Restoring Kuntur Wachana
Asociación Finca Sagrada leads the transformation of Ecuador’s Sacred Mountain through community-driven reforestation, creating jobs while healing the land.
Our Sacred Mission
Asociación Finca Sagrada manages the operational restoration of Kuntur Wachana mountain, adjacent to our intentional community in Vilcabamba, Ecuador. We transform eroded, fire-damaged landscapes into thriving tropical dry forest ecosystems while creating meaningful employment for local youth in Tumianuma, reconnecting them with their ancestral love for nature.
The extended Finca Sagrada Family
Our Impact
The Challenge
Kuntur Wachana mountain was once covered in tropical dry forest, but decades of deforestation, overgrazing, and regular fires left the steep slopes severely eroded and degraded. Located at 1,550-2,330 meters elevation in Ecuador’s central Andes, this sacred land faced a six-month intensive dry season with minimal natural regeneration.
Our Solution
Through innovative permaculture techniques, we combine rainwater harvesting with strategic tree planting. Our team creates swales to capture and retain rainwater, preventing soil erosion while providing essential moisture for new growth. We plant trees from cuttings that are already 1.5 meters tall, allowing them to shade aggressive grasses, protect seedlings, and begin the process of soil restoration.
International Partnership
Asociación Finca Sagrada operates in partnership with Árbol Co(n)razón, a Swiss non-profit organization founded by biologist Kai Reinacher. This collaboration brings together local operational expertise with international funding and scientific guidance.
While Árbol Co(n)razón handles fundraising and scientific planning from Switzerland, Asociación Finca Sagrada manages all on-ground operations in Ecuador, ensuring that every tree planted contributes to both environmental restoration and local economic development.
Árbol Co(n)Razón Team
Creating Lasting Impact
🌱 Biodiversity Conservation
Restoring native tropical dry forest habitat for threatened species, creating corridors that connect with nearby Podocarpus National Park’s megadiverse ecosystems.
🌍 Climate Action
Each restored hectare captures thousands of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, contributing to global climate stability while restoring natural water cycles.
👥 Community Empowerment
Creating fair-wage employment for young people in Tumianuma village, providing social security and educational opportunities while building local capacity.
💧 Watershed Restoration
Rebuilding the natural water cycle through strategic swale construction and forest restoration, protecting against floods, droughts, and landslides.
Join Our Sacred Mission
Together, we are proving that degraded landscapes can become thriving ecosystems again. Every tree planted is a step toward a more sustainable future for our planet and our communities.
Connect With Us
Asociacion Finca Sagrada
Vilcabamba, Loja Province, Ecuador
Part of the Piscobamba River Watershed Bio Region Project
Working together to create a regenerative and sovereign watershed