Environmental Issues
Since its inception in 1997, LOTS has remained committed to preserving the environment of Ecuador. As respectful community partners, LOTS has participated in several environmental projects.
Quilajalo Community Water Project
When LOTS was formed, its first project was in the village of Quilajalo which was without a supply of fresh water. The nearest source, a sacred spring, was over a mile away. It was quite common to see women bent over while walking, carrying heavy loads of water from the spring to their homes. The owner of the spring was eventually forced to sell the land around the spring which meant the village's only supply of water was no longer accessible to community members.
Therefore, LOTS assisted in the purchase of the spring for the village cooperative. Next, LOTS took on the challenge of putting fresh water in every single home in the village. This meant pumping sufficient water up 1,000 feet for more than a mile.
LOTS also funded the installation of a power line, pole and transformer for the area as well as pipe to pump the water from the spring. The water needed to be pumped up the 1,000 feet to a 120,000 gallon water tank, the construction of which was also funded by LOTS.
Villagers assisted in the construction process and as of today, all villagers throughout the area have running water.
Reforestation
Land of the Sun Foundation furthered its commitment to the country of Ecuador through an environmental initiative that focused on reforestation issues in the mountains above Quilajalo.
The hills, once green and fertile, were destroyed decades ago by a government agricultural experiment which cut down all of the trees and planted wheat in the area.
The loss of tress changed the weather pattern and created a drought which in turn destroyed the wheat. Erosion set in and left a destroyed land mass as a result.
After seeing the devastating results of this project, LOTS donated a John Deere Turbo-Diesel construction tractor (with shovel, backhoe and Kevlar tires) to dig deep cisterns anti-erosion and irrigation canals. The tractor terraced the land, and thousands of trees were then planted.
In the winter of 2006, two of LOTS trustees visited the mountains above Quilajalo and were pleasantly surprised to see that thousands and thousands of trees have taken hold! The once devastated area was now a forested mountain thanks to the combination of LOTS' initiative and the commitment and consistent work of the indigenous of the region.
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