NCI deeply respects the traditions and customs of local indigenous and mestizo communities, and recognizes that the richness of their culture deserves to be protected. When formulating specific strategies for cultural preservation, NCI studies how an indigenous community lives and works in their environment, so as to best assist them in continuing their way of life.
We work with ancestral ethnic groups like the Shuar people of the Amazon, and with the local communities of the Tumbesian Dry Forests, known as the "Chazo Lojano." We also work with local farming communities throughout the Andes, whose cultures combine ancient Inca and Palta traditions, as well as the more modern customs.
As a strategy to preserve these cultures, NCI promotes the conservation of traditional production systems, and supports the initiatives of farmers and indigenous communities to use and improve native plant resources, especially fruits such as the toronche, mora achira, and palo santo.
