The “We are all Mashpi” event brought the families from the community together to spend time having fun.
On Sunday, March 3, Fundacion Futuro and the community of San Jose de Mashpi held an event called “We are all Mashpi,” a potluck arranged for the inhabitants living in the area to get to know each other better and celebrate their diversity. The majority of area inhabitants populated the sector more than 40 years ago. They came from different provinces, such as Esmeraldas, Imbabura, Loja, and Manabi, and from other countries such as Costa Rica, Italy and France.

Photograph: Inhabitants of San Jose de Mashpi preparing food for the potluck.
Together, as a community, they shared food, swapped stories, and strengthened their friendships. This was one of the first activities organized under the sustainable development and conservation programs that Fundacion Futuro is implementing around Mashpi to build a sustainable and inclusive landscape.
Participants were given instructions to bring a typical dish from their place of origin. An Ecuadorian – Costa Rican family that has a cacao plantation prepared a vegan chocolate mousse with products grown in Mashpi through sustainable agricultural practices. Other families prepared tilapia with fried plantain and palm-heart ceviche.


Photograph: Vegan cholocate mousse (Left) and Tilapia with fried plantain (Right), dishes prepared by community members.
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...
Pachijal: Our team’s setting for biodiversity and strengthening
Today on Earth Day, we share one of the most recent activities of the foundation focused on building a culture of sustainability. The Andean Chocó of Pichincha, almost an hour from Quito, is an imposing system of protective forests, declared by the UNESCO as one of...
Adrián Guadalupe: Being a volunteer in San José de Mashpi was a gift
2019 began with a great gift for Adrián Guadalupe. Participating in Fundación Futuro's first corporate volunteering was an extraordinary experience for Metropolitan Touring’s Webmaster. "Sharing with the people of the community was unforgettable", says Adrián, a...
How did Fundación Futuro manage to capture Metropolitan Touring’s carbon footprint?
Today, on World Earth Day, get to know how one of the leading tourism companies in Ecuador contributes along with us to take care of the planet through its Carbon Neutral strategy. Climate change is a ‘threat multiplier’ and exacerbates many of the already existing...
Community education has become a key piece for the conservation of the Andean Chocó of Pichincha
Learn how we build a sustainable and inclusive landscape in the Andean Chocó of Pichincha with the help of Enseña Ecuador.Classes began in the communities of Mashpi, Pachijal and Guayabillas located in the Andean Chocó region of Pichincha. Despite this important area...
MashpiLAB Research, Innovation and Sustainable Development
MashpiLAB has been launched: An investigation and development lab oriented towards exploring the culinary potential of the Andean Chocó region. The purpose is to generate knowledge, value and to highlight the native forest species and their diverse flavors. Get to...
Fundación Futuro presented its new vision to the Futuro Group family
Fundación Futuro convoked its allies and main donors to live an inspirational moment when presenting the new focus of its strategic vision. Due to its natural setting, the auditorium of the Quito Botanical Garden was the perfect meeting place to welcome the Futuro...
Mashpi expands toward the future
Fundacion Futuro purchased nearly 1,300 hectares of forest to expand the Mashpi Reserve, an important objective for protecting wildlife. As part of its initiative to conserve biodiversity, the private Mashpi reserve is expanding into the future. Fundacion Futuro...
Trails of Mashpi: The beginnings of a great adventure
My name is Felipe Andrade, Coordinator of Carbon and Biodiversity Management of Fundacion Futuro. I will take a tour around Mashpi and tell readers about my time in the Andean Choco region. My name is Felipe Andrade, an engineer in biotechnology. I have a lot of...