Since 1994, we've acquired over 4,300 acres (1,700 hectares) of primary and secondary rainforest in the vicinity of Yachana Lodge and we continue to purchase land and actively protect and manage this natural resource. The Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment declared all of Yachana's land a Protected Forest in January 2002. The Protected Forest is within the Buffer Zone around Gran Sumaco National Park, a designated UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve.
Our most recent and important innovation was the establishment of The Yachana Technical High School, a unique educational program which awards its students a high school diploma in Eco-tourism and Sustainable Development. It's the only school in Ecuador to offer such a degree. The High School was created by the Yachana Foundation in 2005 to provide high quality, relevant education to local students (80% of whom are indigenous). In addition to receiving top-notch instruction from professional educators, students at Yachana have the opportunity to participate in professional internships at the Lodge which enables them to acquire real-world skills in eco-tourism and hotel management. This is the only high school in Ecuador that is part of a hotel, which means that not only do the students have a vested interest in their internships but they now have the means to guarantee their school has the resources to provide a quality education for them and future generations. They also work in sustainable agriculture, conservation and micro-enterprise development.
At present Yachana High School has 130 students representing four Amazon ethnic groups from four provinces. Classes run year-round in 28-day on/28-day off sessions; half of the student body attends school while the other half is at home and then they trade places. This schedule allows the students to help out on their families' farms and to put into practice techniques learned during the previous session. It's important to understand that the students' family's income is about $300 per year, so their continued participation in the family unit is absolutely vital!
The Yachana Foundation's work for the past 16 years, and its recent decision to unify its educational, eco-tourism and chocolate operations, is based on the premise that the future of the rainforest is inextricably linked to the well-being of its inhabitants; only those who call the rainforest their home can ensure its survival.
