Manabi contributes to the Country the Forest and Vegetation Protector number 170, BVP "ElArtesan EcuadorianHands"

The conservation of the Dry Forest is important to preserve biodiversity and the Palo Santo

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BVP "ElArtesan EcuadorianHands" 

This Wednesday, March 1, 2023, the National Director of Forests, Mr. Carlos Ponce, and Mr. Gabriela Saavedra, a specialist within the unit of protective forests and land tenure of the Ministry of the Environment, Agua Transición Ecológica (MAATE), visited the Protected Forest and Vegetation (BVP) "ElArtesan Ecuadorianhands" in the commune of Joa in Jipijapa, in which a short tour was carried out to observe the conditions of the forest, the areas of reforestation of palo santo trees and later to deliver formal manner of the declaration of BVP to Fabrizio Vera and Dante Bolcato.

Carlos Ponce, explained during his tour that the protective vegetation forest system consists of a conservation area that integrates 170 forests nationwide, occupying 9% of the Ecuadorian territory, which protects and conserves these spaces through sustainable forest management, linking the social and environmental part.

Within the dry forest ecosystem it is essential to maintain care and protection since there are species that are in danger. These forests are fragile ecosystems, and we need to learn to live with them and use them sustainably.

In addition, Gabriela Saavedra highlighted how wonderful it is to see palo santo trees growing properly within their environment, even more power appreciate them during this winter season when the dry forest turns green and you can clearly see the restoration work by Ecuadorianhands and ElArtesan.

Antecedents

Ecuadorianhands is a company committed to the conservation and restoration of the tropical dry forest of Ecuador, the habitat of palo santo. He has worked for more than 10 years with native communities to protect the environment and they finance their work through the sale of sustainable products made with materials such as palo santo and toquilla straw hats. The company believes that the best legacy it can leave behind is a habitable planet for our children, and to achieve this it is necessary to reconnect humanity with nature in a harmonious

The Tropical Dry Forest in Ecuador is a threatened and vital ecosystem. Unsustainable human activity and fragmentation are putting the region's biodiversity at risk. For this reason, a project to reforest the Palo Santo tree (bursera graveolens), an important species for local culture and economy, has been undertaken. Palo Santo products come from firewood that is more than 30 years old since the tree only produces essential oil after dying naturally and spending 2-4 years of aging. The conservation of these ecosystems is crucial to maintain biodiversity and preserving the species of Palo Santo and its unique properties and aroma.

Since 2016 it was decided to restore a primary forest and reforest with native species, with the aim of creating a pilot project that can be replicated in other dry forests in Manabí. For this, the Protected Forest and Vegetation (BVP) "El Artesan - EcuadorianHands" was chosen, a 50-hectare tropical dry forest in Joa-Jipijapa, declared as such by the country's Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE).

The project called #PaloSantoDoneRight, has the participation of the local community, the university, NGOs, the Ecuadorian government, educational units, and other key actors to achieve actions that prevent, mitigate, and remedy environmental impacts, as well as follow-up plans. , evaluation and monitoring of flora and fauna.

To date, nurseries have been built with different species from the dry forest, and more than 11,500 trees have been reforested in different areas of Manabí, constantly monitored with the support of the university.

By purchasing Palo Santo products from EcuadorianHands, you are contributing to caring for our planet, and you help local communities and women artisans involved in the elaboration of the same.

The Palo Santo tree is key in this ecosystem and has great cultural and economic value.