Current
Perspectives on the Rio Napo region of the
Amazon
by Hector Vargas
Ecuador is one of
the smallest Amazonian countries, with a size
comparable to the state of Colorado (USA), which
is 0.17 % of the planet. However, with its 9.2
species per square kilometer, Ecuador is the
most biological diverse country per square unit.
For example, Ecuador has more than 1,616 species
of birds (17.9% of the world's); whereas in the
entire United States there are less than 700
species of birds.
Since the jungle
town of Coca (aka San Francisco de Orellana) was
founded in the 1960s, 15% of Ecuador's tropical
forest has been destroyed due to oil
exploration, road building, and other human
activities from these exploitive industries. The
alarming rate of habitat destruction of this
rich and fragile ecosystem affects not only the
wildlife that depends on the rainforest habitat,
but also indigenous peoples.
Threat of Extinction of Indigenous Groups
More than twenty
indigenous groups in the Ecuadorian Amazon
region became extinct in the last century. It is
now home to ten indigenous groups: the Siona,
Cofan, Secoya, Quichua, Huaorani, Shuar, Achuar,
Zapara, Shiwiar, and Andoa. The Zapara and Andoa
are barely surviving because of ethnocide
practiced by rubber developers, diseases brought
by outsiders, and by the extractive oil
industry.
Endangered Monkeys
The immediate and
critical concern is the fate of endangered
peoples, the threats to humans also threaten the
plant and wildlife. For example, Ecuador has
seven species of monkey which are considered to
be “extremely endangered”. The Pigmy Marmoset
(Spanish: leoncillo), the Dusky Titi Monkey (cotoncillo),
the Golden-mantled Tamarin (tamarino de manto
dorado), the Woolly Monkey (chorongo), the
Spider Monkey (mano arena), the Black Mantle
Tamarin (bebe leche), and the Squirrel Monkey (mano
ardilla) are considered by experts to be the
most affected and the most vulnerable to
de-forestation and illegal trafficking.
Sumak Allpa is an
island we purchased on the Rio Napo. It was
started in 2000 with a mission to preserve,
protect, and enhance the culture, wildlife, and
jungle eco-system of this environmentally and
culturally rich and diverse region. The name
means “place of no evil.” It has been sanctioned
by the government as a bio-reserve. We also
created a non-profit foundation to support
restoration projects on the island.
We are working to
expand our ability to preserve and support
endangered indigenous peoples and their culture,
language, and traditional way of life in the
Ecuadorian Amazon region.
We are also dedicated to restoring the
environmental health of the seriously degraded
jungle ecosystem and the wildlife that depend on
it.
Endangered Peoples
One of the
project's main objectives is to educate
indigenous elementary school children, the
messengers of their tribal heritage and the
future leaders, who otherwise would not have any
formal education. The school curriculum
emphasizes environmental and cultural education.
Specifically, the
curriculum includes: re-forestation; saving
endangered species; indigenous traditions; and
language & heritage. Through this education,
these children and their families are becoming
more knowledgeable about their own culture,
traditions - and the importance of their
homeland to the world's environment and health.
Through their
direct participation in this project, the
children and their families are learning about
ways to protect endangered species as well as to
manage and derive economic value from their
homelands.
At this point, 16
children from various families have their
children taught by a bi-lingual teacher and are
committed to helping extending the school. The
bi-lingual teacher at the school is an
indigenous man from the Zapara community, who
finished his Primary Teacher training conducted
by Sumak Allpa and he continues to work with us.
Monkey Project
Besides our
important education project, the island also
includes the rehabilitation of the seven species
of endangered primates. With sufficient numbers
of each species, they will be re-populating into
their original habitats.
Our goal is to
increase the number of healthy primates (from
seven different species) which can live, grow,
and multiply in the “wild” versus in captivity.
Although there are some attempts in Ecuador at
breeding and growing these kinds of animals in
cages, we believe that their genetic and
environmental behaviors will better mirror
pre-human impacts if they are allowed to live in
the wild, on a protected island of 115 hectares.
Specifically, over the next five years, at least
70 monkeys, 10 from each species will be brought
and introduced to the island environment. They
will be monitored by a forester and volunteers
from GVI (Global Vision International).
In 2004, the organization initiated a “Conambo”
palm seedling planting and education program
with adults and children from the Siona people
(who live in the Sotasiaya village and are
directly affected by the oil explorations and
drillings, de-forestation, and loss of their
territory.). Sumak Allpa realized that these
people could regain a part of their heritage by
growing and using local products. Approximately
1,200 Conambo palms have been planted so far. It
takes several growing seasons before the palms
can be used in housing construction.
In another
initiative, Sumak Allpa began in 2000 to recover
and preserve the culture, identity, and heritage
of the Andoa in the Pastaza Providence. Through
the efforts of the organization, the Andoa are
now recognized by the Amazon Indian
Confederation (CONFENIAE). Their language,
ethnicity, and cultural heritage can be
preserved; their extinction was prevented.
A Very Special
Event
This coming
October, we have invited eight elders from
different tribal communities to come to the
island so we can record the oral histories of
the tribes. This information will be made into a
text book in two languages, Spanish and Quichua,
and then used to teach the children in the
jungle schools.
These programs
have been financed through harvesting of herbs,
tourism, and direct donation by our sponsors.
All of us at Sumak Allpa, and the surrounding
families, are excited by the progress we are
making to preserve the land and the cultures.
Our goal: sustainability using the rich
resources of the jungle in an ecological and
self-empowering way.
More of Sumak Allpa
here.
Join us on tour - meet Hector and experience
Amazon Herbs. here.
See more about Escuela Sumak Allpa, the school
we are helping here.
More school pictures
here.
Read more about Sumak Allpa
here.
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About
Amazon guide Hector Vargas
 |
Hector Vargas is a rainforest guide for
25 years, past secretary of the Amazon
Defense Front, |
co-author of the book “Amazon Worlds”,
featured in Discovery Channel Mission called
“The Road Of Orellana”, and founder of The
Omaere Ethnobotanical Garden in Puyo. He is
the current director of SUMAK ALLPA PROJECT,
a non-profit foundation based in the Amazon
Rainforest in Ecuador. Hector will be
speaking September 15th at Shimmering Pines
in Jupiter Farms from 2-5 pm. This event is
open to the public. For more information or
to make a reservation, please call (561)
743-3058.
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Hector on Sumak
Allpa with school children and friends.
Escuela Sumak
Allpa on the right, with the students, on the left is the
'cafeteria' which I helped build the walls you see! - Su Sigrist
One of the
students got a deep cut on his foot, and Hector asked to borrow
my Sangre de Drago!
Hector applying
Amazon Herb's Sangre de Drago to the boy's foot. Hector's
community harvested Sangre de Drago for the Amazon Herb Company.
One of the Golden
Mantle Tamarinds was so friendly, William Papke was able to pet
her!
The professor and
his family live on Sumak Allpa, along with his wife's parents.
You never know who
will visit your home!
Read about the
mission and vision
of Sumak Allpa by Hector
Vargas here.
More about the on-going projects, volunteering
on the island, and the partnership with Amazon
Superfoods
here. |
