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Forest Guardians is an initiative of the V Social Foundation launched in 2024 to support long-term rainforest conservation through Indigenous-led community stewardship in the Ecuadorian Amazon. A fixed share of Ventura TRAVEL’s annual travel revenue contributes to the rainforest project Forest Guardians.

The conservation project is implemented in partnership with the Kichwa community Sinchi Warmi in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest. . Its long-term goal is to transfer ownership of 36 hectares of rainforest to the Kichwa community organization Sinchi Warmi as community territory, while complying with environmental protection criteria.

Until the ownership transfer is completed, we are working together over a five-year period to support the protection and strengthening of the existing secondary forest and the more than 200 recorded animal and plant species it hosts. This includes reforestation of degraded areas, regeneration measures in order to improve ecological health and increase biodiversity, while empowering the community for the long-term management of the protected area.

Long-term conservation is only possible if it also provides sustainable livelihoods for the community. The project therefore supports community-based tourism, local products, and educational activities that generate local income while protecting the forest. The aim is to enable the 24 community members to dedicate time and resources to long-term forest stewardship.

Knowledge transfer between generations within the community is also an important part of the project. This is intended to help maintain the community’s connection to nature among future generations and support the long-term practice of forest protection. Through this financing contribution, your trip supports project work for the protection of rainforest in a region where forest areas are under land-use pressure. You can find out more on our project website: www.theforestguardians.org

The impact of the Forest Guardians initiative is measured through territorial governance, ecological recovery, and community continuity. Secure land ownership keeps the forest under community control and protects it from extractive activities such as mining or industrial logging. An Indigenous Guard regularly patrols the territory to help detect and discourage illegal logging and hunting, documenting activities and reinforcing collective responsibility. Ecological progress is supported through a forest enrichment plan that reintroduces native tree species important for wildlife and canopy recovery. Progress is measured through the survival of planted trees, the regeneration of native vegetation, and long-term monitoring of wildlife using camera traps and field surveys, helping the community track the health of the forest and the species it supports. We also track implementation of the community’s Forest Management and Annual Operational Plan (POA), documenting conservation and capacity-building activities. Involving younger members in monitoring and restoration supports that knowledge and stewardship continue across generations, supporting long-term local management of the protected forest area.