We educate the youth of Manta in environmental care. Aiming for sustainable cities

We will plant 500 Palo Santo trees in educational units during 2022

• First Reforestation of the 50 trees
• Second Reforestation of 50 trees
• Third Reforestation of 50 trees
• Fourth Reforestation of 50 trees
• Fifth Reforestation of 50 trees

Climate change is imminently approaching. Sometimes there is a feeling that it is advancing so fast that it makes our actions look few or small. However, after 7 years of carrying out environmental prevention activities and projects, it can be seen that, although much has been done, there is still more to do. During our journey in protecting the dry forest ecosystem, we have managed to restore a primary forest, reforesting it with native species, which serves as a pilot project to replicate it in different dry areas in Ecuador.

You may be interested in knowing a little more about what we do: Palo Santo, The sacred wood that soothes your soul

This journey full of wisdom and knowledge has made it possible for us to reach the sum of 11,000 Palo Santo trees, planted in different areas of the province of Manabí - Ecuador.

Continuing with our campaign #PaloSantoDoneRight. After two years of the pandemic, educational institutions return to face-to-face classes in Ecuador, which is why we want to share with young people the information that we have collected in these years of research, where we have not stopped discovering a lot of scientific data about the dry forests and our sacred wood, Palo Santo.

We have considered reforesting 500 Palo Santo trees in partnership with 10 Educational Units in the urban areas of the city of Manta - Ecuador (which is dry forest indeed). This time we have chosen the urban area, because we are aware that it is alarming how trees and endogenous species of our territory are cut down, in exchange for cement buildings and asphalt streets.

We have good news!

Everything has started very well, we have managed to establish a link with two Educational Institutions, the "FE Y ALEGRÍA #3" school, and the "JOSÉ SALAZAR" school, where the following will take place:

- Training and exchange of knowledge to prevent climate change caused by deforestation and the disappearance of green areas in the city. Educate students, creating awareness for the care of tree species.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

- Development of a day of reforestation of 50 Palo Santo trees per educational institution. Trees will be planted by their students.

- Georeferencing of each reforested tree to have constant monitoring and take care of its growth.

(We've chosen Palo Santo bursera graveolens, as this species is endemic of the dry forest. It is of low maintenance as it can remain without water for a long period of time.)

Caring for our ecosystems is substantial, especially the dry forest, which is one of the most important in South America, due to its ability to store carbon, something very important, since it helps reduce temperatures caused by global warming.

Soon we will tell you more about this project, we want you to experience it with us wherever you are! where young people will learn to take care of the environment.

First Reforestation 2022. 50 trees in Jose Salazar High School

On Wednesday, May 18, we began the first day of reforestation of 50 Palo Santo trees in conjunction with the José Salazar Educational Unit, as part of our #PaloSantoDoneRight environmental education campaign.

We started our reforestation day with an educational talk to young people to make known the characteristics of dry forests. We highlight the virtues of our sacred wood, Palosanto. A tree that has a pleasant aroma, mystical and purification values ​​for our culture.

The students were very participative and dynamic; With emotion, they grabbed each little tree to go reforest around the school grounds. In addition, as a representation of each little tree planted, and our commitment to caring for the environment, the young people were given a red bracelet with the Palo Santo pearl.

It is important to know that each planted tree has an identification plate, and is georeferenced, in order to be able to give it constant monitoring in conjunction with the Technical University of Manabí, with whom we have been working for several years on research projects related to Palo Santo. "Bursera Graveolens" and the dry forests of Manabí.

Second Reforestation 2022. 50 trees in "Fe y Alegría" nº3 José de Anchieta high school

On May 28 we had our second tree planting, this time, at the "Fe y Alegría" nº3 José de Anchieta high school. We met at 9 AM, starting with an educational talk explaining the importance of our dry forests, the benefits of taking care of this ecosystem, and how, when carrying out remediation activities, the idea is to reforest with species native to the place, in this time we planted with Palo Santo and Pepito Colorado.

