Our Conservation Goals: Working with local communities rural communities, the Mojanda Foundation seeks to protect the cloud forest and wildlife throughout the Mojanda Lakes region. As many of you are aware, as an ecosystem, the Mojanda Lakes represent a unique and spectacular environment, home to many different plants, animals and birds, including the endangered Andean Condor, of which there are believed to be fewer than 75 left in the whole of Ecuador. We have only scratched the surface in identifying the diverse wildlife of our region: mammals, birds, reptiles, butterflies, insects and a myriad of plants and flowers.

Unfortunately this area is in danger of degradation, as old growth native forests are still being burned to produce charcoal and pasture lands. Among other goals, our conservation project seeks to educate local farmers and young people in particular about the need to protect wildlife and prevent unnecessary fires, especially in the dry summer months. But if we are to discourage environmentally destructive practice, what alternatives must be offered to local subsistence farmers whose families live on the edge of poverty?

Permanent and meaningful protection for the Mojanda Lakes’ is our long term objective. At 3700 meters with a 150-meter depth, the crystal clear water of the large lake sits in the remains of a crater formed by an extinct volcano. Introduced rainbow trout are the only fish in the lake. The area surrounding the lake, once more heavily forested, now consists of paramo (grasslands) with some patches of high-altitude primary and secondary mountain cloud forest. The rarity of this native high Andean forest prompts us to do our best to protect the forest that remains.

The Mojanda Foundation has been instrumental in developing a plan to secure protected status for the lakes and grasslands, which was very recently passed by the two local county governments with jurisdiction over the Mojanda Lakes. This historical ordinance is one of the very first local government ecological initiatives in Ecuador. Having achieved this important victory, we now face the more important and even harder job of planning and monitoring the enforcement of this ordinance for the benefit of the wildlife, visitors and the local communities.

The Pachamama Environmental Association is the community group we helped form to undertake environmental work at the grassroots level, especially among the young men and women of Mojandita. As well as conservation work, the Pachamama Association is working to make the lakes safe for visitors by organizing security and guiding patrols.

Last year saw the completion of the environmental association's office and meeting room in the community, to which the Mojanda Foundation and its donors contributed the necessary materials, labor and supplies, including several second-hand computers. This room now plays host to the environmental association's weekly meetings and is used for essential office-based tasks.

Financial Support Needed: The Pachamama Association still faces obstacles, obstacles that require more financial resources than are presently available. We are hopeful that with the enthusiasm for protecting our area demonstrated by the residents of Mojandita and Mojanda Foundation supporters, the future will see ever more tangible progress. Specifically, funds are needed to help with the Environmental Association's expanding responsibilities and mission. We hope to equip the security patrols with radios so they are able to respond effectively in the event of an emergency. Thanks to past donor support, we purchased a used Land rover jeep to transport community rangers and guides to the lakes - a 25-minute ride but a three hour walk rom Mojandita. We invite and welcome financial support to maintain and fuel this vehicle.

A Successful Mission for Dr. Jason Palmer, Mojanda Foundation Volunteer

Dr. Jason Palmer of Cambridge, England joined the Mojanda Foundation as a volunteer in March of 2000, and stayed until May of 2001. His goal as a long term volunteer was to take forward our conservation work at the lakes, and work to improve the environment in the Mojandita community center located on Mojanda's lower slopes.

Besides working closely with the Pachamama Association in their formative training phase, Jason spent some of his time planning and personally working on a school vegetable garden. Using the “bio-intensive” organic method, the school now produces about a quarter of the vegetables needed to provide two daily meals for all of the students and staff. The garden has already diminished the school’s dependence on outside funding - funding that could ultimately dry up, leaving the children without school meals.

Jason also -successfully- addressed the litter problem afflicting the area around the community school and health center. He was able to provide much needed administrative support in the Mojandita Clinic. Jason also popularized and organized support for the concept of a local farmers market for the produce grown by community farmers. Such a market would save people from having to travel into Otavalo to buy produce that grows on their doorstep, and conversely people would not have to go into town to sell what they harvest. The market would help to keep money in the community as well as saving farmers the time and expense of traveling.

In addition to his other talents, Jason is a wonderful writer, and we are counting on him to contribute his wry observations to future articles on this website. Jason's tour of volunteer duty here was a rousing success, notwithstanding what must have been moments of doubt and frustration. He is fondly remembered and missed here in the Mojandita community. Ciao, Jason!

A Vision for Mojanda: Jobs and Conservation

The community board of Mojandita and the Mojanda Foundation have developed a vision and written plan for the community to sustainly benefit from its proximity to the stunning Mojanda Lakes and environs; the community can help to protect the Lakes from degradation, fires, and encroaching development, provide security and essential services for visitors and benefit economically from visitors' contributions. This plan is exciting because it will provide meaningful and sustainable employment for the community, preserve a significant and unique ecosystem, and empower local people to plan their own futures.

As a first step, the community is preparing to take responsibility for security and maintenance of the area surrounding the lakes as well as the access road from Otavalo. Seed money is needed to get this program off the ground. Eventually, it is projected that this program will be self-sustaining through voluntary contributions by visitors to the lakes. The seed money will be used among other things to finish a small gatehouse to welcome and monitor visitors to the lakes.

Casa Mojanda's Mission Statement: Casa Mojanda was found upon and continues in its commitment to principles of active eco and community based tourism. It goes without saying that any resort with "eco" in its title must first "do no harm," that is, have a minimal impact on the natural environment and local community. Our earth-friendly construction methods and organic farming techniques tread lightly on the land, and we provide secure employment for as many local community members as possible..We consciously planned Casa Mojanda as a business which by its nature and mission, would remain actively oriented toward preserving the local ecosystem and playing an significant social role in our local community through the Mojanda Foundation. By keeping Casa Mojanda large in vision but small in scale, we are able to interact with our guests personally, and where there is interest, connect guests with our community and environmental projects.

Some of our guests choose to make additional financial contributions to the Mojanda Foundation, which administers a fund to assist our various community projects in the areas of public health, education and conservation. On behalf of the Mojandita community, mil gracias! Please let us know if you might be interesting in contributing.

GreenEcuador/EcuadorVerde Sustainable Tourism Cooperative

Our visitors and supporters have something in common: they want to travel to unspoiled natural areas, and learn from and about thriving and dynamic indigenous communities.An increasingly number of travelers to the developing world want to put their money where their consciences are and patronize hotels and restaurants who are dedicated to meaningful ecotourism. Some may even choose to volunteer some time to pitch in and help while they are traveling abroad. (Volunteering is a great way of learning about the local culture as well as giving something back.)

While the term ecotourism has been over-used in recent year and has no universally applicable definition, if you are interesting in going Green in your travels, it may be worthwhile to inquire what an "eco" business is actually doing to further environmental and social goals. If the answer is a only a beautiful flower garden or a historically interesting hotel, perhaps the "eco" label is misplaced. Ecuador has some extraordinary examples of ecotourism and community-based tourism at its best, spanning the spectacularly diverse cultures and ecosystems of our country.

GreenEcuador/EcuadorVerde is a new cooperative of some of the oldest and most recognized ecotouristic projects in the country. Our goals are to promote meaningful ecotourism within Ecuador, and to actively lobby the Ecuadorian government and international institutions on environmental and social issues which affect our businesses and communities. The following links will take you to from the Amazon rainforest to the spiritual Andes, from exotic cloud forests, pristine beaches, and the Galapagos Islands. You can do it all in our three week GreenEcuador Hosts' Tour.

Casa Mojanda

Kapawi

El Monte

Alandaluz

The Beagle