The destroiyng of the tropical rainforest has been in the headlines since years, but the situation doesn't seem to relax. It becomes more and more urgent and important to mantain he biodiversity of these forests, on this point everyopne agrees. It is a pitty that each year more than 11 Mio acres of primary forest are getting destroied. Also in the Ecuadorian part of Amazonia, a rainforest with one of the world highest biodiversities , the cutting down of forest is frightening.
As a responsibile human one would like to help, even if on the first view it seems to be nearly impossible, to be able to reach something as an individual person. But:
"constant drops are hollowing the stone"

• conservation and protection of the rainforest
• reforesting parts of the already destroyed rainforest
• acquire and completion of a rough draft for a long-term using of this fragile eco-system in the community of Ahuano, county Tena, Province Napo, Ecuador

The co-operations is handing out shares at a nominal value of 1000 Sfr. With this money pieces of land endangered to be cut down are bought on the spot and supervised in Ecuador. During the last 6 years a coherent forest of 864 Ha (Stand 01.06.1999) was built, which belongs to the GSR. The aiming is at 1400 Ha.

• Responsible for intention and purpose of the GSR is the managing board in Switzerland: President Siegfried von Steiger
• For legal matters in Ecuador signs the lawyer Dra. Maria Salgado Silva, Calle Garcia Moreno 609, Sangolqui, Ecuador
• responsible for the completion and supervision on the spot is Dipl. Ing. Agr. ETH Angelika Raimann

864 ha of rainforest belong to the GSR, additional 251 ha of forest belong to private persons or organisations with similar intentions and who have their forest protected through the GSR, that is, totally 1115 ha of forest are protected. 573,65 ha have been officially acknowledged as forest preserve by the Ecuadorian state in September 1995.

In the area of 1115 ha forest it is not allowed to cut wood and to hunt. On the other hand it is allowed to collect fruit and to cut lianas to weave baskets and to harvest medical plants. The Indio-community of Ahuano stands to these prohibitions.
But the forest is known far out of the frontiers of Ahuano and is said to be very rich of wildlife. Our ranger once had to explain to a wedding society from Archidona (60 km away), that they are not allowed to hunt for their feast here. We can only enforce the prohibition for hunting and cutting, as we are official acknowledged as a forest preserve.

• The first time hunters are informed politely from the ranger about the hunting prohibition in the forest preserve. If they get caught a second time, Remigio Canelos is visiting them to explain them the idea of the forest preserve. If this is not enough, they are summoned to the mayor of Ahuano. It only came once as far.
• Mostly wood cutters are professionals, not locals. Therefore polite explications do not really help. As things have to happen very fast, first we try to transport during the night the wood that they had cut, mostly they get discouraged through this. Or we get the air-force via INEFAN for an intervention. But everything has to happen very fast, which is not easy at all with the possibilities of communication (no phone!) that we've got here.

At the beginning the forest preserve was only reachable by the river. Since 1997 the street has been build traverse through our preserve despite big resistance, we have more problems with poachers, lumberers and invaders.

The animals of the amaZOOnico that are released into wilderness can find a new, secure home in the GSR preserve.

Reasonable eco-tourism is very important to show people, that you are able to earn money by nature- conservation and in opposite of the exploitation (hunting, cutting down trees) this way is assuring a long term income

• Liana Lodge
  A private project from Remigio and Angelika, to help middle-term financing the projects.
• Runa Huasi
  The GSR transferred 1 ha of land on the shore of the to Rio Arajuno the Indio-community, for being able to build a tourist-lodge in the area. The project is now running for some years and is successful.
  The community is independently managing and organizing the project. The GSR accompanies the community with the organisation and realisation. In return the community promises to renounce with the hunting and cutting down trees in the area.

Only what makes surviving possible will be respected and protected. We want to exemplify, that a long-term using of the forest is possible without destroying it. It is more profitable, to leave the forest standing and to use it effectively, than to cut it down and change it for few years into pasture, as it is practised by the settlers.

Already practised now:

• Harvesting medicinal plants
• Eco-tourism (amaZOOnico, LianaLodge and RunaHuasi)
• Collecting fruit
• harvesting weevil-larva (they are eaten, a large market is existing)

• controlled hunting (big wish from the Indio- community)
• cultivating certain species of trees

Close the present gaps in the forest preserve. We want to purchase the following properties too, by order of priority:

• Finca 15, Christobal Toalombo, estimate10.000 Sfr
• Finca 19, estimate 10.000 Sfr
• Finca 20, estimate 10.000 Sfr
• Finca Vargas, estimate 4000 sfr
• Finca Medina, estimate 5000 Sfr
• Finca dazwischen, estimate 7000 Sfr
• Fincas 19, 18, 17 und 16, Miranda 1.Linie, estimate totaly 40.000 Sfr

Best is, if you join the GSR co-operation to be a member. Please in touch with our president Siegfried von Steiger. Also through the work as a volunteer or through small donations we can achieve very much in Ecuador, as everything is much cheaper here than in Europe.

 
16.08.2003 / © 1999-2009 amaZOOnico