QUIPA

Quipa is an organisation that connects Indigenous communities and organisations in the Ecuadorian Amazon to international partners and allies as a means to support and recover Indigenous territories and strengthen conservation-based governance. 

Quipa's work revolves around six approaches:  

• Defence of nature 

• Climate justice 

• Territorial governance 

• Education and organisational strengthening 

• Amplifying frontline narratives  

• Infrastructure and economies for sovereignty  

To achieve these, Quipa focuses on implementing and strengthening the legal foundations necessary for Indigenous communities to self-govern their territories, so they can conduct conservation strategies with autonomy and better protect the ecosystems around them. 

Quipa's partner, Yuturi Warmi, Ecuador's first Indigenous guard led by Kichwa women. Image: © Quipa

Notably, in response to the huge threat mining poses for nature and Indigenous territories, Quipa supports local communities to implement legal governance and their capacity to organise against extractive developments. 

For instance, Quipa works with coalitions of Kichwa communities to strengthen land titling and security to oppose potential mining projects, and advocates for the removal of existing mining licenses to safeguard traditional territories, to reduce the pollution of springs and waterways supporting the region's rich freshwater biodiversity. 

Another key aim of the team's work is to uphold Indigenous leadership, elevating organisations and nations on a global platform. 

In the lead up to COP30, Quipa worked with Indigenous nations and organisations to organise and connect Indigenous Peoples and movements to travel to COP30  from Quito to Belém on the Yaku Mama Flotilla.  

Through these actions, Quipa continues to strengthen connections amongst Indigenous Peoples and organisations globally, and highlights the urgent threats faced by local communities globally due to climate change and the inaction of governments.  

With mounting pressures and challenges on the environmental sector in Ecuador, Quipa continues to grow in its work and importance by increasing internal capacity, supporting additional communities, and working directly with regional and global networks in their struggle for self-governance and territorial rights.  

Synchronicity Earth supports QUIPA as a part of the Freshwater Programme.