Organization: EcoLogic Development Fund

All Photos Our mission is to advance the conservation of threatened ecosystems in rural areas where poverty is extreme by promoting sustainable livelihoods that affirm local cultures and by strengthening community participation in natural resource management.

Focus Areas:	Economic Development, Environment, Poverty
Countries Served:	Belize Guatemala Honduras Mexico Panama

Description of Services:
EcoLogic works with poor, rural communities to conserve and restore threatened forests and streams in ways that improve people?s lives. Our approach puts local people in charge of projects, providing them with the tools they need to improve their living conditions without harming the environment. EcoLogic partners with local community organizations to implement projects involving: ? Water resource protection and management; ? Forest conservation and management; ? Payment for environmental services; and ? Sustainable livelihood opportunities. Projects are designed to strengthen community institutions, promote local environmental stewardship of critical natural resources, and empower vulnerable groups such as women and indigenous peoples.
History:
EcoLogic was established in 1993 to conserve the planet?s diminishing wildlife in a way that addresses the needs of local people. Given that the world?s poorest people live in some of the most biologically diverse areas, EcoLogic?s strategy tackles the underlying social and economic causes of habitat loss. EcoLogic was founded on the belief that local participation is not only socially just, but it is also essential for the effective long-term conservation of critical natural resources. EcoLogic began by providing small, one-year grants to local groups, but has since evolved to building longer-term partnerships, providing technical assistance and multi-year financial commitments to local community organizations.
Accomplishments & Progress:
Since 1993, EcoLogic has helped over 700 communities in Latin America to improve their well-being and become stewards of their land. Collaborating with local partners, EcoLogic has established sustainable livelihoods and strengthened community participation in natural resource management, providing support for the conservation of over 6 million acres of critical habitat and the protection of over 1,200 water sources