Global Importance

The Andean Chakra conserves a great diversity of unique crop landraces such as maize and beans, supported by a rich ancestral knowledge touching on gastronomy, medicine and rituals. The great diversity of crops and their adaptation to different climatic conditions, in a context of global climate change, is of high importance for sustaining food security particularly in the region. This territory has been considered one of the largest and best agrobiodiversity preserved zones in Ecuador and the region.

Many native and traditional varieties have cultural and religious significance, meaning that conserving agrobiodiversity is closely linked to the conservation of Indigenous culture. The Andean Kichwas’ Indigenous communities have generated cognitive systems from their relationship with the environment. This holistic knowledge, transferred from one generation to the next, is a unique and living repertoire. It encompasses signs, symbols, concepts and perceptions about the use and sustainable management of local ecosystems for family, community, and cultural life. It also plays a key role for women’s empowerment as 80% of Cotacachi chakras are managed by women.

Food and livelihood security

These Chakras contribute to food security, nutrition, medicine, ornamentation, fuel, and fodder, as well as cultural uses and production of handicrafts and utensils. The system in Cotacachi has enabled the in-situ conservation of species and varieties such as maize, beans, quinoa, and potatoes, among many others. These are primarily intended for communities’ own consumption, with the small surpluses marketed to generate income for families, especially for rural women, becoming an important means of livelihood for the communities.

In recent years, product diversification in the territory has leveraged tourism initiatives focused on farm production. These initiatives encourage tourists to visit the communities and share a first-hand experience with the peasants and their relationship with agricultural biodiversity, agricultural practices, food, medicine and local indigenous rituals. Agro-tourism has developed as a complementary activity to agricultural work and promotes conservation of the agrobiodiversity and related knowledge, while generating income for participating families.

Agrobiodiversity 

The ′Andean Chakra′ play an important role in the conservation of agrobiodiversity and provide a public service for humanity. More than 200 and varieties have been identified, with an average of 25 types of crops being found per ′Chakra′. In addition, there is a great intra-specific diversity, especially of certain crops such as maize, beans and potatoes. The knowledge and technologies inherited and innovated by Cotacachi Kichwas have enabled the conservation of an extensive agrobiodiversity, especially management and reproduction of native seeds and varietal adaptations of the forests.

Chakras’ sustainable agricultural practices are based on the maintenance of soil life and connection with surrounding wild areas. Indeed, the harmonious relationship of Kichwa communities with their environment allows for the conservation of their surroundings and the many wildlife species that depend on them.

Local and traditional knowledge systems

The agricultural practices developed by Kichwa farmers maximize the use of space and the interactions between ecosystems. The use of space is maximized within a single chakra through the vertical dimension that corresponds to the different vegetation strata that are superimposed, while the horizontal dimension relates to soil coverage.

Between the chakras, the different plateaus of the mountain are used at different altitudes to cultivate species with different needs. Soil health is the top priority for farmers, whor rely on sustainable methods of pest control, using herbal preparations and strategic crop rotations. One of the ultimate goals, besides the cultivation of different products, is to reach production levels in line with the stability cycles and requirements of all the elements that are part of a ′Chakra′, that is: soil, water, crops, livestock breeding and families.

Cultures, value systems and social organizations

A series of cultural forms have been built and developed based on the agricultural dynamics: gastronomy, rituals, festivals and, above all, a worldview that integrates the human community with nature as ‘Pacha Mama’. The ′Chakras′ deeply define the character of knowledge in the Andean human culture as:

• The technical skills related to agricultural tasks have a great repertoire.
• The stars become agricultural indicators.
• The core of social organizations is agriculture.
• The arts have a profound agricultural content.
• The language is rich in agricultural expressions.

Women’s role is essential in the development and conservation of the ′Chakras′, in terms of the transfer of knowledge and principles relating to food production, distribution and consumption. Besides, community cohesion is central and transmitted through values such as solidarity and mutual aid. One of the essential values of this approach to agriculture is that it is not in opposition to the natural environment, it is embedded in it, because it recognizes part of it or the ′Pacha Mama′. The presence of the ′Chakra′ is not to dominate nature, but to accompany it, in dialogue and reciprocity with it.

Landscapes and seascapes features

The modern mosaic of Cotacachi's landscape is the result of the interaction between natural, human, and cultural processes. Its development has been strongly influenced by volcanic phenomena that have shaped the landscape into plateaus that run parallel to the watercourses. These processes have shaped the soils, hydrology and topography of the area and have determined the agricultural potential of the zone.

Indigenous communities have lived in this area for thousands of years and have used agricultural practices adapted to the climate and topography. The traditional agro-ecological and socio-cultural practices of the Indigenous communities have been adaptations to a unique vertical landscape, characterized by fluctuating and unpredictable climatic conditions. This forces them to innovate and diversify agriculture to minimize the risks to their food sources and livelihoods. The sum of this diversity of knowledge, skills and ′Chakra′ models, have configured a productive and culturally rich landscape.