Ecuador is the eighth most biodiverse country on Earth, with more than 20,000 plant species, 1,500 bird species, more than 840 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 341 species of mammals. Yet it also has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, where up to 200,000 hectares of forest are destroyed illegally every year leaving less than 15% of primary forest intact. Most of this is due to the expansion of pastures and pressure from oil and mining companies. The Shiwakucha community are very concerned about the deforestation and are keen to preserve the forest by planting indigenous trees.

 

We have committed to an ambitious reforestation programme in Kuri Kucho and the Amazon rainforest.