Ecuador is the only country which recognises nature’s right to exist and thrive in its constitution. It is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, and Indigenous Peoples have stewarded its lands and waters since time immemorial. However, the communities closest to and most dependent on Ecuador’s precious nature are still fighting to protect it.
Here are three stories told by Indigenous people standing up for Ecuador’s rivers, shared at a recent online event about the work supported by our Freshwater Programme.
Wider Anderson Guaramag Umenda
Wider Anderson Guaramag Umenda belongs to a community in north Ecuador’s Sucumbíos province at the root of the Andes. He is a member of the Cofán Indigenous group and current president of the Sinangoe Community living along the Aguarico River.
