|
Cerro Golondrinas Cloudforest Reserve
Due to the great variety of micro-niches in the Reserve,
rates of biodiversity and endemism are phenomenally high. Birding enthusiasts
will revel in the opportunities to see condors, toucans, mixed flocks
of tanagers, squawking parrots, and hummingbirds in addition to hundreds
of other species. Less common, but resident in the reserve, are also
foxes, deer, peccaries, coatis, sloths, puma, and groups of nomadic monkeys.
 Ecuador contains many of the tropics readily recognizable
families are found in the cloudforests of the Golondrinas region, such
as: Dracula (Orchidaceae), Cinnamomum (Lauraceae), Mahogany (Meliaceae),
Balsa (Bombacaceae), and a cornucopia of tropical fruits, such as Pineapples,
Maracuya, Granadilla (Passifloraceae), and Naranjilla (Solanum) which
are grown by local farmers. Currently the foundation manages a 1,400
ha reserve at the foot of the Golondrinas peak (3,120 m).
Guallupe: Agroforestry Project
 Agroforestry
is a farming method in which certain trees, grasses and bushes are
mix-planted with regularly farmed crops. When the trees, grasses, bushes
and crops are planted in an ordered arrangement, the former provide
multiple benefits: a windbreak, an erosion barrier, a means of promoting
nitrogen fixing, firewood, and habitat for animals.
Guallupe is situated in the Mira´s river valley, which is characterized
by having very steep hills, and a surface floor very susceptible to erosion due
to strong rains and inappropriate farming techniques of low productivity as well
as high rates of migration. In Guallupe (in this village) is where Golondrinas
Foundation has set up its Agroforestry Center, the very steep farming slopes
are in great need of protection. Deforestation, yearly burning and inadequate
agriculture practices have created very poor topsoil conditions. The elements
have only compounded the effects of degradation. On a ten hectare demonstration
site the Golondrinas Foundation is showcasing sustainable farming practices on
slopes of 20 degrees and more. The most prevalent method is that of 'induced
terracing.
This 'induced terracing' is facilitated predominantly by a grass introduced from
the South of India, called Vetiver zizanioides.This plant is used extensively
worldwide for erosion control. The Golondrinas Foundation invites motivated scientists
in the field of agriculture, ecology and botany to help improve our understanding
of this sustainable agriculture method in Ecuador.
 |
Demonstration farms
Education
of local people is one of the primary goals of Fundación Golondrinas. Ways in which they have already established
a means to educate the farmers and children of the area are in their
model farm, Peña Negra, and in the environmental education courses
given to children during the school year which started in 1994.
 A
future project that Fundación Golondrinas would
like to implement to extend the educational realm is to install a modest
museum at their location in the cloudforest, known as Santa Rosa. In
1998 a demonstration farm called Peña Negra was set up based on
knowledge gained from the first experimental farm Limonal. In this farm
argoforestry techniques, based on the principle of permaculture, are
applied. Permaculture is an ample agro-system that integrates humans
with animals, plants, trees and the rest of the environment´s elements
in such a way that they benefit each other, therefore living in harmony,
and not in conflict, it tries to mimicate the self regulating patterns
of natural systems. More than that permaculture is a philosophy of healthy
and peacefully living that reaches into every aspect of everyday life.
The farm is located on the road Ibarra-San Lorenzo, to a height of 850
m.s.n.m. in a subtropical climate. In the design of the farm traditional
trees of the area, fruit trees, multiple use and nitrogen fixing trees,
along with traditional crops are planted in specific ways so they have
positive effects on each other. Although most of the trees are native
some of them have been introduced with a positive result and adaptation.
 This farm will serve as a example of how to maximise yields by planting a variety
of short and medium term trees such as orange, mandarin, lemon, papaya, platano,
coffee and coconut in combination with the more traditional beans, corn, yuca
and pineapple. Planting in an integrated fashion has many advantages: it increases
yields, reduces the risks for crop diseases, minimises the need for artificial
fertilisers and insecticides, helps to reduce soil loss, improves soil quality,
offers more economical security by increasing self sufficiency, and can offer
a nutritionally balanced harvest. In addition, another permaculture technique
used in the farm is companion planting, this technique makes use of the beneficial
effects that certain tree species have over other species, for instance nitrogen
fixing trees are planted to enrich the soil, and species with low light requirements
are planted under shady trees.
 Four
different varieties of pineapple were planted, applying the techniques
studied by the Agronomy Engineers of the IGZ in Belgium, who carried out a meticulous
study of this fruit. We concentrated on pineapple in particular because it is
the traditional crop of the region, there is a known market and it can produce
fruit all year around if given adequate care. Moreover, when this fruit is grown
in alternating rows with Vetiver grass hedges and short and medium term fruit
trees, soil quality is improved and soil erosion is reduced by the formation
of terraces. These techniques will allow continuous production from the same
plot of land, improving the long-term sustainability of agriculture in the region.
