Minga Reforestation Project

Minga Reforestation Project was founded in 2021 by a Swiss Association with the same name with the goal to reforest Ecuadorian cloud forests, which are considered to be among the most biodiverse areas worldwide. Our project is located in northern Ecuador, in a Nature Reserve called Reserva Dracula, which covers an area of 40 km². The reserve is owned by the Ecuadorian nature conservation NGO Fundación EcoMinga. Within the reserve, there are more than 220 hectares of previously deforested land that was purchased by EcoMinga. Minga Reforestation donates all funded money directly to our local partner EcoMinga, which reforests areas according to our mutual agreement.

Our Mission

Minga Reforestation's mission is to maximize impact for climate, biodiversity, and local communities by applying the most sustainable reforestation techniques combined with agroforestry and biochar use. We aim to restore cloud forest areas by planting at least 1 million trees. We also invest in climate resilience by establishing agroforestry plots that ensure food security and address malnutrition in local communities. Additionally, we incorporate biochar into reforestation and agroforestry soils to enhance ecosystem resilience during climate change.

Background & Challenges

Ecuador's rainforests are among the most deforested worldwide, with 92% of the initial area cleared for agriculture and mining. Both activities provide only short-term benefits while causing severe damage: biodiversity loss, disrupted water cycles, landslides, and climate change contributions. Increased mining activities in the past five years have led to family disputes, alcoholism, prostitution, water contamination, and biodiversity loss. Minga Reforestation and EcoMinga offer sustainable alternatives that create long-term jobs and opportunities aligned with the SDGs, addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and socioeconomic challenges.

Solution
Cloud forest restoration reconnects separated ecosystems, restores biodiversity, protects soils, and improves water cycles. We plant 80+ tree species per hectare to establish stable ecosystems resilient to rising temperatures and changing weather patterns. Near villages, we prioritize agroforestry to provide organic food and saleable crops. Both areas will incorporate biochar to improve soil fertility and climate resilience.

Opportunity
Since 2024, we have planted 9,000 trees on 8 hectares using seeds from local species collected in primary forests. We possess the experience to restore the remaining 220 hectares. EcoMinga has purchased and protected this land, reducing costs. Our team includes a forest engineer with experience planting over 1 million trees and EcoMinga's experienced scientists and local experts.

How We Regenerate and Track Our Impact
We restore land by planting endangered species and those providing food for forest animals. We combine reforestation with natural restoration methods. Additional funding will support further reforestation and project certification to enable future carbon and biodiversity credit sales for sustainability. Every tree receives three years of care with monitoring and replacement to ensure complete restoration and maximized climate and biodiversity benefits.