Project Report
| Feb 8, 2024
lot going on
By Douglas McMeekin | Executive Director
Here we are in the beginning of a new year, 2024 and at Yachana it is an exciting time. We have a bunch of different projects we are working on that are in different stages of development. Many of these projects would be available for retired or older people. We are working with the university IKAIM located in our provincial capital of Tena. Yachana will be their Bio Campus. We are remodeling a building we have for it to be a medical clinic that will be managed and equipped by the Ministry of Health. We are doing a lot of research and work with our little Melipona bees, a native stingless bee. Another perfect project for older people with patience. And we are starting to work with macro photography which is making the identification of these tiny insects possible. With this photography technique we can take a little insect that is three millimeters long (more or less 3/32 of an inch, small) and blow it up to facilitate identification. These, and many more things we are working on, show how the institution is growing in many different areas. Your support is vitally important to us, we need it more than ever right now. Thanks, keep following us, “and remember, I love you” Douglas
Oct 18, 2023
Yachana Rainforest
By Douglas McMeekin | Executive Director, Yachana Foundation
On August 20, 2023, Ecuadorians went go to the polls and voted on a referendum to force the government to not continue oil exploration in the Yasuni National Park, a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve. The Yasuni has the highest biodiversity in the WORD! The Referendum passed with a strong majority in favor of not continuing oil exploration in the park. There are a lot of big money organizations/corporations who are against this vote and are going to try to turn it around. So now we will just have to wait, but it is encouraging that most of the people were on the side of conservation. Meanwhile, Yachana has been awarded a contract from UNESCO to do a preliminary study in preparation of a management plan for the Sumaco Man and Biosphere Reserve. Our 1,000 hectares of rainforest is within this reserve. Conservation is a main pillar within our organization. Thanks for your support, it is vitally important to us, so please keep helping as much as you can. Thanks, and remember, I love you Douglas
Jun 26, 2023
Growth in training
By Douglas McMeekin | Executive Director
Education and training are hallmarks of the work of the Yachana Foundation. This includes everything from working with children to retired people. Our operation is spread over 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) so we need various people working in the many different activities. An interesting idea has been proposed to us that we are accepting for Yachana to be the home of the association of park guards of Ecuador. This association of park guards has around 300 members; and growing. We have already had our first meeting here and are planning the next ones. Different training sessions will concentrate on different subjects so the guards can chose which courses they want to take. The guards are the ones who make your experience when visiting a park enjoyable. They have to be multifaceted, able to take care of virtually any problem since, by the very nature of their work, they are in remote areas where many services are not available. Besides dealing with the public, which is tourism, they also need to know about plumbing, welding, carpentry, trail maintenance, etc. Since Yachana is within the Sumaco Man and Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO designation, and we have extensive workshops, 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of rainforest and a major tourism program. We will be able to provide training in all of these fields. Your continued support is what allows us to develop these kinds of programs which are so vital for conservation and all age groups visiting parks. Thank you. Love, Douglas