Rooted in the Cloud: Choosing Nature First in a Digital Age

Cloud Forest Institute didn’t begin with a screen—but screens were there from the beginning.

Back in 1996, when most of the world was just discovering the internet, we were already exploring how online tools might support learning across borders. Early on, we joined bold experiments like MIT’s Globewide Network Academy, curious about how education could reach across mountains and oceans. We learned quickly that technology could be a powerful bridge.

We’ve always preferred being outside—listening to birds, planting trees, sharing food and laughter with friends. For us, computers have always been tools, not spaces to live in. We approach them with respect, but also caution. They’re useful—but they’ll never replace what really matters: relationships, land, stories, and shared work.

That’s why Cloud Forest Institute continues to walk a careful line:
We use tech when it helps us connect, teach, or organize.
But we stay rooted in place, in people, and in a slower rhythm of life.

Today, our programs still reflect that balance:

• Our online platforms support ecological literacy, but always point back to Earth—its rhythms, its people, its languages.

• Our governance is shaped by ancestral principles of reciprocity, not tech-industry trends.

• Our student exchanges and pen-pal projects begin online, but culminate in real-world service and shared meals under the trees of Mindo.

We don't reject digital tools—we simply refuse to let them lead. We use them carefully, gratefully, and only when they serve life, not replace it.

As AI evolves and the virtual world grows louder, we find ourselves returning, again and again, to what’s real: moss under our feet, the hum of a pollinator, the quiet power of planting something together. The future may be digital, but we’re choosing to root it in the forest—where community, culture, and care still grow best.

After Capitalism: Building an Economy Where Time Is Wealth

Toward a Regenerative Time Economy: A Viable Alternative in the Age of Collapse

Humanity stands at a pivotal crossroads. The climate crisis, driven by unsustainable economic systems and extractive industrial practices, is no longer a distant threat but a lived reality. From rising sea levels to intensifying droughts, collapsing biodiversity to global resource imbalances, the cascade of climate impacts has begun to destabilize both ecosystems and human societies. As traditional capitalist systems struggle to adapt, and as the wealth gap widens and infrastructure ages, we must ask: what will come next?

This essay proposes a radical but attainable alternative: a regenerative economy based not on money, but on time. Grounded in reciprocity, equity, and ecological balance, this system would value every human equally, recognizing that while wealth can be hoarded, time cannot. By realigning how we measure labor, value, and contribution, a time-based economy has the potential to slow destructive overproduction, prioritize human well-being, and become a stabilizing force in a rapidly destabilizing world.

The Problem: Economic Fragility in the Face of Climate Chaos

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global warming must be capped at 1.5°C to avoid catastrophic and irreversible damage. To do this, emissions must peak before 2025 and drop nearly in half by 2030 (IPCC AR6, 2023). But climate change is not the only system under stress. The Pentagon and global development institutions warn of converging crises: freshwater demand is set to exceed supply by 40% by 2030 (The Guardian, 2023); food systems are under siege from heatwaves, flooding, and soil degradation (FAO, 2022); and up to 1.2 billion people could be displaced by 2050 due to climate-related disasters (Zurich Insurance Group, 2022).

As resources grow scarcer and systems falter, markets respond with volatility, not stability. The capitalist economy’s reliance on speed, growth, and competition incentivizes behaviors that worsen ecological overshoot, while leaving the most vulnerable behind. In this context, economic collapse is not a question of "if" but "how soon," and recovery will not come from within the logic that created the crisis.

The Proposal: A Regenerative Time-Based Economy

At the heart of the proposed alternative is a deceptively simple idea: what if time, not money, were our core unit of exchange? Every human has the same number of hours in a day, creating a foundational equality. Instead of pricing work based on scarcity or profit potential, tasks are valued according to the time, care, attention, and regenerative benefit they contribute to society.

