Inside each seed is a dream of the entire forest

SeedsDream Reforestation Project

Ecuadorian Amazon

Photo Album

	Jungle Cabin Construction A simple notebook sketch is transformed into reality between October and December of 2006. The cabin is designed to provide both short and long-term housing for project volunteers. It is built on a ridge, overlooking the jungle used for seed collections. On the ground floor are tables for seed processing and storage.

	Seed Deliveries Thousands of seeds have been collected and delivered to local communities. Species collected include Nám - Maní de árbol (Caryodendron orinocense), Áchu - Moriche Palm (Mauritia flexuosa), Tintúk - Tagua Palm (Aphandra natalia), Kunkúk -- Royal Palm (Oenocarpus bataua), Yaas -- (Pouteria caimito) , Sapote (Matisia cordata), Sampi -- Guabas (Inga densiflora, Inga edulis, others), Shawi, and many others.

Making Species Lists

Volunteers have begun creating lists of plants of local interest for the reforestation work. Published ethnobotanical research, a few books with illustrations, and walks in the forest are used to make identifications. The goal is to make a searchable database with scientific and local (Shuar, Quichua, Spanish, etc.) names, as well as publish the information for general use. Already over 1200 species have been compiled from publications -- click here to download the list.

	Mahogany Rescue Mission Big Leaf Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is a endangered tropical hardwood currently being extracted from neighboring indigenous communities. The timber, often sold illegally, is valued at $4000 - $7000 per cubic meter on the international market. Trees in the region are hundreds of years old, and communities are routinely compensated less than $100 per tree. In the region communities have chosen to burn trees rather than allow the logging company to exploit their land. In August we made special trips to collect the seeds of individual trees before they were cut down.

	Horses!!! We purchased two horses, one male and one female, to transport seeds from deep within the jungle to the nearest road. They are already very much in love and a colt was born in March of 2008...

Building the Composting Toilet and a Raised Planting Bed

Three volunteers (Miguel, Mateo and Louise) spent a week in the jungle constructing a raised planting bed and a composting toilet. Household wastes composted in the toilet will be used to add fertilizer and organic matter to the seedling planting beds.

Recording traditional songs

For three days we recorded traditional songs of a 75-year-old woman and her family. Two CD's were made and copies were given to her son. Volunteers are needed to continue this work, as there is much local interest and appreciation of the value of recording songs and stories that are on the verge of disappearing from the culture forever.

June 2006: Celebrating the Project Beginning

People have come from eight indigenous communities to celebrate the beginning of the reforestation project and speak of the importance of this work. The party lasts all night long, with people dancing to the music of two CD's -- one of traditional Shuar music, and one of latin love songs. The dancing only stops when the generator runs out of gas, around 8:30 am the following morning.

Seeding the beds

Seeds are brought from surrounding communities, and over twenty species of trees are planted in the beds.

Planting Bed Construction

The work parties continued, and four raised planting beds were constructed. Gravel was hauled up from the stream, and many pottery shards were found when the soil was sifted through our hands.

Greenhouse Construction

For several days work parties were held to construct a seedling nursery. Families arrived each day, some having hiked several hours before dawn to arrive at the site. The mood was one of celebration, with many people contributing to the work over the week.

First Plantings

200 seedlings of Moriche Palm (Mauritia flexuoxa) are planted along the trail to the village. This species grows in moist habitats and is valued for its fruits, oil, fibers and fronds.

Project Started!

December 2005

Project initiated by local indigenous leaders and a visiting ecology activist from the US. Preliminary meetings are held to discuss reforestation goals and species of local interest. Many species previously used for food and medicine are no longer present within 20 km of the community, and there is much enthusiasm about the prospect of recovering these species.