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Harvesting hope in Ecuador: Pioneering deforestation-free production chains to conserve the Amazon

Blog | Tue, 31 Aug, 2021 · 10 min read
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Harvesting hope in Ecuador: Pioneering deforestation-free production chains to conserve the Amazon

The area surrounding the Yacuambi river basin in southern Ecuador harbors some of the last remnants of primary forest between the Andes and the Amazon. The forests and páramo grasslands of this region, also called the “land of birds and waterfalls,” are some of the most biodiverse in the world, home to numerous endemic flora and fauna species.

Nestled in the tropical foothills of the Amazonian cloud forest, Nora Ramón’s office almost blends into the landscape. A sign above her wooden door reads, “Harvesting hope in our Amazonian natural wealth.” Ramón manages a cooperative called APEOSAE representing about 200 local farmers who mainly cultivate organic coffee, cocoa and plantain. Born out of a desire to move from producers to entrepreneurs and to raise their voices in this competitive sector, the cooperative unites local farmers, many of whom are women and members of the indigenous Shuar and Saraguro Kichwa communities. To increase revenues and market access, members pool their production together and the association pays them more than the market price, a relief for struggling family farms.

Forest health and fair trade

“What we want is real fair trade, without intermediaries, and for the highest possible income to go directly to the producer’s pocket,” says Ramón who exports coffee and cocoa to Germany, France and the United States. In the near future, she hopes to be able to directly supply international supermarkets.

Conserving the region’s fragile ecosystem lies at the heart of the association’s work. To this end, members have established organic farm management practices, as well as organic certification for all their products. Ramón is proud of these achievements. “We have made a commitment to take care of our Amazonian primary forests and sustainable production is a multiple win for us, as we’re able to increase our productivity and improve marketing while also strengthening our families and living in harmony with our precious environment.” Promoting sustainable agricultural practices is all the more important since the Ecuadorian Amazon is losing approximately 38 hectares of forests per year.

Pioneering deforestation-free value chains

The double challenge of conserving forests and reducing rural poverty lies not only in the hands of the producer. This monumental task requires the coordination of different stakeholders who hold a collective vision to improve production systems and promote quality products with high socio-environmental integrity. “It is encouraging that our government and its policies are focused on the certification of deforestation-free production,” says Ramón.

The country’s umbrella agricultural strategy, called “Ecuador Premium & Sustainable,” is supported by UNDP and UN-REDD technical assistance through PROAmazonia, a program run by the Ecuadorian Ministries of Environment and Water and Agriculture and Livestock. Launched in 2019, the strategy and its associated fresh produce label focuses on the promotion of modern cooperatives, empowerment for rural women and youth, deforestation-free production, quality and traceability, productivity and zero rural poverty. Ecuador’s efforts resulted in a recent public consultation on the proposed Certification of Sustainable and Deforestation-Free Agricultural and Livestock Production. To generate domestic and global demand for the new certification, PROAmazonia is working in partnership with the European Forest Institute (EFI) and private companies such as Lavazza, with which UNDP has signed a global agreement to further define and pilot deforestation-free coffee.

Together with a wide range of other local producer associations, Ramon’s cooperative is among the key stakeholders in Ecuador’s transformation process towards deforestation-free supply chains. The country’s pioneering path shows that sustainable agriculture and forest conservation can coexist, as long as these efforts are aligned with strong environmental policies. In the last two decades, Ecuador has managed to reduce its deforestation by almost 50%, a success for which it has received $18.5 million US from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) within the framework of the REDD+ results-based payment (RBP) program supported by UNDP Climate and Forests.

Sustainable harvests for the future

Alex Jiménez is one of the few young people who works with APEOSAE. Many of his friends prefer to migrate to the city or work for the different mining companies. “As young people, we wonder what will happen to our Amazon forest. The work of our association shows it is possible to take care of the forests while cultivating good quality products,” the 23-year-old says. The cocoa Alex proudly cultivates grows in a traditional agroforestry system, a type of land use management in which trees or shrubs are typically combined with crops or pastures. As Ecuador is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, it is crucial that farmers adapt to profitable climate-smart agricultural techniques such as agroforestry.

Pedro Medina, one of APEOSAE’s partners who also works on the cocoa and plantain farm, concludes: “Our production allows us to survive, but we are all concerned about our universe, our Pachamama. Above all, what we are determined to cultivate is the delicate balance between our needs and those of the natural world.”

Learn more about Ecuador’s deforestation-free and sustainable production initiative and its REDD+ Results Based Payments Project, supported by UNDP Climate & Forests.

The producer association APEOSAE (Small organic agricultural exporters of the Southern Ecuadorian Amazon) is committed to Ecuador’s “Premium & Sustainable brand” and taking part in the pilot program on deforestation-free coffee by UNDP and Lavazza.

The UNDP Climate & Forests Team assists different countries and stakeholders in the implementation of the Paris Agreement by reducing deforestation, forest degradation and promoting sustainable development pathways.