WE ARE FUNDACION FUTURO
We care for life in all of its forms
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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.
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
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
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.
Six Things You Can Do to Mitigate Climate Change
One of the best lessons we have learned working in conservation and environmental education, is that the perspective with which we intake information can affect our ability to transform that into action. In this field, just like in day-to-day life, if we remain attached to fear and uncertainty, we are more likely to ignore the issue and keep ourselves detached from it.
Climate change
Two words that have developed a deep and paralyzing confusion, that eventually leads us to inaction. This increasing anxiety when learning about the effects of climate change, is also called eco-anxiety, and all of us, even those who work in conservation suffer from it. We would like to help out with this.
Yunguilla, a sustainable community model
We traveled to Yunguilla with the members of the Mashpi community to learn about their sustainable way of life and the lessons learned along the journey of this national and international award-winning community. Yunguilla, located in a valley on the outskirts of...
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.
Our board of directors:
- Eduardo Izurieta
- Ana María Sevilla
- Martha Tufiño
- Paulina Burbano de Lara
- Juan Fernando Navarro
- Francisco Navarro
- Miguel Sevilla
- Michelle Arévalo-Carpenter
- Luis Fernando Romero
Roque Sevilla
President of the Board of Directors of Fundacion Futuro
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.”
The operation of Fundacion Futuro is mainly supported by the contribution of the Grupo Futuro companies:
Contact us
Av. De Las Palmeras N45-74 y de las Orquídeas
Operación en territorio
(+593) (2) 298-8400