Education

Elementary schools go “green”

Our Green Schools initiative aims to certify elementary schools in the Nudo del Azuay that incorporate environmental education in the standard curriculum as ¨green¨.  The Ministry of Education approved the innovative program which works with the entire educational community: parents, teachers, and students.  In the 2008/2009 school year, three schools have created gardens with the aim of improving student nutrition and increasing environmental awareness.   

In 2009, the first high school students from the area will graduate.  High school graduates are being given fellowships to obtain university degrees in environmental studies, ecological restoration and biology.

New landowner association forms:  Amigos de Sangay

FCT has aided in the establishment of a network of landowners, Amigos del Sangay, (Sangay Mashikuna in Quichua) to address regional conservation concerns.  The recently formed board of directors is led by Father Moisés Narvaez of the Zhoray parish.  Representatives from each community form part of the governing board.  This landmark partnership marks the first time that mestizo and indigenous landowners have united to address regional conservation issues. 

Improved control of vehicular access in southern Sangay National Park:  Greener Highways

In cooperation with Sangay National Park, FCT has mapped two roads that penetrate southern Sangay National Park and installed signage indicating park boundaries.  As part of this process, FCT identified plans for the construction of three additional illegal roads.  We are working with the regional office of the Ministry of Environment to ensure that road developers complete a legal assessment of environmental impacts prior to project implementation.  The aim of the Green Highways program is to identify legal entry points to the Park, control access, and assure that the use of these roads by local landowners does not degrade Park resources

Formation of new community park guards

In collaboration with Hidropaute S.A. and Sangay National Park, FCT is training eight community members and two former park guards in first aid, biodiversity identification and conservation, general data collection skills including how to use a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS), and control of forest fires.  The ten new park guards, a tripling over the number of park guards in 2008, will patrol the Nudo del Azuay conservation area within southern Sangay National Park to ensure the long-term protection and preservation of park resources.