Public Story
An army of women saving the moorlands
In the central highlands of Ecuador, there are organizations of rural women who confront the structural machismo in their regions and fight to protect water sources.
This ongoing project aims to document the life and working structure of an organization comprising more than 800 women in the province of Cotopaxi, Ecuador. Thirty-nine years ago, when this organization was established, the lives of these women were confined to household chores and strenuous fieldwork, all under the economic dependence and dominance of their husbands. During community assemblies, they didn't even have the right to sit in a chair, let alone raise their hands to express their opinions.
However, through persistent grassroots efforts and breaking free from patriarchal chains, they came together to form their organization, uniting women from 21 communities. One of their main struggles is to protect the moorlands.
The moorlands of Ecuador are wetland systems located at 3,300 meters above sea level. "The moorland acts as a highly significant carbon sink to help limit global warming. Due to its high-altitude lands, the cool and humid climate conditions allow its volcanic and moist soils to store enormous amounts of organic material. This, along with the tall vegetation growth, makes the moorland retain more carbon per hectare than lowland tropical forests."*
This project showcases the everyday lives of women who are changing their world.
*Quote from the article published in El País.
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