ECUADOR – Tena 2023: participatory reforestation in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Background & challenges

The way of life of the Kichwas people in the Ecuadorian Amazon has evolved over the centuries from nomadism, based on hunting and gathering, to the ‘chacra’ agroforestry system. The chacra meets every need the year round with an extremely diverse range of cultivated species.

But the 20th century has led to traditional agroforestry being gradually replaced by monocultures or short-cycle crop associations. These major changes in the farming system have resulted in overexploitation of natural resources, which in turn has caused deforestation, erosion, soil impoverishment and a decline in biodiversity.

Nevertheless, the traditional chacra is still present in the region. The project depends on this ancestral know-how to reorientate rent-based farms towards sustainable agroforestry.

The objective of the project is therefore to install 7,200 trees whose species are in decline on the plots worked by Kichwa farmers; action that should lead to several economic and ecological improvements.

Indeed, for an orchard planted with fruit trees, revenue increases by over 30% after three years and 100% after five years. In addition, by planting timber species, a tree will earn the farmer around $200 when felled two decades after planting.

From an ecological point of view, this agroforestry project contributes in the following ways:

• protection of water resources; enhancing biodiversity by regeneration an ecosystem and preserving it by introducing rare species; boosting the resilience of the forest plot by planting many different species;
• tackling global warming by capturing carbon (greenhouse gas emissions, GHG are absorbed);
• tackling soil erosion and leaching by stabilising and enriching the soil with organic matter. Some species of timber trees are legumes (e.g. Cedrelinga cateniformis) and help increase the nitrogen content of the soil.

This project has been supported by A Tree for You donors since 2019 and was audited by the experts of the A Tree for You selection committee in December 2022. This audit highlighted, among other things, the importance of continuing to support the local NGO Ishpingo’s initiative on the field.

Works timeline

• January – February 2023: development of organic fertilizers
• January – June 2023: preparation of seed bags
• February – July 2023: purchase and harvest of seeds or seedlings
• March – July 2023: bagging of seedlings
• March – October 2023: nursery maintenance
• August – December 2023: transport of young trees to farmers and tree planting
• December 2023 – August 2026: monitoring and maintenance of plots of land at farmers’ homes (2 to 3 visits per year and per farmer) and training of farmers (on site at each visit)