Indigenous Stewardship of the Peguche Protected Forest
The protected forest encompassing Cascada de Peguche spans 40 hectares of complex high-altitude terrain. Unlike many state-run parks in South America, this specific ecological zone is not managed by a distant national park service or a centralized government entity. Instead, it is directly stewarded by the Fakcha Llaqta indigenous community. This hyper-local governance model ensures that conservation efforts remain tightly bound to the cultural survival and ancestral land rights of the Kichwa people. For the community, maintaining the ecological health of the woodland is not merely a bureaucratic task; it is a fundamental requirement for their continued agricultural and spiritual practices.
The foundation of this modern community-led environmental management framework dates back to a pivotal 2001 initiative. During that year, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme awarded $26,976 to the Fakcha Llaqta community under Project ECU/01/018. This critical funding allowed local leaders to build the initial sustainable infrastructure, map the forest perimeters, and launch comprehensive reforestation training programs. Today, the results of that foundational grant are visible in the maintained pathways and the ongoing, self-funded ecological monitoring systems.
Visitors planning their arrival through our Guide to Ecuador should understand that every voluntary donation and on-site purchase directly funds these ongoing indigenous operations. The stewardship model here proves that localized control yields superior environmental outcomes, as the caretakers live directly downstream from the resources they protect. Understanding this dynamic is crucial before exploring the broader Kichwa Culture & The Inti Raymi Festival, as the spiritual reverence for the land directly informs their pragmatic conservation strategies.
“Conservation in Fakcha Llaqta is not a separate municipal department; it is an active, daily responsibility woven directly into the survival of our local agriculture and our ancestral water rights.”
Community Action: Mingas & The Local Economy
The operational backbone of the forest’s maintenance is the traditional indigenous concept of mingas. These are mandatory, collective community workdays where hundreds of residents mobilize to execute large-scale labor without relying on outside municipal resources. During a standard minga, community members clear fallen debris from the Trail Map & Hiking Guide routes, repair volcanic stone steps, and reinforce the riverbanks against seasonal erosion. This collective labor system drastically reduces the financial overhead required to keep the 40-hectare woodland safe and accessible for international visitors.
Beyond trail maintenance, these communal efforts focus heavily on regulating the human footprint. Because thousands of travelers visit the site annually, the physical impact on the soil and local flora is immense. Mingas are frequently organized specifically to aerate compacted soil along the primary walking routes and to reconstruct natural barriers that prevent tourists from wandering into sensitive ecological rehabilitation zones.
To prevent over-foraging within the protected forest boundaries, the Fakcha Llakta community relies on family agroecological homegardens known as chacras. These localized agricultural plots supply the village with food and vital medicinal plants, effectively reducing the ecological pressure on the wild forest. Botanical researchers have cataloged 85 useful botanical species within the Bosque Protector, categorized into 12 use types. Notably, 39 percent of these species are actively utilized for traditional Andean medicine.
Local businesses integrate deeply with these sustainable practices. Hostal Aya Huma, situated nearby on Los Corazas street by the old railway, operates as a central hub for sustainable eco-tourism. They run traditional Temazcal rituals and promote strict zero-trace hiking protocols. Travelers looking to experience this integration firsthand can book a private ecological day trip to the falls and Cuicocha lake, which frequently highlights these community-driven economic models and stops at local workshops and weavers.
September World Tourism Day Annual Clean-Up
While monthly mingas handle routine maintenance, the community orchestrates a massive, synchronized conservation event every September to align with World Tourism Day. This specific initiative operates in direct partnership with the Otavalo Tourism Board (Alcaldía Ciudadana de Otavalo) to execute coordinated clean-ups of the forest floor and the Jatun Yacu riverbanks. The timing is highly strategic. September marks a transition period following the heavy international tourist influx of the northern hemisphere’s summer vacation months, making it the critical window to remediate the landscape before the rainy season accelerates soil runoff.
During this event, municipal waste management teams provide logistical support to haul away non-biodegradable debris collected by the Fakcha Llaqta community. The operation targets micro-plastics blown into the dense underbrush and legacy agricultural waste that occasionally washes down from higher elevations. Travelers building out a 7-Day Imbabura Itinerary during September can often witness, or respectfully inquire about participating in, these large-scale environmental resets. Supporting the local economy during this specific month provides the capital necessary to feed the hundreds of volunteers executing the heavy labor.
