Today on International Day of Forests, we are reminded that forests are essential to life, and nowhere is this more evident than in the high Andes.
As we head into World Water Day tomorrow, it becomes even clearer: forests and water are deeply connected.
Native Polylepis forests play a critical role in regulating water — capturing moisture from clouds, stabilizing soils, and gradually releasing water into streams and rivers below. These ecosystems sustain entire communities, supporting drinking water, agriculture, and livelihoods for millions of people.
But these forests are among the most threatened in the world, facing increasing pressure from climate change, land use, and wildfire.
Our restoration initiative Acción Andina works alongside Indigenous and local communities to restore and protect these vital landscapes — planting native trees, safeguarding watersheds, and supporting community-led fire brigades that defend forests when they are most at risk.
