REFORESTATION OF THE AWACHACHI BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR IN ECUADOR

The Awacachi Biological Corridor is host to a large number of rare and unique species, including the rare Great Green Macaw, the brown headed spider monkey and the endemic tree, Carapa megistocarpa. Intense logging has led to the decline of many tree species, with native trees in particular becoming seriously depleted. Working with local partner Fundación Sirua, the Global Trees Campaign is working to reforest 40 hectares of the Awacachi Corridor with native trees and raise awareness in local communities of conservation in the area.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The Awacachi Biological Corridor, in north-western Ecuador was established in 2000 and spans 10,000 ha, hosting primary and secondary Chocó forest. The Corridor links the Cotacachi Cayapas Biological Reserve with the Awá Ethnical Territory and is one of the last remnants of native Chocó forest, a habitat characterized by high biodiversity and unique fauna and flora. FFI has been active in the Awacachi area since 1999, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Corridor. However, intense logging has left some forested areas in a degraded state and several tree species, particularly native ones, seriously depleted.

The Global Trees Campaign is supporting local partner Fundación Sirua to reforest 40 hectares of the Awacachi Corridor by planting native trees including:

• Carapa megistocarpa - an Endangered timber species found only in Ecuador.

• The Yellow Ipé (Tabebuia chrysantha) - a tree with large, golden flowers, which is an important food source for hummingbirds and bees. The closely related Tabebuia guayacan is also being planted.

• The Monkey Pot tree (Lecythis ampla) - a tree with large, coconut-like fruits that are a food source for the threatened Great Green Macaw.

• Chanul (Humiriastrum procerum) - a unique tree found only in Chocó forest of this region, which is heavily exploited by loggers.

PROJECT UPDATE: June 2010 - June 2011

In 2010 the second phase of this project will continue with the tree propagation and planting program established in the first phase. It aims to reforest a further 15ha of the Awacachi Corridor and continue to support the three school nurseries. Further education and awareness activities will be conducted, including monthly workshops with school students and training in environmental issues for school teachers.

FIRST PHASE: February 2009 - April 2010

The first phase of the project aimed to begin a tree propagation and planting programme for the five target native species, sourcing all seeds from the Awacachi corridor. It also aimed to educate and raise awareness in local communities through a number of activities, including establishing school nurseries where children would be directly involved in growing, caring for and planting out native tree seedlings.

The project succeeded in reforesting 30ha of the Awacachi Corridor with 320-360 trees per hectare. In addition, 22.5ha of the buffer zone around the corridor were reforested and some trees were also planted in a further 53ha of agro forestry areas in the corridor buffer zone.

School tree nurseries were established in three schools in the communities of San Lorenzo, San Francisco and Durango. Students were involved in building and day to day maintenance of the nurseries and each student involved in the project was responsible for growing, caring for and planting out up to eight native tree seedlings. The three schools succeeded in maintaining an average of 300-400 seedlings in their nurseries, which were planted out into the Awacachi Corridor in early 2010.

Other education and awareness raising activities carried out included: two workshops for adults in three communities, 16 workshops in the three schools; four radio spots and the production of a book about the importance of the forest in the Awacachi Corridor.

Read more about FFI's work in the Awacachi Corridor

We are currently supporting further forest restoration work in Awacachi through our Conservation Gifts at Tree2MyDoor.com - click for more information and plant a tree as a gift.