Annual Conservation Events & Ways to Support
| Conservation Event | Timing & Frequency | Environmental Focus | Visitor Interaction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine Community Mingas | Monthly (Variable dates) | Trail repair, soil aeration, and reinforcement of volcanic stone paths. | Observe respectfully from main trails. Follow all posted Visitor Rules & Guidelines to avoid interfering with heavy labor. |
| World Tourism Day Clean-Up | Annually (Late September) | Deep waste removal, riverbank clearing, and macro-plastic extraction alongside municipal partners. | Direct support through local commerce. Some eco-lodges coordinate volunteer opportunities for long-term guests. |
| Inti Raymi Armay Tuta | Annually (Exactly at midnight, June 22) | Watershed protection during mass ritual bathing. Strict prohibition of chemical soaps and shampoos. | Participants must use traditional, biodegradable purifying elements like nettles (ortiga). No chemical pollutants allowed. |
| Reforestation Drives | Start of the Rainy Season (October – November) | Extraction of invasive saplings and planting of native Alnus acuminata to stabilize eroded slopes. | Financial support via entrance fees detailed on our Tickets & Tours page funds the purchase of native saplings. |
Analyzing the Woodland: Preserving Local Biodiversity
To the untrained eye, the towering forest canopy surrounding the waterfall appears to be a pristine, untouched wilderness. The reality is far more complicated. The 40-acre woodland is globally recognized for its massive eucalyptus trees, yet Eucalyptus globulus (Blue Gum) is an aggressively invasive species in the Andes. Introduced over a century ago for rapid timber production, these trees consume massive amounts of groundwater. Their high transpiration rates artificially lower the local water table and suppress the growth of native underbrush. Compounding the issue is the presence of Rubus ellipticus (Yellow Himalayan raspberry), another invasive species that chokes out endemic flora along the forest floor.
The hydrology of the area requires precise management. The waterfall is fed directly by the Jatun Yacu River, which serves as the primary outflow of Lake San Pablo. According to monitoring data often reviewed by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition, the river’s flow is highly seasonal. During the dry season, the cascade’s volume drops to approximately 0.62 cubic meters per second. In the peak of the rainy season, the flow surges to around 1.02 cubic meters per second. This natural fluctuation is currently exacerbated by legacy infrastructure pollution. Since 1975, unlined irrigation channels built by the former Ecuadorian Institute for Water Resources (INERHI) have diverted water directly from the top of the falls. These outdated channels increase soil erosion along the upper ridges and visibly diminish the natural power of the cascade.
To combat these compounding environmental threats, the Fakcha Llaqta have initiated aggressive native reforestation protocols. Current ecological restoration efforts focus heavily on replacing the invasive eucalyptus with Alnus acuminata, an Andean alder locally known as “aliso.” This specific native tree possesses an extensive lateral root system perfectly calibrated to stabilize the steep, eroded volcanic soils surrounding the waterfall. Alongside the Andean alder, community planting programs target Cedrela montana (Mountain cedar), Juglans neotropica (Black walnut), and the high-altitude Polylepis (Yagual) to restore the authentic Andean canopy.
These botanical shifts are critical for the survival of highly specialized local fauna. The transition back to native flowering trees directly supports the Long-tailed Sylph hummingbird (Lesbia victoriae aequatorialis), a species heavily reliant on specific nectar sources unavailable in eucalyptus groves. The thickening of native underbrush also provides crucial cover for the native opossum (raposa), allowing wildlife to navigate the 40-acre perimeter safely. For travelers interested in witnessing this shifting ecosystem, booking a guided Otavalo cultural tour often provides access to expert local guides who can identify the specific reforestation zones and point out the returning endemic birdlife. Understanding these ecological stakes is vital before heading out to explore Exploring Ecuador: Nearby Attractions, as the environmental challenges faced here are mirrored across the entire Imbabura province.
Finally, the most critical intersection of culture and conservation occurs annually during the Inti Raymi Armay Tuta. At exactly midnight on June 22, thousands gather for ritual purification bathing in the falls. To prevent catastrophic chemical runoff into the Jatun Yacu River, strict environmental guidelines are enforced. The use of commercial soaps and shampoos is entirely prohibited. Participants are required to use traditional, biodegradable purifying elements, most notably stinging nettles (ortiga). This fusion of ancient spiritual practice and strict ecological regulation perfectly encapsulates the Fakcha Llaqta approach: the land is sacred, and its preservation is non-negotiable. Travelers utilizing our How to get to Cascada de Peguche guide during late June should prepare for these stringent rules, which are essential for protecting the watershed.
Protected Forest Zones and Clean-up Areas
Understanding the layout of the protected area helps visitors grasp the sheer scale of the community’s conservation efforts. The map below outlines the 40-hectare woodland, highlighting the primary zones targeted during the September clean-ups, the specific slopes currently undergoing Alnus acuminata reforestation, and the upper trail sections affected by the 1975 INERHI irrigation channels.