Ensuring water quality in rural areas requires an approach based on technical empowerment and shared responsibility. To this end, we organized the first participatory workshop on monitoring water sources in Tena, positioning women’s leadership as a central pillar for water resource management and security. This initiative is part of the Warmi Yakukamak Amazónicas program, implemented with strategic support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) South America and its Water and Wetlands program. Through this joint effort, we have taken a decisive step toward strengthening community-based monitoring in the region. In the communities of Los Ríos, Santa Estefanía, and Runashitu, rural women have formally assumed the role of “Water Guardians.” By integrating new technical knowledge and using measuring equipment, they are now equipped to assess their water systems, thereby ensuring the health of their ecosystems and that of their families. Beyond the transfer of technical tools, this workshop’s primary objective is to build community governance. By empowering communities to monitor their own water sources, we are fostering a comprehensive management model that protects the delicate balance between human health and the sustainability of the natural environment.
FIEA ECUADOR