Reforestation
Restoring native Polylepis forests in the high Andes
Why support Polylepis forests?
The Andes mountains are home to one of the most important habitats in the world in terms of the biodiversity and people it supports – Polylepis forests. Polylepis trees can grow at altitudes of up to 5,000m above sea level, meaning they often form the treeline just below Andean glaciers.
Unfortunately, Polylepis forests in the Andes have been threatened for some time now by deforestation. Indigenous people who live close to the remaining forests are working with local tree-planting organisations to protect the remaining native forests and restore areas that have been deforested, planting a range of native species, including Polylepis.
The tree planting projects we will be supporting through GFG are part of an initiative spanning 5 countries in South America (Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina) called Acción Andina.
Ecologi has already funded the planting of over 450,000 trees over the last 2 years, and this year we will be funding the planting of another 200,000 trees in the Andes mountains. These trees will be planted across 22 different projects: 5 in Argentina, 2 in Bolivia, 1 in Chile, 5 in Ecuador, and 9 in Peru.
On average, between 65 and 90% of the trees planted will be locally prevalent species of Polylepis, such as Polylepis australis and Polylepis tomentella in Argentina, or Polylepis pauta and Polylepis incana in Peru. The remaining trees will be made up of other native species, such as Alnus acuminata, Schinus molle, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Acacia visco, Tipuana Tipu, Erythrina falcata, and Buddleja coriácea in Bolivia.
Planting takes place in Acción Andina during the high Andean rainy season, mostly from October through March or April. Local Acción Andina partners plant only native species at strategically chosen sites based on proximity to existing high Andean forests, land management plans made with governing authorities and local communities.
Explore the sites we’re supporting in Argentina on Restor: Córdoba, Norte de Jujuy, and Sur de Jujuy.
Explore the sites we’re supporting in Bolivia on Restor: Norte de Tunari, and Sur de Tunari.
Explore the sites that we’re supporting in Ecuador on Restor: Chimborazo, Imbabura, Noroccidente de Pichincha, Nororiente de Pichincha, Tungurahua 1, and Tungurahua 2.
Explore the sites we’re supporting in Peru on Restor: Aquia, Ccorca, Challabamba, Nor Yauyos Cochas, Q’eros, and Vilcanota.
2025
Project Locations in 2025:
● Argentina - Árbol y Vida Puna & Yala Projects
● Argentina - Fundación Actividades Biosféricas Córdoba Project
● Ecuador - Aves y Conservación Imbabura & Yanahurco Projects
● Peru - Conservación Amazónica Challabamba Project
● Peru - ECOAN Vilcanota Project
This season we’re contributing towards the growing, planting and monitoring of 97,697 trees.
Acción Andina projects are also implementing water resource management activities this year (2025).
One example: Tungurahua, Ecuador: Fundación Incana delivered a significant upgrade to the drinking water system in the Cunugyacu community by providing 500 pressure tubes for drinking water systems. There, 50 community members participated in a massive minga (collective work day) to excavate ditches, remove old piping, and successfully install the new system. This collaboration resulted in improved and higher-quality water flow, eliminating frequent interruptions to enhance the daily lives of residents directly.
Project timeline
30 Dec 2025
Impact in 2025:
2.3 million New native trees planted during this season
35 Local conservation leaders are receiving salary support and training
160 Local and Indigenous communities are actively participating
102 Nurseries producing native species
30 Aug 2025
In August 2025, the project teams engaged the entire local school (100% participation from 124 students) in a comprehensive environmental education campaign and art contest.
10 Dec 2024
In December 2024, ECOAN’s Aquia project in Peru made Acción Andina history by reforesting over 150,000 native trees in a single day.
1 Apr 2024
Some of the Ecologi team were invited to join the Acción Andina team in Peru to see the work they're doing for themselves. An excellent week in the Andes showed our team how impactful this project is for local communities and nature.
How do we rate this project?
This is an excellent initiative, which has won an Earthshot Prize and been named a UN World Restoration Flagship proving it is at the cutting edge of landscape restoration globally.
The income communities receive from this initiative is spent as they see fit, meaning it goes towards projects that really benefit the entire community, helping to alleviate poverty.
Several communities have requested literacy classes, especially for women in their communities so that they are better equipped to contribute to decision-making processes.
Everyone is treated equally throughout this initiative. Women tend to be given the money for the community as experience has shown that women tend to spend it more effectively for the entire community.
Native forests are vital for protecting the water security of millions of people, and the project helps to ensure access to water and sanitation.
Restoring native Polylepis forests helps to buffer the local climate from the impacts of climate change. The trees and the healthy soils associated with the trees are an important carbon store, playing a crucial role in the global fight against climate change.
Restoring Andean Forests in Peru aligns with sustainably managing forests and halting biodiversity loss.
The project helps revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development and in Nor Yauyos Cochas, Peru, ECOAN developed a training program with the help of the government.
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Fund this project
This project is supported in our Forests & Landscapes fund in the impact shop.
Impact partner
Global Forest Generation (GFG) unites local leaders and their communities across national borders to bring lost and degraded forest ecosystems back to life.
Powered by Global Forest Generation, Acción Andina is scaling up a time-tested community reforestation model.
This 20 year model, developed and implemented by Peruvian conservation non- profit, ECOAN (Asociacion Ecosistemas Andinos), has resulted in the planting of over 3 million native trees, including 1.3 million Polylepis. It is a cost-effective solution for climate resilience.