THE CAUSEMaquipucuna, Our 14,000 acre reserve and Ecolodge, alongside Raiz Foundation, seeks YOUR HELP in supporting conservation and families within our community through and beyond the COVID-19 crisis.
In these trying times, everyone finds themselves trying to find a way forward, to reinvent themselves or simply—to survive. Unfortunately in much of Central & South America where a large part of the economy is supported by tourism, and where the government is not willing or does not have the means to support its people, people are suffering.
Maquipucuna has lifted up local communities by providing income through ecotourism. Our work also led to the creation of the community run ecotourism operations in the Yunguilla, Santa Lucia, and Playa de Oro communities, which attract thousands of tourists each year.
Maquipucuna directly employs 14 families in the nearby town of Santa Marianita but has impacted over 1,000 families in the last 32 years. As a non-profit, our ecolodges' revenue is directly funneled into research, conservation, environmental education and community development—of which over 50% is kept within Santa Marianita town itself.
Due to this crisis, Maquipucuna has seen at 90% loss in income over the last few months which represents a huge loss for the neighboring communities.
In addition to economic difficulties due to lack of tourism, the reserve and surrounding forests have seen an upsurge in threats such as poaching, land trafficking, logging, and even mining.
We at Maquipucuna know that the people, above all else, are what makes this country great. At the bottom of our pockets we struggle to find support for our team. We know that one day tourists will come back but until then we have brainstormed to try and find a way to support the reserve, our team and their families, as well as members of the local community--many of whom also make their living through the bustle and flow of tourists.
From this Sustainability Redefined was born.
THE PROJECT: SUSTAINABILITY REDEFINED
Our project, Sustainability Redefined, aims to support our team's families, save the reserve and subsequent conservation efforts, as well as give a continued source of relief to families in our neighboring communities.
Maquipucuna's impact extends beyond our reserve and ecolodge, to the surrounding towns, and to the country of Ecuador as a whole. With this project we strive to be able to SUSTAIN our conservation and ecotourism through the tests of time.
Please consider donating and sharing so we can continue helping our community and carrying out our crucial rainforest conservation work.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATIONS
Fundación Maquipucuna & the Maquipucuna Reserve
Maquipucuna is an Ecuador-based NGO, Reserve and Ecolodge. Situated on 14,000 acres within the Chocó-Andino bioregion, one of earth's top 5 biodiversity hotspots. Jump-starting conservation in continental Ecuador, Maquipucuna has spent the last 32 years dedicated to conservation of local wildlife, promoting environmental education, sustainable economic development, and research; including that of endangered species such as the Andean (spectacled) bear.
Raiz Foundation Inc
Raiz is a US based non-profit entity created to support work in Latin America associated with: Providing cost-effective, practical approaches to alleviate humanitarian crises caused by natural disasters; Supporting indigenous peoples seeking to protect and reclaim ancestral territories; Providing indigenous communities with education respectful of native culture; Supporting conservation and sustainable use of fragile ecosystems; Reducing poverty in marginalized communities.
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