Coo Coo for Kakabadse!

Yesterday, we had the immense pleasure of speaking with Yolanda Kakabadse during our class. Yolanda is an impressively accomplished and humble environmentalist from Ecuador. A short list of her outstanding previous accomplishments includes founding the local NGO, Fundación Natura, serving as the Minister of Environment, and acting as NGO Liaison Officer during the Rio Summit. Yolanda Kakabadse is currently the president of the World Wide Fund for Nature. No big deal, right?
We discussed the current environmental challenges facing the country, but rather than get caught up in the frustrations of activism and environmental policy, Yolanda instead inspired us with her current projects regarding the economic potential of Ecuador’s rich biodiversity. She sees great opportunity for economic development through the sustainable use of Ecuador and other Andean countries’ biodiversity in the creation of eco-products. Moving away from the destructive practices that characterize the palm oil, soy, and lumber industries to more sustainable projects working with native plants can provide not only a valuable income source for communities, but also help to preserve the important ecosystems that make Ecuador one of the 17 megadiverse countries of the world. A few of the projects that Yolanda Kakabadse discussed are:
• Butterfly Farms: Ecuador is home to roughly 4000 species of butterflies. A few of these are now farmed in greenhouses for international export to zoos, universities and exhibitions. The farming practices are in accordance with the Convention on Biological Diversity and provide incomes and livelihoods for indigenous communities.
• Guayusa: The Guayusa leaf in Ecuador is boiled and various indigenous communities drink the tea every morning while conversing about the day’s agenda, providing the community with a healthy energy boost and an important social ritual as well. Much like Yerba Mate, Guayusa is a plant that has been in use for generations by those here in South America, but is now catching on in the USA as well. Look for it in your local Whole Foods. The communities that harvest Guayusa for export are all shareholders in the business and practice sustainable planting methods in previously destroyed plots, or their own back yards.
• Bamboo: The Bamboo species native to Ecuador is among the top 5 (of over 1000) species worldwide known for their strength and flexibility. The native plants retain large amounts of water with roots that go very deep to stabilize the soil. Bamboo also multiplies very fast and one plant will return for roughly 50 years without replanting. The bamboo initiative in Ecuador plans to use this local resource to produce quality products for home construction, such as flooring and furniture. The sprouts are edible and the leaf can be used for almost anything, including the possibility of biofuel production. Yolanda was very optimistic about the endless and creative uses of the bamboo plant in Ecuador.