but they have already surpassed that goal with 476,382 acres designated as Water Protection Areas and there are at least 5 more WPAs expected to be announced with Nature and Culture in 2023.
Verdun WaterfallPucará Waterfall
“Since 2018, Nature and Culture has been committed to supporting the Ministry of Environment and Water in identifying strategic and high-priority areas to sustain water resources. The national prioritization map for the protection of water resources was updated, and based on this, we have collaborated with the ministry in establishing 15 WPAs in the country. Delivering a clear message to local communities and organized groups has been crucial in gaining their support for these initiatives and ensuring the success of the project”
says José Romero, Water Protection Areas Coordinator at Nature and Culture.
Water Protection Areas map of continental Ecuador. Prepared by Nature and Culture International.
Community Effort and Ongoing Work
Nature and Culture’s work in protecting critical water sources has been made possible thanks to the financial support of Re:wild, which has allowed us to assist in the creation of 7 WPAs this year, with a few more in the final stages of their creation.
Nature and Culture has been a key partner, supporting Ecuador’s constitutional mandates to ensure water security and food sovereignty for the country. Our unwavering commitment to safeguarding Ecuador’s water resources is fortified by the invaluable support and collaboration of local communities, our partners in the Ecuadorian government, and our donors, who make this important work possible.
Welcome to Nature and Culture’s latest conservation update, a direct glimpse into our ongoing efforts across Latin America.
Our commitment to safeguarding the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage of this remarkable region remains unwavering, and it is thanks to supporters like you that our projects continue to thrive. Thank you for joining us on this journey!
Real Stories. Real Impact.
In 2007, the municipal government of Loja, Ecuador approved the ordinance for the protection of micro-watersheds and other areas of hydric importance. Updated in 2020, the ordinance was issued for the protection and restoration of water sources, fragile ecosystems, biodiversity and environmental services through the creation and management of the Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Area. These local conservation areas protect the natural state of forests, páramos, and other fragile ecosystems, ultimately recovering ecosystem functionality in areas that have been altered in some way.
To date, Loja has 182,858 acres in Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas, of which 71,660 acres are areas of hydric importance or protect local water sources. Areas that were selected were determined a priority for the provision of environmental services, especially water, ecological connectivity, and biodiversity protection.
Jipiro Ravine, Loja
Nature and Culture has identified 72 water sources which are the primary source of potable water for the province of Loja, 13 of them provide water to the urban sector and 18 areas of hydric importance provide water to the capitals. Some of the areas identified have a high degree of degradation, mainly due to the change of land use due to agricultural activities.
Map of the 72 sources | Prepared by: Patricio Jaramillo
How local governments support the maintenance of natural ecosystems that provide water to their citizens
José Romero, Nature and Culture’s Coordinator for Areas of Hydric Importance, states that it is a priority to support local governments and establish conservation measures to protect the ecosystems that provide water to population centers. In the province of Loja, this process has been developed together with the Regional Water Fund (FORAGUA) and the Municipal Government, which has recently identified 7 areas of water interest with high priority for intervention: El Sauce, Cachipirca, El Cisne, San Lucas, Chantaco, Taquil, and Tenería. Within these areas, there are 6,819.14 acres of natural forests that store and release water, yet they have been deforested and converted into pastures. The land use has altered significantly, jeopardizing the quantity and quality of water available.
Tambo Blanco water catchment, Los Leones stream
Faced with these results, the Municipal Government of Loja, as part of the management of water sources, is promoting Conservation Agreements for Water and Forests among the owners of the properties settled in these areas of hydric importance, Water Management Boards, cooperation agencies and the local government.
These agreements aim to ensure conservation, recover degraded areas and comprehensively manage forests and water resources located in the water sources and Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas of the province. This is part of the process of reversing degradation and recovering ecological functionality, in other words, improving the capacity of water sources in this area.
Currently, 10 additional conservation agreements have been signed between private owners and Drinking Water Management Boards of the Jimbilla, San Lucas, Taquil, Malacatos parishes and buffer zones of the Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas.
Ángel Jaramillo, Nature and Culture Project Coordinator, stated that the 10 conservation agreements signed will allow the conservation and recovery of 336.48 acres. They include the active and passive restoration of around 74 acres, through agroforestry systems, silvopastoral systems and block planting of native forest species, which allows ecological succession processes to be carried out; and 262.57 acres of primary and secondary forest are committed to being conserved and maintained.
Municipal Government Authorities, Water Management Boards, FORAGUA and Nature and Culture International
Francisco Gordillo, technical secretary of FORAGUA, points out that areas that are not covered by native forest erode, degrade, and in the face of climate change, the dragging of sediments into streams and rivers occurs violently, and creates problems at lower elevations including floods and other harmful damage to local populations.
