Reforesting Kuntur Wachana: Healing a Sacred Mountain

Kuntur Wachana—“Where the Condor is Born” in Kichwa—is a sacred mountain in southern Ecuador, long revered by Indigenous peoples as a spiritual and ecological axis of the region. After decades of deforestation, erosion, and wildfire, its slopes were scarred and its waters diminished. But today, thanks to a deep collaboration between the Asociación Finca Sagrada and the Swiss foundation Árbol co(n) Razón, Kuntur Wachana is undergoing a profound healing.

This reforestation initiative goes far beyond planting trees. It is a living act of cultural remembrance, ecological repair, and community empowerment. To date, over 25,000 native trees—including arrayán, cedro, romerillo, pumamaqui, and other species carefully selected for their ecological role and cultural significance—have been planted by hand on the mountain’s slopes. These are not exotic imports, but locally sourced, native species grown in community nurseries from seeds collected in nearby forests, ensuring genetic resilience and ecosystem compatibility.

Crucially, reforestation is paired with regenerative earthworks: contour swales are dug along the mountain’s slopes to slow, spread, and sink rainwater into the soil. These swales dramatically increase moisture retention, recharge groundwater, and create microclimates that support young saplings. Combined with natural mulching and handmade protective fencing, this holistic approach has achieved an impressive tree survival rate of over 85%—a testament to the care and knowledge of the local stewards.

The project has also become a vital source of dignified work and ecological education for youth in Tumianuma. Young people are employed in seed collection, nursery management, planting, and maintenance—gaining not only income but also deep hands-on experience in native forestry and watershed restoration. For many, it’s a chance to stay rooted in their community while contributing to its ecological future.

Kuntur Wachana is more than a reforestation site—it is a living sanctuary, where ceremonies honor the mountain’s spirit, elders share ancestral stories, and children learn that forests are kin. Every tree planted is a prayer for water, for biodiversity, and for intergenerational continuity.

By supporting this work, you help protect one of southern Ecuador’s most sacred and ecologically vital landscapes—and affirm that true regeneration begins when local communities lead with love, knowledge, and reverence for the land.