Acción Ecológica
As one of the larger environmental groups in Ecuador, Acción Ecológica has worked in a wide array of ecological sectors in order to address environmental issues in areas such as mining, petroleum, climate change, food sovereignty, and lumber extraction. For most of these topics, Acción Ecológica has multiple campaigns and projects that are currently in progress. They pride themselves in their ‘horizontal organization,’ meaning that besides administrative positions, there is a lack of hierarchy which allows for decision making to include the larger body of the organization. Their mission is to incorporate environmental justice with social progress and sustainable development.
***Communities, Food Security, Governance, Individuals
EcoCencia
EcoCiencia’s goal is to conserve biological diversity through scientific research, environmental education, and promoting sustainable ways of life between community and the environment. This is done through socio-environmental mapping, studying the risks of forest loss, and strategic partnership in communities. They achieve this by fostering an interdisciplinary team, including anthropologists, ecologists, sociologists, urban planners, and more.
***Conservation, Communities, Education, Individuals, Research
Fondo de Inversión Ambiental Sostenible
Fondo de Inversión Ambiental Sostenible is a nonprofit NGO that manages funds for environmental management initiatives aimed at conservation, sustainable use of resources, adaptation and mitigation of climate change, and more on behalf of Ecuador. They have initiated many impactful projects, including Program Amazon Without Fire (PASF) and the Socio Bosque Program. Both look at ways to tackle forest habitat protection from threats like fires and deforestation practices in different industries. They additionally work to incorporate sustainable development in local rural communities in the country in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment.
***Conservation, Climate, Communities, Governance
Naturaleza con Derechos
Naturaleza con Derechos was founded to develop legal and political strategies to guarantee the maintenance of the environment, the protection of its defenders, and the sanctity of territories. Specifically, they confront problems such as deforestation by large-scale agro-industrial plantations, extractive activities and damming. Naturaleza con Derechos works with indigenous women, children, and populations to link their community to nature and to strengthen their roles as defenders of the environment. They have collaborated with Acción Ecológica and the Waorani tribe to help stop the China National Petroleum Corporation from polluting native territory during oil extraction.
***Conservation, Deforestation, Governance, Indigenous Communities, Public Participation
Planeta Epicentre
Epicentre serves as a strong resource for communities who are transitioning into sustainable lifestyles. The organization places strong weight on the interchanges between itself and the communities it collaborates with; valuing equity, the environment, respect for their ideologies, and their happiness. Its projects fall within the following themes: environmental education, environmental protection, business collaboration, conservation of culture and identity, productive discussions and adequate waste management. The organization’s collaboration with the Shuar indigenous people of the Amazon, named Project Nukui, is one of their most important projects. Volunteers can apply to work for the project alongside the Shuar as they transition towards sustainability.
***Individuals, Indigenous Communities, Urban Communities
Red de Guardianes de Semillas
Red de Guardianes de Semillas highlights and encourages appreciation for agriculture by leading initiatives celebrating ancestral Ecuadorian seeds and their vibrant diversity. In workshops, Zoom webinars and community family meetings, permaculture, agroecology, bio-construction, food sovereignty, solidarity economy and alternatives in education are discussed to equip organization members with adequate knowledge to lead environmental projects themselves; the RGS serves as overarching resource to these independent projects. The same array of resources can be located on the organization’s website, where one can learn about the indigenous roots behind specific ingredient uses, observe professional chefs use these same seeds in their own dishes, and learn how to grow and cultivate from ancestral seeds sustainably.
***Individuals, Indigenous Communities
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