Gordillo states that for these reasons it is recommended that municipalities have ordinances to conserve and protect nearby ecosystems, and thus reduce the risk and vulnerability to global warming. In addition, Gordillo points out that, by establishing these ordinances, local governments will be able to count on Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas, and invest economic resources to take care of water sources together with the farmers. In addition, he mentioned that the financial sustainability of this model is based on the environmental tax and on measures to regulate land use and occupation. Above all, he points out that when defining this regulation, incentives should be considered for the owners who reside in the upper parts of the basins, to guarantee the protection of water sources.
Jipiro Waterfall
Within this cooperation process, Felipe Serrano, Nature and Culture’s Ecuador Country Director, commented that everyone, including aid workers, are moved by the sense of urgency, in his message he expressed his concern about the consequences and effects of climate change, “We do not know what is going to happen, the levels of deforestation in the country maintain the same trend, every year around 247,105.38 acres are deforested in Ecuador and the trend of forest reduction in Loja has been the same, that is, deforestation has not stopped.”
Likewise, Serrano explained that areas of water importance, such as the micro-basins that supply drinking water and irrigation to the province of Loja, are in a constant process of transformation due to the change in land use.
Within these global phenomena of climate change and with the transformation of forests, the so-called water buffers and before the announcement of the arrival of the El Niño Phenomenon, Serrano spoke of the uncertainty that the population is going through and raised the following question, “What will happen to the city and the flows of the rivers if we do not have buffer forests? The only infrastructure that will defend us from these phenomena are the forests and grasslands of the headwaters.”
Finally, he called for the joint search for mechanisms to protect the natural infrastructure of the forests that provide water and defend us from the onslaught of climate change, collaborations and coordination that must be sustained over time, he stressed.
Conservation agreements in the ACMUS-Loja
Luís Gutiérrez, president of the Drinking Water Board, San Francisco Belén of the Malacatos parish, mentions that it is essential to protect the environment, in an articulated way with the boards of water administrators, to have drinking water in Lojan homes. “We are 900 users distributed in 11 neighborhoods and thanks to institutions such as FORAGUA, the Municipality of Loja, Nature and Culture International and Andes Amazon Fund, for these agreements that have motivated us to continue protecting and caring for water.”
Incentives for water boards and private property owners
At the signing event of the conservation agreements for water and forests, Loja Mayor, Franco Quezada Montesinos stated, “We must protect water. We must conserve forests. And this must be done with management and in common agreements with those who take care of water.” The mayor focused on the need to improve institutional work through local, national and international cooperation, to establish comprehensive projects that serve citizens, and pointed out that this management must be carried out honestly and quickly.
If everyone learned to protect water, we would achieve great changes. That is why mitigating the social and environmental crisis to a large extent is everyone’s task, of citizens in both sectors: urban and rural; landowners in micro-watersheds and communities living near water sources; drinking water boards; and public and private institutions; in addition to international cooperation that allows the consolidation of collective agreements.
Real Stories. Real Impact.
New protected areas, beekeeping for conservation, and gender equity in reforestation are a few of the stories you’ll explore in our 2023 Spring Newsletter!
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As a supporter of Nature and Culture, take a moment to review our impact in 2022!
Our 2022 Annual Impact Report is a testament to our commitment to community-based conservation. As trailblazers in this field, the well-being of local communities is as important as protecting and conserving natural resources. For us, those go hand in hand.
Our work is organized into 5 key strategy areas: wild places, climate, water, people, and species. As you read through this report, you’ll see how our team approaches our projects through these lenses, ensuring the long term overall health of the areas we protect.
Please remember that none of this would be possible without the generous support we’ve received from so many of you!
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]TheMunicipalConservationandSustainableUse Area ofPortovelo was established by its Municipal Government on September 30, 2022. This area is part of theFierroUrco Water Protection Area and islocatedatthehead of thePuyangoRiver Basin. The area was approved through the Protection and Restoration of Water Sources, Fragile Ecosystems, Biodiversity, and Environmental Services of Portovelo ordinance. It promotes the management of municipal conservation areas and sustainable use that protect 29,305 acres of territory.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”22428″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Portovelo Municipal Protected Area conserves páramo grasslands where important rivers such as the Guayabal, Santiago, Tenta, Ambocas, and San Luis are born. The area, therefore, protects and conserves the water sources for the consumption of approximately 13 thousand inhabitants, distributed in three rural parishes: Morales, Curtincapac, and Salatí; and Portovelo, an urban parish.
