Sapara Regenerative Economy
The Sapara project is centered around the community of Llanchamacocha in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The Sápara Nation is recognized by UNESCO as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” With fewer than 600 Sapara people between Ecuador and Peru, less than 5 native speakers of the Sapara language still alive, the Sapara are very much on the brink. Furthermore, their land and culture are threatened by oil development and encroaching deforestation. It is very important to the Sapara to keep their culture alive in the ways they always have existed – living in the forest, dreaming, living in community close to nature.
Creating a Regenerative Economic model involves several different elements:
Agroforestry - growing food and medicinal plants in the same way a forest grows, requiring minimal inputs and maximum benefit for land and people. This would center around cacao and other medicinal plants.
Community-based tourism - This has been going on for over 10 years now and is an important part of keeping culture alive, creating opportunities to engage in culturally relevant activities while earning an income, and sharing their knowledge with the outside world
Samai: A reinterpretation of the concept of economy.
Creation and transmission of traditional medicinal formulas.
Objectives
Revenue for Sapara people
Agroforestry - improving land and health
Telling stories - share Sapara wisdom with the world
Support Sapara initiatives around cultural preservation
Generating unique cacao and herbal products
Watch this video about cacao and climate change
