2024

ANNUAL REPORT

2024

ANNUAL REPORT

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Mission

Letter from Our Founders

Work in the Amazon

Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance

A Year of Inquiry

Programs and Events

Financials

Gratitude

 

Our Mission

To partner with Indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest to preserve their lands and culture and, using insights gained from that work, to educate and inspire individuals everywhere to bring forth a thriving, just and sustainable world.

Dear Friends,

As we reflect on 2024, we are filled with deep gratitude and appreciation for each one of you who has journeyed alongside us this year.

Our work continued to provide partnership and support to our Indigenous partners who are leading innovative solutions for a sustainable and thriving Amazon rainforest. We expanded all our initiatives, from the inspiring work of the Ikiama Nukuri program—strengthening maternal health and uplifting Indigenous women—to the many groundbreaking achievements of our Indigenous partners in defending and regenerating the Amazon rainforest.

2024 was also a year of deep inquiry—inquiry into how to bridge the gap between the magnitude of the “meta-crisis” facing humanity and what is being done to address it, and how we might build “the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.”

Clearly, this is a profound question. As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, we are inspired by the possibilities that lie before us to address this question together. We are deeply grateful for your partnership in this sacred work and invite you to continue your journey with us.

With love and gratitude,
Bill and Lynne Twist
Co-founders of Pachamama Alliance

Annual Report 2024 v11

Stewards of the Amazon

Through a 28-year partnership with Fundación Pachamama, our sister organization in Ecuador, we collaborate with Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon to protect and restore one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth.

By conserving ancestral lands, promoting sustainable economies, and advocating for the rights of nature and people, we honor the Amazon’s legacy as a global lifeline and a wellspring of cultural and ecological wisdom.

“All human beings need the Amazon, and the commitment must be collective. Indigenous peoples alone will not solve this problem. We will succeed by joining forces and working together.”

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INDIGENOUS LEADER, ACHUAR NATION Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichkai

Key Initiatives 

BIOECONOMY & INNOVATION

Nurture innovative Indigenous enterprises to transform nature’s resources into sustainable livelihoods and thriving economies.

LEARN MORE

 

CLIMATE FINANCE & BIODIVERSITY

Invest in the Amazon’s future through biocultural credits and innovative funding for lasting ecological protection.

ECOTOURISM & HUMAN FOOTPRINT

Pioneer community-led tourism that fosters environmental stewardship, supports sustainable livelihoods, and conserves biodiversity.

 

HUMAN RIGHTS & RIGHTS OF NATURE

Advocate for justice and environmental protection through Indigenous-led campaigns to defend the rights of people and nature.

 

FORESTS & TERRITORIES

Restore forests to foster environmental stability, safeguard food sources, and preserve Indigenous cultures and ecosystems.

 

MATERNAL HEALTH & MIDWIFERY

Blend traditional ancestral wisdom with modern care to support Indigenous women and improve maternal and infant health.


Bioeconomy & Indigenous Innovation

Fundación Pachamama supports Indigenous communities in cultivating a regenerative bioeconomy rooted in ancestral wisdom and modern innovation. These initiatives uplift local families, protect forest ecosystems, and offer a model for sustainable growth worldwide.

Our Approach:

  • Protect natural resources
  • Support local communities
  • Foster sustainable livelihoods
  • Create a blueprint for global sustainability

Our Impact:

  • Supported 54 bioenterprises across four Amazonian regions
  • Developed 41 product prototypes, with 29 now being sold or distributed to consumers and buyers

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GLOBAL RECOGNITION

Innovating with Integrity: Forest Economies in Action

Rooted in respect for both nature and culture, these initiatives prioritize zero deforestation, uphold environmental integrity, and create economic opportunities for Indigenous families while safeguarding their ancestral lands.


Our forest economies work received international recognition at COP16 in Cali, Colombia, and the Salon du Chocolat in Paris. A pioneering partnership with Ikiam University launched the region’s first Bioeconomy Diploma, cultivating the next generation of Indigenous bioeconomy leaders.

"Our biggest reward is the light in the eyes and smile on the faces of the farmers and entrepreneurs we support. It strengthens our hope of making a thriving bioeconomy in the Amazon a reality."

Ignacio Araya
BIOECONOMY CONSULTANT Ignacio Araya

Sustainable Livelihoods, Locally Grown

1,057

vanilla flowers pollinated and 46 kg of vanilla
harvested at Casa Vainilla.

61

students trained at the Vanilla School, preserving traditional knowledge.

100

organic banana and cassava farms established, promoting sustainability.

737

chakras (family gardens) sustaining more than 320 people; 50% women.

66

Waorani families processed 31,000 kg of morete, earning $7,047.



Climate Finance & Biodiversity

Fundación Pachamama and Indigenous communities are redefining climate finance by developing models that go beyond carbon credits—ensuring conservation efforts protect ecosystems, preserve cultural heritage, and uphold Indigenous governance.

