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Cerro Golondrinas Cloudforest Reserve
Due to
the great variety of micro-niches in the Reserve, rates of biodiversity and endemism are phenomenally high. Birding enthusiasts will revel in the opportunities to see condors, toucans, mixed flocks of tanagers, squawking parrots,
and hummingbirds in addition to hundreds of other species. Less common, but resident in the reserve, are also foxes, deer, peccaries, coatis, sloths, puma, and groups of nomadic monkeys.
Ecuador contains more than
20,000 species of plants. Many of the tropics readily recognizable families are found in the cloudforests of the Golondrinas region, such as: Dracula (Orchidaceae), Cinnamomum (Lauraceae), Mahogany (Meliaceae), Balsa
(Bombacaceae), and a cornucopia of tropical fruits, such as Pineapples, Maracuya, Granadilla (Passifloraceae), and Naranjilla (Solanum) which are grown by local farmers. Currently the foundation manages a 1,400 ha reserve at the
foot of the Golondrinas peak (3,120 m). Moran: Community Conservation Project The village of Moran is set in a beautiful valley on the edges of the 'páramo.' The village's 13-family farming community is exceptional in that they are very
conscientious of the value of conserving their land. Through their own initiative, the community is in the process of declaring their land 'Bosque Protector' (Protected Forest).
With the support of the Golondrinas Foundation, the village of Moran: raises endemic species in their tree nursery. reforests abandoned land. provides accommodation for eco-tourists, volunteers and scientists
in their 'Cabaña de Moran.'
In collaboration with the Tapir specialist, Craig Downer and the Wildlife Conservation Society, a pair of Andean Mountain Tapirs will be released into the valley.
Additionally, the village is seeking support to install a 15 kw hydro-electric plant, which has been researched by Barbara Simaeys.
To get to Moran contact Fernando Calderon, the local
milkman. He will drive you to Moran for a small fee. Tel: 593-6-977-274. The three village guides are: Carlos Castro, Hugo Quintanchala and Humberto Meneses.
For all general inquiries contact the Golondrinas Foundation:
tel: 593-2-226-602
e-mail: golondrinas@ecuadorexplorer.com
(subject: Moran). Guallupe: Agroforestry Project Agroforestry is a farming method in which certain trees, grasses and bushes are mix-planted with regularly farmed crops. When the trees, grasses, bushes and crops are
planted in an ordered arrangement, the former provide multiple benefits: a windbreak, an erosion barrier, a means of promoting nitrogen fixing,firewood, and habitat for animals.
 In Guallupe, where the Golondrinas Foundation has set up its Agroforestry Center, the very steep farming slopes are in great need of protection.
Deforestation, yearly burning and inadequate agriculture practices have created very poor topsoil conditions. The elements have only compounded the effects of degradation. On a ten hectare demonstration
site the Golondrinas Foundation is showcasing sustainable farming practices on slopes of 20 degrees and more. The most prevalent method is that of 'induced terracing.
This 'induced terracing' is facilitated predominantly by a
grass introduced from the South of India, called Vetiver zizanioides.This plant is used extensively worldwide for erosion control. The Golondrinas Foundation invites motivated scientists in the field of agriculture, ecology
and botany to help improve our understanding of this sustainable agriculture method in Ecuador. Demonstration farms Education of local people is one of the primary goals of Fundación Golondrinas. Ways in which they have already established a means to educate the farmers and children
of the area are in their model farm, Peña Negra, and in the environmental education courses given to children during the school year which started in 1994. A future project that Fundación Golondrinas would like to
implement to extend the educational realm is to install a modest museum at their location in the cloudforest, known as Santa Rosa. In 1998 a demonstration farm called Peña Negra was set up based on knowledge gained from the first experimental farm Limonal. This farm will serve as a example of how to
maximise yields by planting a variety of short and medium term trees such as orange, mandarin, lemon, papaya, platano, coffee and coconut in combination with the more
traditional beans, corn, yuca and pineapple. Planting such a combination holds advantages over planting just one crop in a field, as farmers tend to do at present. Planting
different crop types increases yields, helps to reduce soil loss, improves soil quality and can offer a nutritionally balanced harvest. In addition, a combination of nitrogen fixing trees and other trees which give shade to plants
that need it was planted.
