Equator Prize 2008

www.unorcac.org

Full Nomination

Description: UNORCAC is an organization of 3,225 Kichwa families dedicated to improving the quality of life of indigenous peoples and farmers in Cotacachi. The group focuses on the conservation of agricultural biodiversity, the reintroduction and maintenance of traditional cultural practices, the increase of local incomes, and the expansion of community participation.

Key Activities and Innovations: UNORCAC builds local capacity in three areas: agriculture, ethno-tourism, and high-value crops (in particular, Uvillas or "small grapes"). A critical achievement of the organization has been the reintroduction of traditional crops and medicinal plants, a process of cultural renewal that has resulted in the valuation of over 130 native medicinal plant species.

Key Impacts

Biodiversity

• Return of 10,000 plants of 15 traditional crop varieties (roots, tubers, grains and fruit) to local communities

• Hosted fairs to demonstrate and exchange native seed varieties between 500 local farmers

• Development of a "Teaching Guide on Agro-biodiversity" and management of an educational program to teach agro-biodiversity at 19 schools in the region

Socio-economic

• The organization promotes apiculture (beekeeping) and markets honey under the Honey Andina brand, offering supplemental income for many farming families

• A tourism network of 15 lodges in five communities receives up to 3,000 visitors annually and generates income for the local community

• Added value to natively produced crops (blackberries, uvillas, peppers, sambo, fig leaf, and gourd)

• Creation of Sumak Mikuy, a micro-enterprise that provides access to national and international markets for locally grown and processed products

Policy

• Through the Assembly of Cantonal Units of Cotacachi, UNORCAC influences the development of local policy

• As part of the National Federation of Peasant and Indigenous Organizations, UNORCAC influences national policies (especially in relation to food security)

• The group has made contact with the Ministry of Cultural and Natural Heritage to initiate a process for the UNORCAC territory to be considered an agro-biodiversity and traditional knowledge reserve

Replication

• Based on the success of UNORCAC, the FAO has formulated the "Revaluation of Andean crops in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru: A partnership between community research and development ". The project seeks to replicate the UNORCAC model in communities in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru

• UNORCAC has presented an agro-biodiversity education project to the FAO Benefit Distribution Fund of the International Treaty on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in an effort to replicate their agricultural model

Partners

• INIAP (Instituto nacional de investigación agropecuaria)
• DIPEIBI (Dirección provincial de educación interculrural)
• USDA
• Bioversity International

Contacts

Rumiñahui Anrango, Presidente, UNORCAC
Gonzales Suarez 2083,
Cotacachi, Imbabura
Ecuador
Tel: + 593 6 2916012
Fax: + 593 6 2915602
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Hugo Carrera Rueda, Coordinador de proyectos, UNORCAC
Gonzales Suarez 2083
Cotacachi, Imbabura
Ecuador
Tel: +593 6 2916012
Fax: +5936 2915602
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it