Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
Rio Maza

Project Code: 098-680-006	Start Date: 01-Apr-92	End Date: 01-Mar-97
Commitment: £91,641	Status: Completed	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
The Fundacion Ecologica Mazan is a non-government organisation based in the City of Cuenca in the Province of Azuay in the Andean Region of Southern Ecuador. It is recognised by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Agriculture, according to Ministerial Agreement No. 0348, dated 10 July 1992. The principal objective of the Foundation is to promote the conservation ans sustainable management of Andean forests and Andean ecosystems in general..

The history of the Foundation dates from 1989, when the ecological club "Amigos de Mazan" was founded by a group of Ecuadorian and British biologists. The name was changed to Fundacion Ecologica Mazan in 1991. The activities of the Foundation were formerly directed principally towards ensuring the protection of the Mazan Forest Reserve, situated 15Km from the City of Cuenca. The protection of the Mazan Reserve is now assured, and the Foundations's field of activity has been extended to include other forests in the area, which are currently unprotected or inadequately protected, as well as promoting the sustainable use of natural resources in non-forest areas. The Foundation is now recognised as the most active non-government conservation body in Southern Ecuador.

Since its inception, the principal fields of activity of the Foundation have been the promotion of environmental awareness, through environmental education in schools and other activities; and the implementation of practical conservation projects in both urban and rural areas. The foundation also provides support for visiting scientific expeditions and research work by Ecuadorian and foreign scientists. The Foundation is a membership organisation and benefits from the active participation of its members, working in a voluntary capacity.

Project Objectives:
To develop the mazan reserve as an educational resource develop ecological awareness research root causes of cloud forest destruction and promote the sustainable use of Andean forests and native trees.

Intended Outputs:
More effective use of the Foundation's resources.

Improved environmental education in schools.

Increased public access to information related to environmental issues.

Raised public awareness of environmental issues.

The recycling of waste products within the city of Cuenca promoted.

The sustainable use of forest and other natural resources in the Aguarongo Forest area promoted.

Trees for forestry products produced and environmental forestry promoted.

Provision and dissemination of information about the birds of Andean forests.

A focus for conservation-related activities in the region provided.