A major objective in the creation of this area is to initiate strategic work to minimize threats in the reserve and the region, such as deforestation by livestock, agriculture, vegetation burns, and mining concessions. Luís López, Nature and Culture International Project Technician,saysthatthereisafeelingofurgency in the Municipal Government of Portovelo. The hope istoprotectandmanagetheconservationareasothat the mining concessions inthearea can be faced. These concessionsputthewatersourcesofthisbiodiverseareaatrisk.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The establishmentofthisnewareainPortovelotogetherwiththeZaruma,Atahualpa,andPiñas protected areas formanecosystemandbiodiverseconnectivitycorridorinthePuyangoriverbasin. These areas combined cover 154,517 acres offorests,páramos,watersources,andendemicspecies, including the endangered blue-throated hillstar hummingbird (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus).[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”22437″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This declarationisaninter-institutionalachievementthatbeganin2019,afterdirectingpermanentcoordinationbetweentheMunicipalGovernmentofPortoveloandthe support and adviceofNatureandCulture International.Asaresultofthisjointwork,theareaofconservation,constructionoftheordinance, and socializationwiththeMunicipalCouncil,wasdelineatedforsubsequentapproval.
Inthisprocess,theworkledbytheMunicipalGovernment of Portovelo,itscouncilors,and its technicalteam,withthesupportofNatureandCultureInternational,and AndesAmazonFund,hasbeenfundamental.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Climate change adaptation, species discovery, and newly declared protected areas in Nature and Culture’s latest round-up of news from 2022.
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Our strength as an organization lies within the passion of people around the globe who share our same dream. As part of the Nature and Culture community, you help us achieve so much — diverse vibrant cultures; wild places alive with plants and animals, and clean water and other ecosystem services for communities throughout Latin America. Thank you!
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On August 31st, 2022 the Santa Elena Provincial Protected Area was approved. The process to establish this area was led by the Provincial Government of Santa Elena and the Sustainable Landscapes Foundation, with support from Nature and Culture and Andes Amazon Fund.
Focusing on water source protection simultaneously preserves sites of hydrologic importance and surrounding biological, and cultural diversity.
Water connects people to conservation.
Access to clean water is a basic human necessity and preserving important water sources is a powerful tool for encouraging overall ecosystem health. Nature and Culture leverages local interest in preserving access to clean, abundant water to drive conservation. Ultimately this leads to the preservation of local biodiversity, nearby forests, ecosystems, and food security for local populations.
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In Ecuador, a Water Protection Area (WPA) is a nationally recognized, legally protected territory that conserves these precious water sources.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”21885″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]WPAs ban exploitative activities, ensuring clean water supplies for local communities and preserving surrounding wildlife.
These areas are established based on their strategic importance as water sources for human consumption and/or to guarantee food security. Once an area achieves this status, it is legally protected from activities like mining and other destructive activities such as unsustainable agricultural practices which can inhibit or drastically limit groundwater stores.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”21892″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Early in 2021, Nature and Culture developed a national water protection planning map in coordination with the National Water Authority of Ecuador.
This map establishes areas of hydrologic importance for human consumption and food security in the country.
In order to identify and prioritize areas of water importance, Nature and Culture conducted technical studies using multi-criteria analysis and geographic information systems (GIS) to map the data. 48,368 square miles, primarily in the Sierra (mountain region) and the central and northern Amazon of Ecuador were determined to be of high value for their water resources.
As of the declaration of the Quilanga WPA early this year, we have protected 9 of 10 areas that the Ministry of Environment and Water has invited Nature and Culture to support, with many more in the early planning stages for the near future.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”21893″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Important water sources have been gaining attention due to recent protests in Ecuador. Many Indigenous leaders held a strike to ask the Ecuadorian government to stop all mining concessions near important water sources, among other demands. In June 2022, a peace agreement between the Ecuadorian government and the country’s leading Indigenous organizations was brokered. Part of this agreement proposes a stop to all mining activity in protected areas and ancestral territories, national parks and Water Protection Areas. This is the beginning of an important dialog around environmental policies in favor of all Ecuadorians.
The findings from our Water Protection Area National Planning Map can support discussions between Indigenous leaders and the Minister of Environment to continue to protect remaining areas of high and very high water importance.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Read more on our response to current events in Ecuador here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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New protected areas, bioeconomy projects, environmental education, and some of our largest conservation efforts to date in Nature and Culture’s first round of highlights from 2022.
Nature and Culture International’s strength is in people who share the same dreams: of diverse vibrant cultures; of forests and savannas alive with plants and animals; of clean water and air and a livable climate.
