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WE ARE FUNDACION FUTURO

We care for life in all of its forms

We are Fundacion Futuro, an Ecuadorian non-profit organization established in 2000 to implement the corporate responsibility initiatives undertaken by Grupo Futuro, one of the major holding groups in Ecuador. The conglomerate comprises a variety of companies, all leaders in their respective industries –insurance, healthcare, and tourism– all of which share a common philosophy of integrity, responsibility, creativity, passion, excellence and sustainability.

Previously, over the course of nearly two decades, the foundation sponsored a series of development programs in rural communities. Numerous initiatives were launched to facilitate access to healthcare services and microloans in rural Andean and coastal communities.

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In 2019, Fundación Futuro performed an overhaul of its strategy and vision, shifting its focus to mitigating the effects of climate change through forest conservation and community resilience in Ecuador, one of the world’s most mega diverse and sensitive ecosystems. In this extraordinary environment, the conservation of unique and vulnerable forests is both a challenge and an opportunity. The adaptive capacity of local communities is key, which is why the foundation has implemented a comprehensive sustainability program in Ecuador’s Andean Chocó region, which extends from the region to the northwest of Quito (Ecuador’s capital) to the Colombian border and beyond.

Our greater purpose is to mitigate the effects of climate change and our efforts focus on the conservation and sustainable management of the Andean Choco region.

In this fragile place, our integral work will be centered around:

Connectivity

Carbon Footprint

Sustainable Landscape

Sustainability Culture

learn about our new vision

Connectivity

Conserving and connecting forest remnants is a critical factor in helping species adapt to climate change.

Conserving and connecting forest remnants is absolutely critical to helping species adapt to climate change because wildlife corridors allow many species to make their way to higher altitudes (and cooler temperatures) as global warming continues to occur. We have selected the Andean Chocó as our point of focus because it is one of the planet’s most extraordinary biodiversity hotspots, as well as an ecosystem that needs to be protected from multiple threats, including illegal logging, mining, and hunting.

We began our work at Mashpi Reserve, an expanse initially covering 2,500 hectares (6,180 acres) of forestland. This has been our epicenter for establishing wildlife corridors and connecting two major nature reserves by forming alliances with local authorities, inhabitants and other organizations..

Our plan is to create two main wildlife corridors, one to the north of Mashpi Reserve, stretching nearly 30 km (19 mi) and connecting to the Cotacachi-Cayapas Reserve, and another one to the south [55 km (34 mi)], linking Mashpi to the Mindo-Nambillo protected forest.

Carbon Footprint

Transforming the carbon footprint through different capturing mechanisms supports conservation programs.

True to their philosophy, the companies that make up Grupo Futuro have committed to transforming their footprint through efforts targeted at reducing the carbon emissions in their operations, as well as offsetting the emissions they are unable to reduce.

Our “Carbon Fund” is a mechanism for offsetting, responsibly and in a transparent manner, all of the carbon emissions emitted yearly by Grupo Futuro companies and the emissions from other organizations.

Our work includes accompanying the companies that make up the Group in the reduction of their emissions, as well as analyzing sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives that can be incorporated into their business operations. Finally, we motivate employees in being aware of their own personal carbon footprint and working towards reducing it.

We help generate a virtuous circle whereby we raise the financial resources necessary to fund our program, invest those resources in conservation, restore ecologically fragile areas and reach conservation agreements.

Sustainable Landscape

Governance, sustainable livelihoods and education set the conditions for humans to live in harmony with nature.

Building sustainable landscapes means forging positive relationships between all the stakeholders in this region known for its extraordinary ecological sensitivity. Through good governance, sustainable livelihoods and quality education, we help local communities live in harmony with nature.

We have joined forces with the local government and other organizations to reinforce systems of good governance in the area. We have aligned our conservation and development strategies with those of the local governing body, Mancomunidad del Chocó Andino, and are operating in collaboration with well respected organizations such as CONDESAN, Fundación Imaymana, Heifer International, Enseña Ecuador, Basque Culinary Center and Kawsay Tika Wasi. We have created sustainable livelihood opportunities in the area so people can choose to remain in the area and have a sustainable and fair income.

Finally, we are working with relevant organizations to improve formal and informal education in the area, to strengthen local capacities and build a culture of peace

Sustainability Culture

Grupo Futuro’s Sustainability Culture is a source of pride and a strategic value.

Fundación Futuro is the organization leading the corporate sustainability efforts of the companies comprising Grupo Futuro.

We generate strategic value for the companies in the holding group, promoting innovative practices and setting the standard for the development of public policy. We aid each company in developing a culture of sustainability in the workplace, reaching their nearly 4,000 employees nationwide.

Different programs and initiatives facilitate the participation and involvement of employees in a model of transformation that fosters sustainability practices and seeks to provide differentiation between the products and services that the companies offer.