In such a system, slow, careful, and community-centered labor is more highly valued than rapid extraction or speculation. Tending a food forest, mentoring youth, restoring a wetland, or caring for elders accrues more "time credits" than manufacturing plastic or engaging in financial speculation. These credits can be exchanged for essential needs: housing, food, education, healthcare, and more.

Unlike monetary wealth, time credits expire or cycle. This discourages hoarding and emphasizes continual contribution. Reputation systems and community validation add depth, enabling individuals to build meaningful legacies not through accumulation, but through care, craftsmanship, and wisdom.

Complications and Considerations

A time-based economy must grapple with complex questions. How do we support individuals who are unable to contribute productively due to age, illness, or disability—especially those without families? The answer lies in designing collective care networks and guaranteed baseline time allocations. Community stewards, rotational caregiving circles, and commons-owned institutions would ensure that everyone has access to dignity, rest, and belonging.

Conversion between time credits and traditional currency must be carefully regulated. A federated system might allow some conversion for essential goods from outside the time commons, but only for regenerative labor and not for destructive or speculative work. The potential for elite co-option, exploitation, or technological inequality also demands governance safeguards, digital transparency, and regenerative value assessments.

Timeline of Urgency: Aligning with Collapse Trajectories

Scientific and military analyses converge on a sobering timeline. The window for meaningful emissions reductions closes between 2025 and 2030 (IPCC AR6, 2023). Between 2030 and 2040, we will likely witness accelerating food and water scarcity, large-scale climate migration, and infrastructure failure in vulnerable regions (U.S. Department of Defense, 2021). By 2050, entire regions may become uninhabitable without artificial cooling, and global GDP could shrink by up to 20% from climate impacts alone.

Any viable alternative economy must be operational before systems fully unravel. We must act now to seed, prototype, and scale regenerative systems that will be adopted not because they win in a marketplace, but because they work when others fail.

Political Context: How U.S. Dynamics May Shape the Transition

The political landscape of the United States—long a global economic and cultural force—is fracturing in ways that could both hinder and catalyze the emergence of new systems. Federal governance is increasingly paralyzed by polarization and declining public trust. As institutional legitimacy wanes, state and local governments are asserting more autonomy. In some regions, this enables experimentation with regenerative models; in others, it emboldens authoritarian and extractive regimes.

Authoritarian tendencies, along with growing surveillance and corporate data monopolies, threaten to suppress grassroots alternatives—particularly if these models challenge concentrated power. Conversely, cultural and youth movements in the U.S. continue to generate powerful new narratives centered on mutual aid, labor solidarity, and ecological stewardship. These movements, if aligned with bioregional and time-based economic principles, could offer crucial early adoption zones, especially in progressive strongholds.

Globally, the waning of U.S. hegemony is accelerating a shift to a multipolar world. This fragmentation of global power opens new opportunities for post-capitalist experiments to take root where traditional governance is faltering. As such, the success of regenerative time economies may depend less on national policy than on the cultural vitality, legal resilience, and technological sovereignty of local communities and federated networks.

The Transition Strategy

Phase one (2025–2028) focuses on pilot projects: small, functioning models that demonstrate time-based labor exchange for housing, food, and care. These must be tied to real land, water, and people. Digital platforms for time credits must be built, governance tested, and communities trained in mutual aid and deliberative decision-making.

Phase two (2028–2033) emphasizes federation: linking pilot projects into bioregional networks that share resources, mentorship, and crisis response protocols. These networks must be resilient, decentralized, and capable of rapid scaling as traditional systems falter.

Phase three (2033–2042) becomes about replacement. As economic collapse accelerates, the Time Commons model steps in to fill critical provisioning gaps: feeding displaced people, organizing mobile care teams, and stewarding land. It is at this point that time-based economies may become widespread not as experiments, but as lifelines.

Phase four (2042–2050) offers a chance to rebuild with care as the central value. Time credits could be enshrined in constitutions, replacing GDP with Gross Regenerative Product (GRP), and universal time pensions could ensure dignity in old age. What began as a workaround becomes a foundation.

