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.
Meet the Guardians of the Mashpi Forest
The dictionary definition of a guardian is a person who cares for or guards something, but beyond that strict definition, a guardian could also be a thing or an animal, not just a human: a dog or any other animal that defends or protects.
We connect forests, people, and stories
Have you ever thought about going in one single trek from Mashpi to the North towards the
Cotacachi-Cayapas National Park, or to the Southeast towards the Mindo-Nambillo Reserve?
Biodiversity in the Andean Chocó: Quito’s forests
How many times have you read or heard that Ecuador is a megadiverse country? No matter where we go in the country, we will always be surrounded by an endless number of species swamped in their daily activities to obtain nutrients and energy. Perhaps, it could be hard for us to notice how those species interact with each other, and even more challenging if they are not visible to our eyes (bacteria, small insects, etc).