Altos de Marfil Ecuador

Among the highlands that surround the cantón of Puyango in the province of Loja, there is a forest called Bosques de Marfil, or as the people around there also call it, Bosques de Tagua, due to its abundance of Tagua trees, a species of palm found in South America. This natural reserve extends for more than 200 hectares and is located close to the parroquia of El Limo. The Bosques de Marfil provides life and income to the communities that inhabit the region. These Tagua palms provide a type of seed which the communities use to create all types of crafts, which they sell. These crafts generate extra income for the communities and help them survive during difficult economic times. The climate in this region tends to be warm, with the farms being surrounded by green mountains and rich organic material in the soil. Shade from guabo and porotillo trees on the farms creates adequate conditions to produce coffee. Normally, the rainy season lasts from November until January. Caravela has been working with the producers who contribute to Altos de Marfil since 2020 with our quality and PECA team, starting with 30 producers and growing since then.