A Hopeful Conclusion: It's Already Happening

This vision is not a fantasy. It draws inspiration from time banking systems in Japan (Fureai Kippu) (The Economist, 2010), the U.S. (TimeBanks USA) (timebanks.org), and Spain; from mutual credit systems like Sardex in Italy (Sardex.net); and from the long-standing cooperative economy of Mondragón (mondragon-corporation.com). Community currencies in Kenya (Grassroots Economics), Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness framework (Gross National Happiness Centre), and the emergence of federated digital commons all point toward a new economic direction.

We are not starting from scratch. We are returning to ancestral principles of reciprocity and care, updating them with the best of modern tools, and planting them in fertile soil before the coming storm. The question is not whether we can make this transition, but whether we will act fast and bravely enough to begin it now. The clock is ticking—but time, at last, is on our side.

Ecuador’s Rights of Nature and the Spirit that Lives in Los Cedros. Remembering José DeCoux

Did you know that Ecuador was the first country in the world to grant constitutional rights to Nature?

Not just protections. Rights—real legal standing. In 2008, the country rewrote its Constitution to recognize that forests, rivers, mountains, and entire ecosystems have the right to exist, regenerate, and flourish. It’s more than policy. It’s a deep cultural and spiritual shift. And for those of us who’ve spent time in Ecuador’s forests, it’s also deeply personal.

This change didn’t start in a government building or with a foreign NGO—it began in community assemblies, Indigenous territories, and resistance movements led by organizations like CONAIE and ECUARUNARI. These leaders pushed not only for Indigenous rights but for a new way of relating to the Earth—based on Sumak Kawsay, or “Good Living.” Not prosperity at Nature’s expense, but well-being in balance with it.

Then, in a powerful act of collective will, Ecuadorians voted to adopt the new Constitution. They weren’t just affirming new laws—they were honoring a worldview. An ancient truth: Nature is not a resource. She is a relative.

Looking back to the early 2000s, I remember how Cloud Forest Institute found itself braided into this growing movement. We were connected through kindred organizations like Trees Foundation and CIBT, and before long, we were sharing an office in Quito with the team from Los Cedros Biological Reserve. Together, we brought students deep into the forests of Pañacocha and Los Cedros—into mist-draped canopies, along the trails of monkeys and orchids, under waterfalls echoing with life.

These trips weren’t just about learning. They were about connection. The kind of awe that rearranges you. The kind of education that roots you in a new reality.

José DeCoux, the inspired soul behind Los Cedros, was unlike anyone else I’ve ever met. Tenacious in his defense of the forest, he lived as a guardian—guided by humility, patience, and an unwavering belief that this forest mattered.

When mining threats loomed over Los Cedros, José didn’t flinch. He stood firm, even while quietly battling cancer. And in 2021, Ecuador’s Constitutional Court ruled in favor of protecting the reserve—citing the Rights of Nature. It was a massive victory. Not just for Los Cedros, but for every river, frog, orchid, and child who deserves to grow up in a world still alive and thriving.

I’m so grateful José lived to see that moment of justice. He passed away on May 20, 2024, and is held in loving memory by all who walked that forest trail beside him, literally or in spirit.

Since that constitutional change in 2008, the Rights of Nature have been used in court to defend rivers, forests, and sacred lands across Ecuador. But like any promise, they depend on the will to uphold them. Extractive industries still operate. Communities still have to fight.

But now, they have legal standing. They can speak for the land—not just with their hearts, but with the law.

And this model is spreading: in New Zealand, in parts of the United States, in Colombia, and beyond. It’s not just a policy trend. It’s a memory rising—of how we used to live, and how we still can.

At Cloud Forest Institute, we’re still walking that path. We continue to partner with communities, educate students, and advocate for what we call biocultural conservation—the idea that human cultures and ecological systems are inseparable. That protecting one means protecting the other.

