Indigenous collaborations deepen along the Ecuador-Peru border

ECCo has worked with the Cofan indigenous people in Ecuador for more than 10 years. Our joint efforts have included four rapid inventories that led Ecuadorean authorities to recognize and protect Cofan ancestral lands. We also are charting a Cofan ancestral territories map. Our latest collaboration focuses on the Cofan sharing lessons learned in their successful park guard program with other indigenous groups. We began this effort during our rapid inventory in the Gueppi region of Ecuador and Peru in 2007. Today, the Cofan are training Secoya, Huitoto, and Kichwa of Peru in the Cofan park guard system. Our shared vision is that strong collaborations among indigenous groups in this remote border region are fundamental to the health of these forests for the long term.