SUSTAINABILITY plans
TAiLORED SUSTAINABILITY OPTIONS FOR YOUR INSTITUTION
We collaborate with each college or university to design a Carbon Onset plan tailored to their goals and values, selecting the type of restoration work and project that best align with their interests. While institutions typically invest through a single payment, contributions are divided into monthly installments, allowing students to experience their impact over time through monthly updates. The total recommended investment depends on whether the program is intending to balance the environmental impact of a semester-long or shorter-term program and the desired level of community engagement.
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Below are some of our popular restoration plans. If none of these meet your needs, we can work together to create one that aligns with your goals. Effective relationship-based climate action depends on the right partnership and investment for your institution.
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Pachaysana’s Community Partners and Carbon Onsetting Projects
Exclusivity: If your contribution fully or partially meets a community partner’s financial needs, we can offer an exclusivity or shared exclusivity agreement.
Benefits of exclusivity include:
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A deeper restorer-co-restorer relationship with your partner community, highlighted on our website.
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Regular advising from Pachaysana to help you grow and share your stories (see next section).
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Access to pedagogical tools for your classes.
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Personalized annual reports with detailed insights.
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Social media posts ready for sharing.
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Free Unlearning workshops (see our website).
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Exclusivity starts with an annual institutional investment of $25,000
SUSTAINABILITY plans in detail
Our program offers deep human connections, which can be further enriched by visiting the partner communities. We invite all co-restorers to Ecuador where they can participate in local restoration and and community engagement activities.
Description:
This plan funds native forest conservation projects that focus on the protection of habitats and ecosystems. The partner communities focus on caring for primary forests and protecting the remaining old-growth trees that are highly valued in the timber market.
Price: $8 per student per month.
Impact:
Activities carried out by the community:
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Protection of 700 acres of primary forest with regular monitoring and evaluation.
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Protection of old-growth trees (over 100 years old) that live on family farms.
Benefits:
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Ensures the long-term conservation of key biodiversity areas by protecting critical habitats and large carbon reserves.
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Increases the value placed on regular monitoring of our primary forests.
Plan 1: Native Ecosystem CONSERVation
Plan 2: Native Ecosystem CONSERVATION and RESTORATION
Description:
In addition to the activities and impact in our “conservation” plan, this plan includes the restoration of native ecosystems. The partner community plants and cares for native trees, complemented with regenerative agricultural practices. This not only brings back biodiversity but also provides increased income, and improved nutrition and health for the local restorers.
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Price: $14 per student per month.
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Additional Impact:
Activities carried out by the community:
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Collection of native seeds from near-by primary forests for propagation.
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Seed propagation in community nurseriesReintroduction of seedlings into secondary forests and deforested areas.
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Periodic care (and occasional replacement) of newly planted seedlings
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Regenerative organic agriculture based on ancestral indigenous practices
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Collection of additional native seeds for seed banks.​
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Benefits:
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Contributes to the recovery of local ecosystems - we improve biodiversity and efficiently capture carbon via soil regeneration and increased biomass.
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Increases family income - we provide monthly stipends that cover basic family necessities to all co-restorers.
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Enhances families' nutrition and health - we incentivize diverse and sustainable agricultural practices that result in healthier food and the cultivation of medicinal plants.
Description:
In addition to all that is included in our previous two plans, this comprehensive plan provides restorers with continuous training in regenerative agriculture, bioconstruction, entrepreneurship, project development, leadership, conflict transformation, pedagogy and other skills that encourage them to become self-sufficient forest protectors. After years of experience in the training program, participants pass to the final stage, a “training of trainers” program. Upon completion the local restorers are prepared to train our next community partners.
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Price: $20 per student per month.
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Additional Impact:
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Activities carried out by the community:
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Regular participation in monthly workshops on ecosystem conservation, ecology, bio-construction, and regenerative agriculture
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Certifications in permaculture, project development and popular pedagogy.
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Intergenerational educational workshops in which elders apply learned methods to teaching community youth.
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Benefits:
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Increases feelings of belonging, abundance and self-worth - long-term evaluations demonstrate that continuing education changes the mindsets of restorers.
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Ensures the multiplication of knowledge and tools - to future generations and other partner communities that will continue these sustainability efforts in the future.
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Transforms how new generations view their territories and identities - high-quality education fosters deeper connections and commitments to their lands, languages and stories.
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Plan 3: Native Ecosystem Restoration, Conservation and Continuing Education
Description:
This plan supports the one-of-a-kind Children of the Living Forest school (Sacha Kawsay Guauakuna) in the Kichwa community of Mushullakta. This middle & high school combines Indigenous knowledge and modern environmental education with the basics of Spanish, English, math and more. The school aims to rejuvenate both the community and the ecosystem through hands-on learning and cultural preservation.
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Price: $22 per student per month.
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Impact:
Activities carried out by the community:
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Regenerative Agriculture and Forestry: Students learn sustainable farming and reforestation practices, including how to restore soil health and biodiversity.
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Bioconstruction: Students develop skills in building eco-friendly structures using natural materials and traditional methods.
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Interdisciplinary Curriculum: The broad curriculum includes classes in math, Spanish, English, performing/visual arts, carpentry, cooking, nutrition and entrepreneurship.
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Intergenerational learning: Community elders are the principal educators.
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Cultural Education: Indigenous knowledge and practices are integrated across the curriculum and classes are taught predominantly in Kichwa.
Benefits:
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High-Speed Internet: elders and youth have access to global knowledge and resources, enhancing educational experiences.
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Forest revitalization: youth learn the skills and knowledge necessary to protect their environment
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Cultural survival: the model revitalizes cultural heritage and practices.
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Land management: youth are empowered to manage their territories and advocate for Indigenous rights.
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Holistic growth: youth become strong, self-sufficient leaders who are prepared to navigate a modern, intercultural world.
Income generation: local elders receive stipends as educators.