LEADERS IN LEARNING


CAMBRIDGE-STRATEGIES.ORG UTPL.EDU.EC


LOJA, ECUADOR


“WITH SMART LAND, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE INNOVATION AND TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES, BOTH FOR THIS GENERATION AND FUTURE GENERATIONS”


UNIVERSIDAD TECNICA PARTICULAR DE LOJA


FINDING SMART WAYS of encouraging sustainable development is a mission for Fanie V Thibeault. Indeed, through the Smart Land initiative, which she manages alongside her colleagues at Ecuador’s Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), innovative methods of land management are being explored. These are set to benefit current and future generations, particularly in the south of the country. Set up by UTPL, Smart Land offers the university’s students a range of


internships and field projects focused around 12 areas of work. One such project is in Ecuador’s Alto Nangaritza region, where population growth, deforestation and mining expansion all pose a threat to its diverse flora and fauna. To gain a better understanding of the territory, Smart Land’s researchers and scientists undertook an expedition to this never-before- explored area of mountain and forest. “The hope is that the discoveries of new plant, insect and flower species will stimulate decision-making for positive conservation efforts,” says Thibeault.


PIONEERING WORK A key part of the initiative is to generate data and develop prediction models, which can then be applied in partnership with stakeholders. “We see ourselves as pioneers,” says Thibeault. “The focus is on building up a resource so we can make sure every decision-maker, including government, scientists and the private sector, has access to all the relevant information needed to develop ideas that will have a positive impact.” Smart Land’s work is also aimed at transforming traditional industries


for the better. Mining is important to the economy but also causes pollution —the acid water that drains from mines can devastate rivers and streams.


So, with government support, the project is investigating ecological approaches such as using bacteria to clean minerals and to isolate copper and gold. And Smart Land isn’t simply committed to creating a better environment.


A healthy future for Ecuador’s people is also the focus for the project’s 300-strong team. By developing an eco-tourist route, the aim is to exploit the natural and cultural attractions in the Napurak community and parish of San Carlos de Las Minas in a sustainable way. “This helps to make the culture of communities in the area known, but


in an environmentally friendly way,” says Thibeault. “It’s about managing land and developing tourism in a way that means people can keep their jobs and have their way of life respected.”


COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Looking ahead, the focus for Smart Land is on expansion. Currently based on UTPL’s campus at the foot of the Cordillera Central mountain range, Smart Land aims to establish satellite offices in Zamora, a city in south-eastern Ecuador, as well as in Loja and El Oro provinces, and to prioritise collaborative projects with public and private sectors. Such expansion will not, however, deviate from the original ethos of Smart Land and UTPL: to seek sustainable development through humane, harmonious methods. “We want to encourage innovation and to have a positive impact


on communities, both for this generation and future generations,” says Thibeault. “It’s about cultivating a world that isn’t damaged environmentally or socially. We want communities to get involved and to provide them with the tools and knowledge to make better decisions—so that they can own their future.”

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