At Fundación Futuro we are convinced that climate change is a multiplier and catalyser of threats to life. This situation caused by unsustainable human actions is putting at risk all our acheivements in conservation and human development in recent years. For this reason as a pragmatic response to the climate crisis…

Join us! We want you to be part of this great initiative

Our values

Integrity

Responsibility

Creativity

Passion

Excellence

SUSTAINABILITY

We are honest.

We are honorable and loyal. Since our inception, we have maintained a truthful course, so we can always hold our heads high. Honesty guides our behavior. We honor our word. We comply with the law. We act with absolute rectitude in our businesses. We say the truth and act with sincerity and transparency. We share and live our values every day. We believe in broad individual freedom, subject to the respect for the rights of others. We respect people and nature. We are good friends. We walked together on the path we have laid out. Our alliances are solid and firm.

We show solidarity for those who need our support.

We care for the well-being of people. We are warm, friendly and attentive. We promote fair treatment between our collaborators, allies, customers, communities and the other groups with which we relate. We accept people as unique individuals and value the richness of human diversity. We encourage happiness in the work environment so that everyone can prosper and feel fulfilled. We take responsibility for our actions. We make every effort to never break our promises and never miss our deadlines. We accept our mistakes with humility, and we always take the initiative to find solutions.

We are creative.

We are the sum of various talents: a mosaic of rigorous and analytical professionals; some observers and others curious; others ingenious and inventive. We are entrepreneurs and visionaries. A group of pragmatic dreamers. We believe in the creative power of our ideas when starting new businesses or services, as well as improving existing ones. We are free thinkers. We promote independent opinions, doubts and criticism. We live a holistic philosophy, without clinging to dogmas. We are open to understanding how knowledge evolves and how new trends in thinking benefit us. We learn continuously and listen to new ideas. We are willing to adapt to evolve. We don’t get stuck in the past. We look to the future, one that we can create and mold.

We are passionate.

We love life. We love what we do deeply, and we express our happy spirit intensely. We are cheerful, spontaneous and authentic. We get excited. We dream. We laugh a lot. We are positive. We believe in life as a wonderful adventure. We begin each day and project with enthusiasm. We believe in the future, living in the present with intensity. Everything we do engages all of our energy. We are tireless walkers on the road of life. We work with genuine passion, total enthusiasm, unwavering vitality. We are like disciplined athletes: we share our spirit of dedication, perseverance and tenacity every day.

We are seekers of excellence.

We impose our own high standards in order to achieve the best results. We value quality above all, taking great care in everything we do. We are methodical planners, striving constantly to achieve the objectives we set out. We employ strategic planning as our main tool to envision the future, guide our steps and adapt to circumstances, as many times as necessary. We always seek to balance our achievements with our principles. Excellence is our beacon and inspires our work and our personal lives.

We are sustainable.

We see humans as an integral part of the ecosystem. We contribute to a regenerative economy that allows present and future generations to live a dignified and happy life.

Empowerment through what human beings love most, food

May 18, 2022 | Biodiversity, Connectivity, Sustainability

María Fernanda Barriga, chef and girl power advocate, shares her experiences with us.

A New Species of Glass Frog to Add to Mashpi’s Collection

Mar 16, 2022 | Biodiversity, Connectivity, Diversity

Curiosity, scientific rigor and strong commitment to the Andean Chocó all played a part in describing Hyalinobatrachium mashpi for science — another unique species in our reserve.

The production and consumption of local agroecological products protect the ecosystems of the Andean Chocó

Feb 10, 2022 | Biodiversity, Connectivity, Environment

The agroecological transition promotes sustainable production models and responsible consumption that both improve people’s living conditions and contribute to the integral conservation of the Chocó Andino’s forests.

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FEEDING (OFF) THE EARTH

MashpiLAB is a holistic initiative that leverages the value of the forest in 4 different ways. We exploit its Gastronomic Value by generating new and different products and culinary experiences. We create Economic Value by generating sustainable livelihoods in the local population. We generate Social Value by promoting healthy eating, a steady source of income, education, new cultural paradigms, empowerment and a sense of community. Finally, we build Environmental Value by teaching the local population to farm and harvest sustainably, while respecting the biodiversity of this region.

Meet our Team.

Carolina Proaño-Castro

Executive Director

Carolina Proaño-Castro assumed the leadership of Fundacion Futuro towards the end of 2018 to develop and implement the new sustainability-focused strategy.

Felipe Andrade Dávila

Carbon and Biodiversity Management Coordinator

Felipe Andrade is a biotechnology engineer who has experience in ecology, conservation and project coordination.

Carolina Dávalos

Sustainable Landscape Management Coordinator

Carolina Davalos has significant experience in developing environmentally-friendly productive processes.

Directors:

Roque Sevilla

Board member

Roque Sevilla is a highly accomplished Ecuadorian businessman. He has launched several successful business ventures, leading innovative initiatives on environmental conservation, and has proposed solutions to improve living standards in the city. Based on his ability to simultaneously manage multiple successful initiatives, he is widely known as a “pragmatic dreamer”.

Our board of directors: