Summary

The Swiss-Ecuadorian family business Arbofino specializes in a) the management of sustainable teak plantations combined with conservation projects for impact investors, b) natural reforestation and forest conservation including social and scientific projects for companies and private individuals to offset CO2 and to foster biodiversity, and c) the production of organic cacao in a mixed cultivation in Ecuador.

General Description

Arbofino, with its parent company based in Switzerland and its subsidiaries in Ecuador, is a Swiss-Ecuadorian family business committed to climate protection and biodiversity promotion offering various services and products in the field of sustainable forestry, organic agriculture and conservation:

A) Teak Impact Investment to combine financial return with conservation: An innovative impact investment concept for investors where commercial teak plantations are combined with natural reforestation and forest conservation projects in form of biodiversity corridors and adjacent nature reserves.

B) CO2 offsetting and biodiversity promotion for business and private individuals: A pure conservation concept to reforest new and protect existing tropical moist forest with a holistic approach that includes the safeguarding of the land through its own Bosquefino Foundation, long-term surveillance of nature reserves as well as scientific and social projects.

C) Organic high-grade cacao in a mixed cultivation: The cultivation of Ecuadorian cacao “fino de aroma” – also known as “Arriba” or “Nacional” – from young and adult cacao trees growing among various other fruit trees, bananas and native tree species.

Our project goals

At Arbofino we focus on some of the most pressing problems facing our planet: sustainable production, biodiversity loss and climate change. We want to produce sustainable timber with our Teak Impact Investment concept, grow organic food with our cacao mixed cultivation as well as establish conservation areas through our natural reforestation and forest conservation concept. Arbofino’s holistic approach ensures multiple positive impacts – out of passion and with a lot of personal commitment.
Our projects provide important jobs with the highest social standards in rather remote areas. Through the support of the local population as well as the cooperation with different universities, we promote the sensitization of children from the region and the education of students. The close, personal connection and the valuable exchange with the local people are a central element.

Overview of our project goals - measurable and verifiable at any time:

• Provide sustainable, high-quality teak wood.
• Grow organic Ecuadorian fine flavored cocoa in a species rich mixed cultivation.
• Reconnect fragmented forest patches through reforestation.
• Promote regional biodiversity hotspots.
• Counteract climate change by sequestering CO2.
• Collect and share scientific data involving universities and students.
• Involve and raise awareness among local people, especially children.
• All projects are clearly identified on maps and can be accessed on site at any time.

Arbofino ensures that all projects are implemented professionally and transparently. In doing so, we can count on a well-established and experienced team in Ecuador. Our close family ties with the country, several years of experience with reforestation projects and the close collaboration with universities are important factors in fulfilling our mission.

Country Forest description

The tropical moist forests west of the Andes in the Ecuadorian coastal area form the second largest natural region in Ecuador. This particularly species-rich area is one of the most degraded habitats in Ecuador. More than three quarters of the original forest has already been destroyed.
The sparsely populated lowlands were given by the government in the 1930s to those who claimed them in order to promote cattle farming. The aggressive, invasive African grass Saboya (Panicum Maximum) was planted to establish the pastureland.
The original moist forests are now largely a scattered chain of remnant forest islands. In many areas this is secondary forest, which is nevertheless of immense importance for the climate and biodiversity.

Targets

Sustainable production:
Wood as a highly demanded natural resource as well as cacao as important food product need to come from sustainable, transparent sources that include environmental and social responsibility. Fair jobs for the local population, the preservation of existing forests and environmentally conscious production are crucial for us to achieve a positive impact.

Biodiversity:
Protecting and promoting biodiversity is at the heart of our projects. The decline in global biodiversity is dramatic. A loss of biodiversity has not only ecological but also social and economic consequences. The performance of ecosystems and their ability to adapt to changes in environmental conditions depend to a large extent on the state of biodiversity.

Climate:
We want to counter climate change with a solution that has multiple positive effects. The consequences of global warming are already massive and diverse. Forests play a central role in the global climate as carbon reservoirs and through their influence on the water balance of the atmosphere. Young forests remove a lot of additional CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into plant biomass.

Science:
We want to research the effectiveness and impacts of reforestation and forest conservation through scientific studies. Planting trees is done quickly. The challenge is to measure the change, analyze the results, and make the projects even more effective. Strategic partnerships and a willingness to continuously improve, are an important prerequisite.

Society:
We maintain a personal exchange with the local population, promote an understanding of sustainability and guarantee fair jobs. Special events and awareness-raising projects, especially for children, are important elements in this. Furthermore, through our partnerships, we enable students to gain experience and implement scientific studies during their university education and in form of internships.

Permanence:
The land of all restoration and conservation projects, that form part of our reforestation and forest conservation concept for business and private individuals, is owned by our Ecuadorian non-profit foundation Bosquefino. In this way, we can ensure the critical permanence of our conservation projects, ensuring that carbon is sequestered over the long term and that biodiversity can evolve over time.