On March 4 and 5, 2017, we met in the city of San Francisco de Orellana, also known as El Coca, in Ecuador, to attend an exchange on alternatives for economic development.
On this occasion, leaders of COICA and the AMPB were able to inaugurate the solar boat built by the ALDEA Foundation, which will provide a river transport service in the Achuar territory in the Ecuadorian Amazon. This boat, called Kara Solar, is the result of a partnership between the Achuar Nationality of Ecuador (NAE) and the ALDEA Foundation. The ship is embarking on a journey from the shipyards near Lago Agrio, downstream, to its area of operations in the Achuar territory.
The leaders of COICA expressed that this type of development alternatives are what they need in their territories, since river transportation is an alternative to the construction of penetration roads that have been linked to deforestation; in addition, the use of renewable energy such as sunlight is also an aspect of interest.