Restoring Polylepis Forests in the Ecuadorean Andes

Ecuador, situated in South America, is a country of abundant biodiversity with almost 20,000 species of plants, and over 2,600 species of animals. Ecuador is also one of the few countries in the world that grants rights to both humans and the environment. Pacha Mama, or Mother Earth, is granted the right to protection from the endangerment of native species, the restriction of invasive species, as well as a commitment to restore damaged land to its original state. The push for environmental protection in Ecuador is relatively recent, and has resulted from the overuse and over-extraction of natural resources, from logging and oil exploration to agricultural land-clearing. These activities have had a disastrous effect on Ecuador’s primary rainforests, which now cover less than 15% of the country. 

When looking at its biogeographic regions, Ecuador can essentially be divided into four distinct areas; the Amazon, the Andes, the Pacific coastal plain, and the Galapagos Islands. These regions all play a pivotal role in maintaining Ecuador’s environment and the well-being of its people. Research continues to show that the restoration and protections of natural ecosystems will be key to tackling both biodiversity loss and climate change. 

The Andes, the world’s longest continental mountain range, forms part of Ecuador’s topographical backbone. The Ecuadorian Andes stretches from its northern border with Colombia to its southern border with Peru, and is home to Polylepis forests. 

Polylepis trees are endemic to the mid- and high-elevation regions of the tropical Andes, meaning that they are found nowhere else in the world. Polylepis forests grow in extreme weather and at high altitude, and are vital for protecting the water security of millions of people. The trees and their root systems slow the movement of glacial meltwater, ensuring its slow release into rivers and streams throughout the year. Their branches also effectively comb and harvest mists and precipitation from the clouds. As a result, permanent streams are created. This is vital for agriculture in mountainous areas, but also for lowland towns and villages where glacial meltwater is a key source of water. The trees also prevent soil erosion and flooding, protecting homes and livelihoods. Unfortunately though, only a few Polylepis forests remain – making their conservation of utmost importance. 

Planting Partner

Global Forest Generation (GFG) is a US-based 510 (c)(3) conservation non-profit organisation that was created to address the biggest challenges facing large-scale forest ecosystem restoration projects. 

Having identified a lack of restoration leaders and projects needed to protect vital ecosystems and restore degraded ecosystems to combat climate change, GFG’s team of experienced conservationists began establishing partnerships with local grass-roots leaders and communities. In 2018 GFG and Peruvian-based NGO ECOAN co-founded Acción Andina, a network of grassroots conservation partnerships aiming  to protect 500,000 hectares of remaining Polylepis forest, and restore another 500,000 hectares of high Andean forest in buffer zones and areas of importance downslope from glaciers.

GFG provides the capacity building, reliable funding, technology, and collaborative networks that many grass-roots restoration leaders and projects wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Local leadership of projects is vital to their long-term success, and GFG supports communities to take ownership of the projects on their doorstep, ensuring their stewardship of the forest improves their own livelihoods, particularly food security and health. GFG also mentors the next generation of eco-restoration leaders to ensure the forests are protected for many years to come.

GFG’s implementing partners are local organisations working closely with local communities to plant the trees and protect remaining forest. In Ecuador, these partners are Aves y Conservación, Andean Adventures, Fondo para la Protección del Agua (FONAG), and Fondo de Manejo de Páramos y Lucha contra la Pobreza de Tungurahua (FMPLPT).

The tree planting projects we will be supporting through GFG are part of a project spanning 5 countries in South America (Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina) called Acción Andina.

Ecologi will be funding the planting of 300,000 trees in the Andes mountains over the next 2 years. These trees will be planted across 16 different project sites, 5 of which will be in Ecuador.

In these Ecuadorian sites, 80% of the trees planted will be species of Polylepis including Polylepis pauta and Polylepis incana. The remaining 20% will consist of other native species, including Oreopanax ecuadorensis, Vallea stipularis, Morella pubescens, Gynoxys buxifolia, Buddleja incana, Miconia sp., Cedrela montana, Solanum oblongifolium, Maclearia floribunda, and Alnus acuminata.

We will be receiving quarterly reports on the progress of these projects, including regular photo updates to show our community the progress of the trees they’ve funded!

Explore the sites that we’re supporting in Ecuador on Restor: Chimborazo, Imbabura, Noroccidente de Pichincha, Nororiente de Pichincha, Tungurahua 1, and Tungurahua 2.

The Otavalo Mojando Protected Water Area was finally officially recognised in December 2022. After over a year of working to establish this protected area, consisting of 1,837 hectares, Aves y Conservación will now start to hire community members living within the area’s buffer zones as park guards to help generate more local support for the area through creating new income streams.

Elsewhere in Ecuador, in Yanahurco, Aves y Conservación conducted Andean berry propagation workshops with 20 community members who had requested to learn about native berry propagation to develop a new economic activity.

Andean berry cultivation workshop in El Perdregal, Yanahurco, Ecuador. Credit: Graciela Rueda