 

Advancing Global and Local Advocacy

ADVANCING GLOBAL AND LOCAL ADVOCACY
POLICY IMPACT

Evaluated Ecuador’s Environmental Code reforms to strengthen environmental protections.

 

GLOBAL ADVOCACY

Partnered with GFLAC to advance climate finance transparency and represented the Amazon at COP16.

 

CAPACITY BUILDING

Trained Indigenous leaders on climate finance and biodiversity through Peoples Forests Partnership workshops.

INNOVATIVE FUNDING

Advanced the Amazon Bioregional Financial Facility to align funding with Indigenous-led conservation efforts.

CERTIFICATION

Achieved Ecuador Zero Carbon Certification and contributed to REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) 2025 efforts.

 

RESEARCH & STRATEGY

Published findings on biodiversity finance and developed a strategic roadmap for long-term impact.

 

BIOCULTURAL CREDITING

Rethinking Conservation

Our Biocultural Crediting Pilot offers an innovative alternative to traditional carbon offsets—valuing Indigenous communities’ role in biodiversity and providing financial incentives for their conservation efforts.

The model goes beyond CO2 reduction, recognizing the vital link between forests, culture, and Indigenous sovereignty—and benefiting both nature and communities.
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PROOF OF PROGRESS

2024 Impact

  • 10,000 hectares safeguarded by the Achuar.
  • Transparent credit tracking via blockchain, ensuring accountability.
  • $43,500 raised from credit sales so far, directly supporting Indigenous-led conservation.
  • Potential to expand across 30 million hectares in the Sacred Headwaters.

 


Ecotourism & Human Footprint

Indigenous-owned ecotourism projects in the Amazon encourage forest protection, cultural preservation, and support local economies, with revenue funding education, healthcare,
and environmental stewardship.
 
Fundación Pachamama and Pachamama Alliance both directly support several local tourism projects in Ecuador’s Amazon region.
 

 

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INNOVATION IN SUSTAINABILITY

Kapawi Ecolodge (in Achuar territory)

  • Solar Canoe: Reduced carbon emissions and operational costs; recognized with the National Energy Globe Award.
  • Clean Water Access: Piloted Israeli NUF technology (natural ultrafiltration) to provide safe drinking water in remote areas.
  • Global Recognition: Named one of the top five outstanding environmental destinations by the United Nations.
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COMMUNITY-LED CONSERVATION

Naku Center (in Sapara territory)

  • Cultural Preservation: Trained 20 students in Sapara practices, preserving ancestral knowledge.
  • Community Resilience: Built a tourism infrastructure managed and operated by Indigenous communities.
  • Sustainable Livelihoods: Created eco-friendly income streams to replace extractive industries such as mining, oil, and logging, which deplete forest ecosystems.

 


Human Rights & Rights of Nature

We’re redefining climate and justice by ensuring legal recognition for the rights of people and nature, challenging the traditional notion of human dominance over Nature.
 
Through strategic advocacy, we are transforming the way ecosystems and communities are valued, ensuring they are recognized as rights-bearing entities.

 

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JUSTICE FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET
  • Legal Wins: Secured landmark victories for the rights of nature globally, resulting in enforceable protections for threatened bioregions and the communities that depend on them.
  • Extractive Industries: Brought cases to the International Labor Organization that ruled Ecuador violated Indigenous consultation rights in proposed large-scale mining projects affecting the Shuar Arutam People.
  • Leadership Initiatives: Awarded 33 scholarships in environmental law to Indigenous leaders, trained over 160 climate justice advocates, and launched the Defense Stories series to spotlight their conservation efforts.
  • Advocacy & Policy: Supported the Indigenous coalition CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador), and their proposal for a law that guarantees that Indigenous communities are consulted and give prior consent for any development in their territories.
  • Global Alliances: Promoted the Escazú Agreement, safeguarding environmental defenders and embedding rights of nature into international frameworks.

 

 

FORESTS & TERRITORIES

Guardians of the Rainforest

Indigenous communities are the frontline protectors of the Amazon rainforest, preserving biodiversity and ancestral ways of life.
 
Through innovative governance and reforestation, they’re investing in the future of the planet. 

 

 

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IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
  • Land Protection: Continued to safeguard approximately 9.8 million acres through partnerships with CONFENIAE (Confederation of the Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon) and COICA (Coordinating Body of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin)— strengthening Indigenous land rights.
  • Conservation Agreements: Preserved almost 99,000 acres of rainforest with Achuar communities (set to double to nearly 200,000 acres in 2025).
  • Tech-Enabled Monitoring: Trained 16 community members in GIS and drone technology to detect threats in real time.
  • Sustainable Futures: Helped 10+ Indigenous communities develop resource management strategies rooted in traditional knowledge.
  • Policy Impact: Collaborated with local governments to integrate Indigenous-led conservation into territorial policies.

