Photo: Persnickety Prints | Unsplash
Over generations, communities in the Andes have witnessed the negative impacts of deforestation, melting glaciers, and disappearing water sources. In response, nonprofit organizations like ECOAN, led by Constantino Aucca Chutas, an Incan descendant, are collaborating with indigenous families to plant trees and restore ecosystems. Constantino Aucca Chutas and his organizations have established an annual tree-planting festival called Queuña Raymi, involving entire communities in planting trees at high altitudes. This effort has not only improved water security and supported local communities but also contributed to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. Constantino's work has gained recognition, including being named one of the 2022 Champions of the Earth by the United Nations. His goal is to protect one million hectares of native Andean forest across South America by 2045 and to expand the model of using indigenous knowledge for ecosystem restoration globally.
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