EcoLogic Development Fund

EcoLogic builds partnerships with rural and indigenous communities in Central America and Mexico, and helps them identify, evaluate, and prioritize their conservation and natural resource needs. In each of their community-powered conservation projects, they work with these communities to get them what they need to restore and conserve the tropical ecosystems where they live and on which they rely for basic necessities and well-being. Their work with their partners can include skills, financing, materials, access to decision makers and experts, hands-on experience, and other forms of support. One of their fundamental beliefs is that the people who live near or in a threatened ecosystem are those who are best positioned to repair and protect that system for the long term. Or, put another way, they believe that when people understand that their quality of life is reliant upon the health of their natural environment and that they have a direct hand in identifying and creating ways to protect and sustainably use their natural resources, both nature and people are served. In all of their work, EcoLogic acts strategically, community by community, building on common interests and goals, to create alliances that will lead to cumulative, positive impacts—impacts that are not just local but on a regional scale and beyond. It is through collaboration that they believe humankind will achieve positive, sustainable change. And although the environmental threats are imminent and the conservation challenges real, they are confident that through mutual cooperation and respect they still have time to conserve and protect their one shared planet, Earth. EcoLogic only works in rural places where communities have asked for their help. They begin by conducting a series of meetings or community consultations with the local people to understand community-identified needs, priorities, and issues. They work jointly to develop and implement a plan of action that will address challenges related to creating sustainable livelihoods, repairing damaged ecosystems, and improving the availability of natural resources, like freshwater and fish stocks. Whenever needed, they modify their existing solutions and approaches—such as changing a fuel-efficient stove’s design—or they add new ones—such as building greywater catchments—to achieve the best results. They listen. They learn. And they are always open to modifying our approach to better suit the needs of the project. These site-specific solutions take time. So does real collaboration. They stay as long as it takes to build local capacity. And they leave when they are no longer needed, the project has become sustainable, and their local partner and the community are expanding the effort on their own. This is what makes EcoLogic different. This is how they effect change. They see it every day at the project sites where they work.  Mission: To empower rural and indigenous people to restore and protect tropical ecosystems in Central America and Mexico. Vision: Rural communities lead in the creation of a sustainable world for both people and nature. They believe that the preservation of biological diversity, ecosystems, and natural places is critically important to the survival of all—people, plants, and animals alike. In addition to the intrinsic value of nature and wildlife, biological diversity and healthy ecosystems provide humankind with many of the things that sustain our lives, including clean air and water, fertile soil, a stable climate, food, medicines, materials and technologies, and a diversity of genes and species—not to mention recreational opportunities and natural beauty.