 
 Four different varieties of pineapple were planted,
applying the techniques studied by the Agronomy Engineers of the IGZ in Belgium, who carried out a meticulous study of this fruit. We concentrated on pineapple in particular because it is the traditional crop of
the region, there is a known market and it can produce fruit all year around if given adequate care. Moreover, when this fruit is grown in alternating rows with Vetiver grass hedges and short and medium term fruit trees, soil
quality is improved and soil erosion is reduced by the formation of terraces. These techniques will allow continuous production from the same plot of land, improving the long-term sustainability of agriculture in the region.
Peña Negra is now ready to be used to give practical courses in these techniques to local farmers under the direction of technicians and personnel from Fundación Golondrinas. Fabian Manteca, who is in charge of the farm,
has taken part in courses on agroforestry run by the National Organisation of Agroforestry in Quito.
A second demonstration farm will shortly be set up at Santa Rosa, a higher location at the elevation of the
cloudforest. Here a large scale study will take place of two fruits, the naranjilla and the blackberry, to learn more about the appropriate techniques pertaining to their growth within secondary forest (natural areas of regrowth
after the felling of primary forest). From a previous small scale study we are aware of their potential to give at least four years continuous production in this environment. They also have a good market value. This
method may offer an alternative to the indiscriminate felling of trees currently carried out by local farmers to provide a source of income for their families, particularly when used in combination with the techniques
demonstrated at Peña Negra.
The Santa Rosa field station will produce economic spin-offs for the foundation in the form of money from volunteers, and will also serve as a base for scientific
studies of the high biodiversity of this locality. Using funds we have in reserve from donations the foundation has received, we plan to improve the facilities by building more cabins and a small hydro-electric plant, allowing the
accommodation of more volunteers to work on the demonstration farm.
 Both of these farms will be used during our
programme of practical education and training that we will begin to provide in January 2000. These courses in soil management will be given by technicians from Fundación Golondrinas and other
specialists to as many communities as possible. However, the foundation realises that in order to achieve this it will have to liaise with the communities to arrange training days at times which suit the farmers. Moreover, the
courses will be hands-on and highly interactive. They will begin at a basic level, for example by showing the advantages of planting along contours as opposed to up and down the slope. They will move on to practical tuition
in all of the techniques demonstrated at Peña Negra and Santa Rosa, such as the use of Vetiver grass hedges, the combination of different crop types, and the use of secondary forest as a sustainable resource.
Environmental Education for Local Children  Since 1995, Fundación Golondrinas has been conducting
environmental education courses for local children on conservation of natural resources.
It is focused on children because in the future it is they who are going to work on these very fields and they will need to have the
basic knowledge to use their land in the best way, applying agroforestry techniques that favor production. It is also a way to stop these soon-to-be-teenagers from migrating to the city and to have work which meets their
needs and, at the same time, maintain their culture.
 On average, 15 children
between the ages of 8-12 participate in the course which is held on weekends starting in November and ending in June.
These classes are dynamic, interactive and open to the children's creativity. It is thus that we see them feel
more encouraged and start to have confidence in themselves without having to leave their comfort zone.
Events, talks, videos are held, they celebrate El Día del Árbol (The Day of the Tree), and it is also planned to take
them on field trips to other sites that are involved in environmental conservation. The teacher is an enthusiastic individual who knows how to capture the interests and attention of her students and creates fun for
everyone while learning.
 We are excited about the work with the local children because we see good
results and it motivates us to move forward. For the future we will also involve the local people, present similar courses for the farmers, and give nutrition classes to the local women.
If you would like to support the activities of Fundación Golondrinas, please let us know
Future Projects We present to you some of our plans to be realized:
The realization of these projects is pending financial support but we have had a lot of support in the past from organizations, friends, and volunteers who have
contributed their time and expertise to our project so we hope to have the same luck in the future to be able to continue ahead with the goals of the Foundation.
If you would like more information about future projects or
you would like to make a contribution in any form, please contact the Foundation which has addresses for both e-mail and post. The nutrition classes will not be simply courses but will demonstrate available biodiversity of
fruits and vegetables which, in the right combination, make up a healthy diet. |
