Tena, Ecuador, July 2025
Thanks to your support, the participatory reforestation project in the Ecuadorian Amazon continues to flourish as it enters a new phase. Following the first plantations carried out at the end of 2024, the final trees were planted in January and February 2025. This completed the distribution and planting of 16,549 trees (timber and fruit species), with 83 families across four communities, near Misahualli and Puerto Napo.
These young trees are helping diversify sources of income (fruits and timber) for local families, while contributing to soil regeneration and preserving biodiversity. The community nurseries established in 2024 ensure the production and quality of the seedlings, a vital element of success for the programme.
Initial monitoring results are encouraging
Between March and June 2025, technical teams visited all the plots for initial monitoring. The overall condition of the plantations is highly satisfactory: over 80% of the trees have survived on almost all the plots, with nearly two-thirds showing survival rates of over 90%.
Some challenges remain, especially in areas with clay-heavy soils or insufficient shade, where growth has been slower, as well as in places where natural factors (ant infestations or drought) have caused limited losses. Each of these issues is being addressed individually by the technical team to ensure proper replacement or maintenance.
Training to ensure long-term success
This first monitoring round was also an opportunity to train families on plantation maintenance: marking trees, weeding, mulching around seedlings, and managing shade – tasks all vital for the healthy growth of young trees. Applying organic fertiliser and the first formative pruning will begin in the second half of 2025.
New opportunities for remote communities
In the most isolated communities, residents are eager to take things further by diversifying their activities. Starting in the second half of 2025, the project will support them in establishing self-sufficient nurseries for “aroma fino’ cacao, a local, high-value variety. Having already gained skills in seedling management, the families will take charge of production, with technical support provided as needed.
A sustainable future taking root
The first months of monitoring reflect a committed community and robust project: healthy plots, thriving trees, and families working together for a sustainable future. Your continued contribution is making all this possible, by both supporting reforestation and helping local populations build economic self-sufficiency and resilience in the face of climate challenges.
