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Healthy planet, healthy lives
Area of Impact
Ecosystem Protection & Restoration
We work with Indigenous peoples as guardians of the rainforests to create pathways for healing and restoring their ancestral territories, protecting the Earth’s vital ecosystems and the future of us all.
What we do
Protect and restore vital ecosystems
Our programs focus on improving the protection and restoration of precious ecosystems, with particular emphasis on the Amazon and Mesoamerican rainforests. We partner with Indigenous peoples, recognizing their stewardship of the rainforests and global biodiversity.
Create pathways for restoration
Our approach combines ancestral traditions and knowledge with cutting edge innovation, regenerative methods and technology. Through this holistic approach, we create pathways for healing and restoration.
Build regenerative systems
Our commitment extends to facilitating the transition from harmful extractive economies to thriving regenerative systems. Through these concerted efforts, we create sustainable and reciprocal relationship between humanity and the living Earth.
Why ecosystem protection and restoration?
When a forest is lost anywhere, people feel it everywhere.
Strengthening Indigenous peoples in their mission to protect their ancestral territories is the most sustainable and effective way to protect rainforests.
Our Impact
Although Indigenous people comprise less than 5% of the world population, they protect 80% of the Earth’s biodiversity. The Amazon, the Talamanca and the Darien rainforests are three of the most biodiverse ecosystems of the planet.
4.5 m
Rainforest hectares guarded and protected by the eight Nations
60 +
Indigenous communities strengthened in regenerative practices
3
Of the world’s most important tropical forests benefitting from increased protection
Where we work
We operate in the following countries: Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru and Panama.
Legenda
Central & South America
Indigenous Nations
Cabécar
Bribri
Emberá
Siona
A’í-Cofán
Waorni
Secoya-Siekpia
Amazonian Kichwa
Shuar
Rainforests
La Amistad International Park
Darien Rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
Legenda
Costa Rica & Panama
Indigenous Nations
Cabécar
The Cabécar people are the second largest Indigenous group in Costa Rica numbering around14,000 people. Living mostly in remote rainforest areas, their relative isolation has allowed the Cabécar to maintain their culture, traditions, and spiritual identity, which is centered around their relationship with the forest.
Bribri
The Bribri are one of Costa Rica’s largest Indigenous nations, number around 10,000 people, and and live in the Talamanca mountain range forest. They are well known for their rich artistic and musical traditions and are one of the few matrilineal societies in the world, where land traditionally is passed from mother to daughter.
Rainforests
La Amistad International Park
La Amistad Tropical Rainforest is located in Costa Rica and Panama and covers around 14,991 km2. In Costa Rica it is also known as Talamanca rainforest and is considered the largest and most biologically diverse protected wild area, due to its wide range of altitudes, climatic variations, and variety of soils.
Legenda
Panama
Indigenous Nations
Emberá
The Emberá people live in Panama and western Colombia and number around 50,000 people in Colombia and 33,000 in Panama. The Emberá are a riverine people who despite their experiences of forced displacement have preserved a strong cultural and spiritual connection to the rivers and celebrate their rich cultural identity.
Rainforests
Darien Rainforest
The Darien Tropical Rainforest, located in eastern Panama and bordering Colombia, covers an area of 579,000 hectares. It is the largest protected natural area in Central America. It is also known for the Darien Gap, with deep wilderness and extreme biodiversity, where the Pan-American Highway is interrupted.
Legenda
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Siona
The Siona, numbering around 400 people, live along the Putumayo River and its tributaries in the Amazon regions of Colombia and Ecuador. They are also known as Zio Bain, “people who cultivate the land”.
A’í Cofán
The A’i Cofán, descendants of ancient riverine people, today number around 2,100 people. They live between the Aguarico River in the northern Amazon region in Ecuador and the Guamés River in southern Colombia.
Waorani
The Waorani people, numbering around 2,000, have largely retained their cosmovision and continue to be known as skilled warriors and defenders of Nature living in the eastern Amazon region of Ecuador.
Secoya-Siekpia
The Secoya-Siekopai, numbering around 1,600 people, live in the Amazonian regions of Peru and Ecuador. They have great ancestral wealth, shamanic wisdom and a profound knowledge of medicinal plants.
Amazonian Kichwa
The Kichwa people of the Amazon are the most populous Indigenous group in the Ecuadorian Amazon, with smaller groups living across the Colombian and Peruvian borders.
Shuar
The Shuar, who are well-known for their hunting skills, live in tropical rainforest between the Andes mountain range and the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazonian region.
Rainforests
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest, the largest on Earth, spanning approximately 5.5 million km2 across nine South American countries. Beyond its immense biodiversity, the Amazon rainforest plays a crucial role in regulating global water cycles and the climate.
To Main Map
This map shows the rainforests and territories of the Indigenous Nations in Latin America, with whom we work. Boundaries are approximate and not guaranteed to be error-free or officially recognized by respective
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Areas of Impact
Areas of Impact