On Friday, May 6, 2022, the declaration for the establishment of the Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Area of Quilanga was approved. This measure will protect 26,250 acres of native forest and páramos in the province of Loja, Ecuador. This area is of great importance in ensuring the protection of local water sources of the canton and unique species of flora and fauna.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”21584″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]This area is habitat for mammals such as the Andean bear, the tigrillo and the mountain tapir. In addition, Quilanga is the area of greatest distribution of the vizcacha. It is the site where most documentation of the species has been done.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This small rodent is endemic to the province of Loja. In fact, this is the only place on the planet where it can be found. “The location maps of the vizcacha populations were used to delineate the borders of this conservation areas,” says Rodrigo Cisneros, a researcher at the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL).[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”21587″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]The declaration will help protect the home of this rodent, which is critically endangered, according to the Red List of Mammals of Ecuador 2021.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]José Romero, Mosaic Coordinator at Nature and Culture International Ecuador, explains that, with this measure, the last remnants of forest and paramo of the canton will also be preserved, as well as important archaeological sites for the country.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”21589″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Romero says that this Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Area will protect areas of water interest for the largest number of urban and rural population of Quilanga.
Anthropic events, such as fires, are some of the most relevant threats in this area. In 2019, 17,000 acres of forest were burned. Other factors that endanger these ecosystems include the indiscriminate extraction of wood, the change of land use and the expansion of the agricultural frontier.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The creation of the Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Area is a step towards protecting the territory from these threats. Nature and Culture has worked with the Municipality of Quilanga since 2020 towards the establishment of this zone through the baseline study and in the delineation of the habitat of the vizcacha and the municipality’s water sources.
The Quilanga Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Area also protects bird species such as the sparrowhawk, quillico, hornero or chilalo and tanagers. In addition, there is a wide diversity of flora including the higerón, arupo, guayacán, arabisco and arrayán.
This area joins other conservation areas that exist in the canton such as the Colambo Yacurí Protective Forest that together, contribute to protecting the region’s abundant natural wealth.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][Español]
Quilanga Establece Una Nueva Área Para Conservar Sus Fuentes De Agua Y Su Biodiversidad
Este viernes 6 de mayo de 2022 se aprobó la declaratoria para el establecimiento del Área de Conservación Municipal y Uso Sostenible de Quilanga. Con esta medida se protegerán 10 623,22 hectáreas de bosque nativo y páramos de la provincia de Loja. Esta zona es de gran importancia para asegurar el cuidado de las fuentes de agua del cantón y de especies de flora y fauna únicas en el mundo.
En esta área se pueden encontrar mamíferos como el oso andino, el tigrillo y el tapir. Además, Quilanga es la zona de mayor distribución de la vizcacha o el sitio donde se han obtenido más registros de esta especie.
Este pequeño roedor es endémico de la provincia de Loja. Es decir, este es el único sitio en el planeta donde se lo puede encontrar. “Justamente para la delimitación de las zonas de conservación se utilizaron los mapas de ubicación de las poblaciones de vizcacha”, cuenta Rodrigo Cisneros, investigador de la Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL).
La declaratoria ayudará a proteger el hogar de este roedor, que se encuentra en peligro crítico de extinción, según la Lista Roja de los Mamíferos del Ecuador 2021.
José Romero, coordinador de Mosaico de Naturaleza y Cultura Internacional (NCI) Ecuador, explica que, con esta medida, también se conservará los últimos remanentes de bosque y páramos del cantón, al igual que sitios arqueológicos importantes para el país.
Romero cuenta que esta ACMUS protegerá áreas de interés hídrico para la mayor cantidad de población urbana y rural de Quilanga.
Los eventos antrópicos, como los incendios, son algunas de las amenazas más relevantes en esta zona. En 2019, se quemaron 7 000 hectáreas de bosque. A esto se suman otros factores que ponen en peligro a estos ecosistemas como la extracción indiscriminada de madera, el cambio de uso de suelo y la expansión de la frontera agrícola.
La creación de las Áreas de Conservación Municipal y Uso Sostenible busca proteger el territorio de sus amenazas. Para el establecimiento de esta zona, desde el 2020 NCI trabaja con el Municipio de Quilanga en el estudio de línea base y en la delimitación del hábitat de la vizcacha y de sus fuentes de agua.
El Área de Conservación Municipal y Uso Sostenible Quilanga también protege a especies de aves como el gavilán, quillico, hornero o chilalo y tangaras. Además, existe una amplia diversidad de flora que incluye al higerón, arupo, guayacán, arabisco y arrayán.
Esta ACMUS se suma a otras zonas de conservación que existen en el cantón como el Bosque Protector Colambo Yacurí que contribuyen a proteger su abundante riqueza natural.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Newly declared Quinllunga de San Simón-Guaranda Water Protection Area secures clean and abundant water supplies for 683 people.
Nature and Culture International has supported the creation of the first Water Protection Area in Bolivar Province, Ecuador. The newly declared Quinllunga de San Simón-Guaranda Water Protection Area protects a total of 1,375 acres and secures clean and abundant water supplies for indigenous Guaranca Kichwa people.
