Quijos women’s forest conservation initiatives in Amazonian Ecuador

Surrounded by the ecological richness of Amazonian Ecuador, Quijos women are leading efforts to defend ancestral lands and revitalize traditional forest management practices rooted in their cultural identity. As territorial fragmentation, extractive industries, and patriarchal land regimes threaten their way of life, women from the Quijos Nation have emerged as key figures in resisting environmental degradation through the stewardship of forest gardens known as chagras. These agroforestry systems are not only vital for food sovereignty but also serve as spaces of ecological and cultural continuity, where gendered knowledge is cultivated, practiced, and passed on. Through the initiative of Sacha Awana, an Indigenous research team, women are reclaiming leadership in land governance and forest conservation. Their work emphasizes the importance of collective land titling and the intergenerational transmission of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), particularly in the face of increasing external pressures. By integrating ritual, subsistence, and ecological practices, Quijos women’s gardening reflects a holistic approach to biodiversity management. Their advocacy highlights the need for gender-inclusive land governance and reaffirms that Indigenous women’s knowledge and spiritual connection to the land are critical to sustaining both cultural resilience and ecological health.