"What we are doing now to preserve nature isn't enough. We should plant the forests we destroyed and give back what we took from the world."

omar tello
COORDINATOR OF REFORESTING EDIBLE FORESTS Omar Tello

"What we are doing now to preserve nature isn't enough. We should plant the forests we destroyed and give back what we took from the world."

OMAR TELLO
Coordinator of Reforesting Edible Forests

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PLANTING THE FUTURE
In 2024, our Reforesting Edible Forests initiative merged Indigenous agroforestry wisdom with ecological restoration. This powerful combination revitalized degraded lands, improved food security, and strengthened the self-sufficiency of communities across the Ecuadorian Amazon. 

  • Planted 173,026 trees (105 native Amazonian species, 20% endangered).
  • Achieved a 91% survival rate for newly planted trees.
  • Reforested 2,632 acres across Pastaza and Morona Santiago provinces.
  • Directly benefited 262 individuals (132 women, 130 men) across 47 communities.
  • Distributed 243 toolkits and 1,400+ liters of bio-fertilizer.
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IKIAMA NUKURI

Maternal Health and Ancestral Midwifery

For over a decade, Ikiama Nukuri (“Women as Guardians of the Forest”) has worked alongside Achuar and Shuar midwives to improve maternal and infant health—blending ancestral knowledge with modern healthcare. 
 
This collaboration has led to safer births, stronger newborn outcomes, and greater access to care in remote Indigenous communities. 
 
As Ikiama Nukuri has grown, so has its impact, offering a glimpse into how far-reaching—and deeply human—this work has become.
 
By uplifting Indigenous women as healthcare leaders, Ikiama Nukuri is building collective resilience and amplifying voices for maternal well-being—one birth, one community, and one generation at a time.

 

 

 

 

IKIAMA NUKURI

Maternal Health and Ancestral Midwifery

For over a decade, Ikiama Nukuri (“Women as Guardians of the Forest”) has worked alongside Achuar and Shuar midwives to improve maternal and infant health—blending ancestral knowledge with modern healthcare. 
 
This collaboration has led to safer births, stronger newborn outcomes, and greater access to care in remote Indigenous communities. 
 
As Ikiama Nukuri has grown, so has its impact, offering a glimpse into how far-reaching—and deeply human—this work has become.
 
By uplifting Indigenous women as healthcare leaders, Ikiama Nukuri is building collective resilience and amplifying voices for maternal well-being—one birth, one community, and one generation at a time.

 

 

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2024 ACHIEVEMENTS

Women Leading Change

  • Healthcare Training: Trained 25 more Indigenous women as community health promoters. 
  • Economic Empowerment: Equipped 20 women with skills for financial independence.
  • Safe Births: Distributed nearly 500 safe birth kits and advanced construction of Casa de la Mujer (Midwifery House)—the first in Achuar territory.
  • Violence Prevention: Facilitated workshops on gender roles and  domestic violence prevention.
  • Health Access: Signed four new agreements with local health districts, expanding mobile medical teams to remote areas.
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OUR IMPACT SINCE 2013

A Legacy of Life and Care

Behind each of these outcomes is a story: a healthy birth, a trained midwife, a community with renewed access to care. These numbers tell the story of what’s possible when care is rooted in community—reflecting lives saved and the quiet power of Indigenous women. Together, they form a legacy of resilience and reverence for life.

  • 2,838 safe births assisted
  • 63 active community health promoters (51 Achuar, 12 Shuar)
  • 102 communities with improved healthcare access
  • 90% reduction in maternal and infant mortality rates

"Ikiama Nukuri respects our traditions and gives women hope and strength."

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COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTER Isabel Wisum

"Ikiama Nukuri has changed my life...I am grateful they opened these doors for me."

Ikiama Nukuri-Nelcida Senguana-6-750X75-2
MIDWIFE Nelcida Senguana
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"Ikiama Nukuri respects our traditions and gives women hope and strength."

Isabel Wisum-sm
COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTER Isabel Wisum

"Ikiama Nukuri respects our traditions and gives women hope and strength."

Isabel Wisum-sm
COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTER Isabel Wisum

"Ikiama Nukuri respects our traditions and gives women hope and strength."

Isabel Wisum
COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTER

Isabel Wisum-sm-750x750

"Ikiama Nukuri has changed my life completely. I am very grateful they opened these doors for me."

Nelcida Senguana
IKIAMA NUKURI MIDWIFE

Ikiama Nukuri-Nelcida Senguana-6-750X75-2

"Ikiama Nukuri respects our traditions and gives women hope and strength."

Isabel Wisum-sm-750x750
COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTER Isabel Wisum

"Ikiama Nukuri has changed my life completely. I am very grateful they opened these doors for me."

Ikiama Nukuri-Nelcida Senguana-6-750X75-2
IKIAMA NUKURI MIDWIFE Nelcida Senguana