The young people had many doubts that we knew how to clarify. It is normal for them to ask many questions, since little is said about the dry forests, despite being the predominant ecosystem of the city of Manta-Ecuador. The students with responsibility and attention learned the correct way to plant these little trees, and they put it into practice correctly.

The grateful school officials committed to continue educating about dry forests and care for the reforested trees in their institution. On behalf of the Technical University of Manabí, the students of the Faculty of Agronomy were in charge of georeferencing each tree with its identification code, taking measurements of the length and thickness of the stem, in order to study the growth of the trees.

Soon we will tell you more about our next reforestations. 

Third Reforestation 2022. 50 trees in Pedro Balda Cucalón high school

On June 15 we shared a beautiful day educating the young people of the Pedro Balda Cucalón high school, we taught about the importance of the dry forest and how it is necessary to reforest urban areas with endemic species of the territory, in order to return to nature everything that has given.

The students learned the correct way to reforest a tree and followed the steps responsibly. Each tree will be lovingly guarded by these students. A new fact that the young people learned is that the species of the dry forest help to reduce the carbon footprint.

Also, each tree will be monitored in its growth, each one will have its label put on it and have been georeferenced with the help of students from the Faculty of Agronomy of the Technical University of Manabí, in this way a correct follow-up of the planted species will be carried out.

Together we plant more trees!

Fourth Reforestation 2022. 50 trees in the Republica del Ecuador high school

We lived a new day of reforestation, in the Republica del Ecuador high school, where we met with around 50 students who learned with love about the trees that inhabit the dry forest.

The youth were educated in knowledge about the composition of the dry forest and the importance of this ecosystem. Later, already located in the field where the holes that would house our small trees were, the step by step of correct reforestation was explained.

The students of the Faculty of Agronomy of the Technical University of Manabí were in charge of taking the data of each planted tree and thus georeferencing them. Together with the students of this campus, they will be in charge of monitoring the growth of these trees.

Thank you to everyone who has joined us on this journey in search of a restored dry forest ecosystem. Together we can end this deforestation crisis.

Fifth Reforestation 2022. 50 trees at the Manta high school

July 29 was our fifth day of reforestation in 2022. We planted 50 trees at the Manta school. Along with teachers and a group of students, whom we educate on the composition of the dry forest and the plants that inhabit it. Also, the importance of caring for and restoring this ecosystem of our Manabí province.

A fact that we emphasize in each reforestation, (because we have realized that there is a lack of knowledge) is to talk about what dry forests are and where they are found. Manta, specifically, is a dry forest territory, which has been transformed into a city, and high school kids were unaware that they live in dry forest territory. Therefore, it is important to educate and inform so that young people know that they must take care of their forests, and their land.

Once we exchanged knowledge, we headed to the chosen area to reforest, each young person took their little tree and took it to the indicated place, following the instructions step by step to carry out responsible reforestation.

We have already reached the sum of 11,250 reforested trees in Manabí-Ecuador

This type of project does not fill much with energy and hope, there is still much to do but we remain firm in achieving everything we set out to do.

Tell me more about what you think about this experience, I read you.

Sixth Reforestation 2022. 25 trees at the San Mateo - Manta high school

On December 6 we lived a new day of reforestation in the San Mateo Educational Unit, of the San Mateo de Manta parish, where we met with around 25 students who were very enthusiastic about planting the little palo santo trees.

Upon arriving at the institution, we were received by its rector, Lic. Shirley Ferrín Vera, who was very happy with the reforestation, since "this type of activity creates environmental awareness among young people”.

As part of the reforestation process, the students were first given a talk on the composition of the dry forest and the importance of reforesting the city with endemic trees from the region; later, we teach them the correct way to plant the trees.

Additionally, 50 ornamental plants were planted.

Students from the Technical University of Manabí were in charge of taking the data of each tree to be georeferenced, which will allow students to follow up on each of the little trees planted.

We continue working for a sustainable Manta.

Plant more trees!