Restorative Forest of Guayraloma - healthy ecosystems for healthy soil
Host
Organization: Asociación de Productores de Alimentos Nutricionales Andinos Mushuk Yuyay, APROSANAMY
Web site of the organization: https://www.facebook.com/Asociaci%C3%B3n-de-Productores-de-Semilla-y-Alimentos-Nutricionales-Andinos-600013653419020/
Virtual meeting room: https://meet.lax.init7.net/4p1000stand9
Presentation
Summary
In 1968, during the Ecuadorian Agrarian Reform, each community formed a cooperative to purchase and administer the land. The membership of this cooperative decided to plant trees on land that could not be used for crops. Eucalyptus were readily available and grew quickly. The project seemed successful. However, now, 50 years later, the ecological damage done by the trees is obvious. The soil is dry and poor, and the eucalyptus choke out biodiversity. The area is about 14 ha. and economically unproductive. The plan it to convert the land to native bushes, cacti, agave, and grasses for fix nitrogen, sequester carbon, conserve moisture. The area is important for collecting rain and fog for irrigation of nearby crops. The trees will be removed and native plants added, particularly agave and broom. Agave products have economic value. Broom have flowers that will support beekeeping. Water retention improves irrigation in times of chaotic rainfall patterns. Healthier soils will mean cleaner air to do our part to combat climate change. This work will be done gradually over 8 year while apiculture and agave are growing in importance. Native llama and alpaca will be pastured here as well. They contribute to soil health in a variety of ways. The site will serve an education center to help local farmers cultivate agave, begin beekeeping, and put other native bushes where they can help build soil and stop erosion. The measurement of soil organic carbon will be done at the outset and be repeated periodically. This local people will work together to make these changes now, but the benefits of the changes will be felt for generations to come.
Additional information
1. Partnership
Clients / Target group
The local farmers who are members of the cooperatives and the Association Mushuk Yuyay will benefit from the income generated for their groups. The farmers will benefit from the education services so that they will replicate the activities on their family farms. The schools will participate in education activities in sciences of biology and ecology. Two local universities will benefit from the collaboration in product development and in applied environmental sciences. Local businesses will benefit from the products originating in this site. Traditional weavers will benefit from the wool production. We all will benefit from improved air quality as well as the help the biodiversity and increased vegetation will lend to the Amazon and Pacific water cycles Altogether, the project will benefit hundreds of local residents in southern Ecuador, and indirectly it will benefit the entire Earth.
Established collaborations and partnerships
Mushuk Yuyay has established working relationships with everyone who could be interested in this project. The local agricultural cooperatives, the Union of Cooperatives of Cañar, the Savings and Loan Cooperative Mushuk Yuyay. The Association also has a close relationship with the cantonal governments of the 3 cantons where they operate, as well as with the school districts. They are also in close relationship with the Provincial government of Cañar and with the university in the provincial capital of Azogues. In the city of Cuenca, they work with several organizations, including the University of Cuenca. They have a working relationship with the Cuenca Expats to coordinate on marketing projects. Mushuk Yuyay works with the various national government agencies, especially the Departments of Agriculture, Economic Solidarity, and Health. Internationally, Mushuk Yuyay works closely with the Sustainable Seed Lab at Washington State University. Other connections include Friends of Ecuador, Manos Unidas de España, and others.
Desired collaborations and partnerships
We at Mushuk Yuyay always pursue collaboration and communication with anyone addressing the same issues we are. We are open to learning from others. We enjoy the opportunity to exchange ideas, philosophies, points of view, and information with others. This helps us to better refine our ideas and to proceed more securely toward successful completion of our projects. We feel that we have a sound organization model that is showing success. Our model is based on democratic decision making in open discussions. Man and women, young and old, participate equally.
4 per 1000
My goal is to learn through sharing ideas and experiences with others. We are working seriously toward a better environment with cleaner air and water. We believe that we need to strengthen the soil and improve seed. We are increasing biodiversity and a natural balance in the local ecosystems. Anyone working on the same goals is a potential partner in this effort.
2.Solidarity - Twin-Regions
The twin regions concept aims to optimize the use of resources to address the global climate crisis and other pressing issues by promoting international solidarity and massive, empowered, self-reliant and equitable citizen participation. A Twin-Region is a pair of communities that are complementary in terms of green house gas emissions and sequestration potential. They pool their recourses and collaborate in order to become carbon neutral and to solve other pressing environmental and societal issues, such as biodiversity loss and migration. Click here to read a one page outline.
Pros and cons
We would love to form a partnership with another community to work toward international solidarity. At this point, it seems that such a partnership could only be advantageous. However, before such a decision is made, the general assembly of Mushuk Yuyay would have to understand the concept fully and all of the ramifications of making such an agreement. With membership agreement, we could move ahead with forming a collaboration.
Relevance
Your role
3. Ecological footprint
Status
Specifically, our ecological footprint would be reduced by using well managed biodiversity to build up soil organic carbon and removing it from the atmosphere. Currently, in the forested area, there are few machines ever used. There isn't even a road. However, the increased organic growth in the forest would take in carbon from the atmosphere and return it to the soil.
Perspective
Opening hours (Shows)
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