Organization: EcoLogic Development Fund

All Photos EcoLogic works with poor, rural communities to help them become better environmental stewards in order to save their forests and water and improve their living conditions. We put local people in charge of projects, providing them with the tools they need to sustainably manage their natural resources. .

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

Description of Services:
EcoLogic works with communities to foster sustainable livelihoods and protect biodiversity. We aim to conserve unique landscapes in Central America and Mexico by putting poor, rural communities in charge of managing local natural resources. By working with local partners we are helping communities become better environmental stewards of their land. 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.
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