Pe
ña Negra is now ready to be used to give practical courses in these techniques
to local farmers under the direction of technicians and personnel from Fundación
Golondrinas. Fabian Manteca, who is in charge of the farm, has taken part in
courses on agroforestry run by the National Organisation of Agroforestry in
Quito.
A second demonstration farm will shortly be
set up at Santa Rosa, a higher location at the elevation of the cloudforest.
Here a large scale study will take place of two fruits, the naranjilla
and the blackberry, to learn more about the appropriate techniques pertaining
to their growth within secondary forest (natural areas of regrowth after
the felling of primary forest). From a previous small scale study we
are aware of their potential to give at least four years continuous production
in this environment. They also have a good market value. This method
may offer an alternative to the indiscriminate felling of trees currently
carried out by local farmers to provide a source of income for their
families, particularly when used in combination with the techniques demonstrated
at Peña Negra.
 The
Santa Rosa field station will produce economic spin-offs for the foundation
in the form of money from volunteers, and will also serve as a base for scientific
studies of the high biodiversity of this locality. Using funds we have in reserve
from donations the foundation has received, we plan to improve the facilities
by building more cabins and a small hydro-electric plant, allowing the accommodation
of more volunteers to work on the demonstration farm.
Environmental Education for Local Children
Since
1995, Fundación Golondrinas has been conducting environmental
education courses for local children on conservation of natural resources.
 It
is focused on children because in the future it is they who are going
to work on these very fields and they will need to have the basic knowledge
to use their land in the best way, applying Agroforestry techniques
that favor production. It is also a way to stop these soon-to-be-teenagers
from migrating to the city and to have work which meets their needs
and, at the same time, maintain their culture.
On average, 15 children between the ages of 8-12 participate in the
course which is held on weekends starting in November and ending in June.
These classes are dynamic, interactive and open to the children's creativity.
It is thus that we see them feel more encouraged and start to have confidence
in themselves without having to leave their comfort zone
.
Events, talks, videos are held, they celebrate El Día del Árbol
(The Day of the Tree), and it is also planned to take them on field trips to
other sites that are involved in environmental conservation. The teacher is
an enthusiastic individual who knows how to capture the interests and attention
of her students and creates fun for everyone while learning.
We are excited about the work with the local children because we see
good results and it motivates us to move forward.
In this years we start a programm of ecological Murals which is a way of show
environmental messages to the local people for protection the nature. Its motivated
to children to care about the importance of nature resources. This activities
have been made thankfully for collaboration of artists, friends and the small
resources of Fundacion Golondrinas. We will try to made this activities in the
future if you will have your support!!!
F
For the future we will also involve the local people, present similar courses
for the farmers, and give nutrition classes to the local women. The nutrition
classes will not be simply courses but will demonstrate available biodiversity
of fruits and vegetables which, in the right combination, make up a healthy
diet.
If you would like to support the activities of Fundación Golondrinas,
please let us know.
Future Projects
We present to you some of our plans to be realized:
 Strengthen
all projects we have been developing such as education, training of
local people with respective maintenance of the demonstration sites
our organization relies on. As necessary we will integrate other activities
based on interest and need that may present themselves in the future.
Conduct
an Inventory of Flora and Fauna in the region of Santa Rosa and
its subsequent labeling and signage along new trails.
Prepare
interpretive material for the Center for Training at Santa Rosa, for
which maps, models and photographic works of species will be created.
Design
a Botanical Garden at Santa Rosa which will allow us to display
not only medicinal plants but also those that can be removed from the
forest to attract birds, insects etc. which scientists and students
can capture to carry out their research and expand their knowledge.
This will serve to teach not only the children and farmers in the region
but all those who are interested.
Promote
greater expansion in the local and regional perimeter of applied
techniques and procedures used at the demonstrative farm Peña
Negra— the goal being to create new model farms, whether they
be community property or farmer-owned— thus permitting the expansion
of demonstrative sites where one can observe the benefits achieved from
applying Agroforestry, permaculture and organic systems via a series
of talks, workshops, visits to application sites, reforestation programs,
etc.
Continue
maintenance of the Peña Negra Farm to improve production,
especially in the tree nursery, which will allow for a great number
of plants to be distributed partly as donations to the local people
and partly to be sold, thus providing income for the farm.
Sources
for the expansion of the Cerro Golondrinas Reserve and proposed activities,
as much in environmental education as in the conservation of natural
resources.
We appreciate all of your unconditional support. It’s what makes
us continue to fight and forge ahead to be better and to reach our goals,
which not only benefit those who surround the Cerro Golondrinas but those
who respect the environment.
If
you would like more information about future projects or you would like
to make a contribution in any form, please contact the Foundation which
has addresses for both e-mail and post.
|
