The School of Guayusa is directly connected to several conservation efforts that have been spearheaded by the Amazanga community in order to protect the forest from threats such as oil and mining interests. The largest of these is the Llushin River Rainforest Conservation Project, a reserve of over 5,000 acres that borders the Sangay National Forest. Along with the Council for Cultural and Biological Diversity (CCBD), and U.S. foundations such as Family Lands Group, Tropical Rainforest Coalition (TRC), and Living Bridges Foundation (LFB), the Amazanga community has been able to secure and protect thousands of acres of vibrant rainforest. Visits to these jungle retreats are an integral part of the School of Guayusa's teaching and healing efforts.
Ecosystem
The lands known as Puca Urca are at the confluence of the Lando Llushin and the Chuya Llushin Rivers. The area is covered in primary rainforest from approximately 600 to 1000 meters elevation above sea level and is home to a wide array of wildlife and endangered species. The forest here is known as the "eyebrow of the Andes," and is home to numerous tree species and rare palms, and teeming with bromeliads, orchids, aroids, lycopodiums, and cyclanthas. Animals found within it are tapirs, parrots of many kinds, blue morpho butterflies, military macaws, kinkajous, olingos, tyras and the rare cacomistle, the short eared bush dog, huron and dwarf porcupines.
Large forest cats such as pumas and jaguars, as well as smaller oncilla and margay also call this forest home. This upland jungle area is located upstream from the last uncontaminated stretch of the Pastaza River (much of it is contaminated from petrol by-products and cyanide from gold mining wastes), and as such is crucial to the health and survival of all downstream communities.
Conservation
Protecting rainforests through land acquisition is fundamental to botanical and cultural conservation. National parks are useful in protecting larger areas of rich biodiversity. Land purchases for the Llushin reserve have focused on areas bordering the Sangay National Forest to create a buffer zone and thus a larger contiguous land area for maintaining high biological diversity. The Amazanga community has won the right from the government of Ecuador to also manage 50,000 hectares in the Parque Nacional Sangay.
The School of Guayusa and the Wanduk Foundation are currently working to set up a study center adjacent to the park where university students can come to prepare for participation in protecting the forests through learning about environmental management. This, and further land purchases in the perimeter zone of the Sangay Park, will begin to ensure their protection from unsustainable timber and resource extraction, and create a place where local peoples can thrive in an interdependent relationship with the ecology.
Moving Forward
To date, with the help of all our generous donors and supporters, our coalition has been able to purchase over 5,000 acres of essential rainforest for the Llushin reserve, as well as nearby smaller reserves of 250 and 300 acres. We will continue to work towards the protection and preservation of the forest and all its inhabitants. If you are interested in helping to donate towards these efforts, please vist our contributions page.
