EcuadorianHands is committed to the conservation and restoration of the Palo Santo habitat.
We reflect more than 10 years of effort to strengthen our dedication to preserving the environment and collaborating with the native communities of the tropical dry forests of Ecuador.
Unlike traditional companies that have sporadic environmental programs, we focus on preserving the forests and beaches, which are home to the Bursera graveolens; this is our mission.
We finance our actions through the active sale of products derived from Palo Santo and other sustainable artisanal items.
We firmly believe that the best inheritance we can leave to our children is a planet where they can live, and to achieve this, it is essential to reconnect humanity in a harmonious way with nature.
Palo Santo Reforestation Project in Ecuador
Can you imagine what Palo Santo will be like in 40 or 50 years? Will it retain its aroma and medicinal properties? Join us on our journey to explore the ancestral knowledge and mystique surrounding the sacred wood of Bursera graveolens.
Ecuador's Tropical Dry Forest, habitat of Palo Santo, faces threats from human activities such as monocultures, unregulated settlements, and indiscriminate logging. In Manabí, this ecosystem is home to various species, with Bursera graveolens being the second most ecologically important.
Did you know that the Palo Santo tree dies naturally after 30 years? The essential oil we love is generated only 2 to 4 years after the tree naturally falls in the forest. Cutting down the tree does not speed up this process; the Palo Santo products you consume are over 50 years old.
Half a century ago, rural Ecuadorian areas were different, with fewer inhabitants and virgin forests. The conservation of these ecosystems requires understanding and evaluating the behavior of the species and designing mechanisms for their sustainable use.
The idea arose from restoring a primary forest with native species as a pilot project to replicate it in dry forests in Ecuador. This is how the Bosque y Vegetación Protector (BVP) "El Artesan-EcuadorianHands" was born, a 50-hectare initiative in Joa-Jipijapa, linking the community, universities, NGOs and the Ecuadorian government.
In 2018, we obtained the Forest Use license and declared the 50 hectares as "Forest and Vegetation Protector".
The community members are learning to work sustainably, and we gave them 15 hectares to plant corn; in 2019, 4,000 more palo santo trees were reforested.
Documenting is key. During the pause due to the pandemic, we developed studies with the academy, obtaining scientific support on Bursera graveolens. Research with students demonstrated its contribution to reducing the carbon footprint.
In 2021, with the German Cooperation "GIZ Ecuador", we started a "Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Natural Heritage" Program for Palo Santo. We created a sustainable nursery in Santa Marianita with more than 3,000 trees. We signed agreements with universities to germinate new Palo Santo plants and other species.
At the end of 2021, we reforested 500 trees in San Eloy-Montecristi, replicating the success of Joa-Jipijapa. We surpassed 11,000 reforested trees in Manabí, each one identified and georeferenced.
Help us continue restoring forests! By purchasing any Palo Santo or Panama Hats (Montecristi) product, you are helping us continue financing our Ecuadorian Dry Forest restoration program to continue caring for and preserving the sacred aroma of this Palo Santo tree.
#PaloSantoDoneRight
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