I want you to know: change is possible. Legal, cultural—even spiritual change. We’ve seen it, lived it, and walked through the cloud forest with people like José, who remind us that protecting what we love is the greatest calling there is.

May we all carry that love forward.

🌺 In Gratitude,
Freeda Alida Burnstad

Ecuadorians set a precedent for participatory governance in environmental matters.

In August 2023, Ecuadorians made a historic decision to protect two of the country's most biodiverse and culturally significant regions: Yasuní National Park and the Chocó Andino cloud forest. This achievement was the result of years of dedicated efforts by Indigenous communities, environmental organizations, and civil society groups.

The movement to safeguard Yasuní began over a decade ago, spearheaded by the grassroots collective Yasunidos. In 2013, they initiated a campaign to collect signatures for a national referendum to halt oil drilling in the park. Despite facing bureaucratic challenges and delays, their persistence paid off when the Constitutional Court approved the referendum in May 2023. (Wikipédia, l'encyclopédie libre, AP News, Rainforest Foundation US)

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) played a pivotal role in mobilizing support, emphasizing the importance of preserving Indigenous territories and the environment. Leaders like Nemonte Nenquimo, a Waorani activist, brought international attention to the cause, highlighting the threats posed by oil extraction to Indigenous communities and biodiversity. (Rainforest Foundation US, Reddit) Other notable organizations involved included the National Union of Educators, the General Union of Ecuadorian Workers, and political parties such as Popular Unity, the Socialist Party – Broad Front of Ecuador, and Democracia Sí. (Wikipedia)

In the Chocó Andino region, the initiative was led by Quito Sin Minería, a citizen collective that gathered over 206,000 valid signatures to prompt a local referendum. Their efforts were supported by the Mancomunidad del Chocó Andino, a coalition of rural parishes committed to ecological conservation and sustainable development. (Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre) The referendum, held concurrently with the national elections, resulted in approximately 68% of Quito residents voting to prohibit new mining activities in the Chocó Andino. This outcome underscored the community's commitment to protecting their environment and cultural heritage.

The success of these referendums was the culmination of collaborative efforts by a diverse array of stakeholders:

• Indigenous Communities: Groups like the Waorani, Kichwa, and others were instrumental in advocating for their ancestral lands and rights.

• Environmental Organizations: Local and international NGOs provided support through advocacy, education, and legal assistance.

• Civil Society: Educators, workers' unions, and political parties mobilized public opinion and participated actively in campaigns.

These collective actions demonstrate the power of grassroots movements in shaping national policies and protecting vital ecosystems.

These referendums marked a significant step in environmental democracy, demonstrating how citizen-led initiatives can influence national policies. By choosing to prioritize ecological preservation and Indigenous rights, Ecuadorians set a precedent for participatory governance in environmental matters.

Direct Democracy is Possible!

Ecuador’s approach to democracy is truly inspiring!

Imagine a system where citizens aren't just voters but active participants in shaping national policies. Ecuador has embraced participatory democracy in a way that empowers communities to have a direct say in decisions affecting their lives.

Back in 2008, Ecuador adopted a new Constitution that laid the foundation for this inclusive governance. It introduced mechanisms like the Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control (CPCCS), which allows citizens to be involved in appointing key public officials and overseeing government actions. This means that ordinary people have a hand in ensuring transparency and accountability at the highest levels.

Ecuador has implemented participatory budgeting, especially in rural areas. Communities come together to discuss and decide how public funds should be allocated, ensuring that the unique needs of each area are met. It's a powerful way to ensure that development is driven by the people, for the people.

One of the most striking examples of this participatory approach was the 2023 referendums. Citizens voted to halt oil drilling in Yasuní National Park and stop new mining projects in the Chocó Andino region. These decisions were the result of grassroots movements and reflect the country's commitment to environmental preservation and Indigenous rights.

An interesting aspect of Ecuador's democratic system is its voting requirements. Voting is mandatory for literate citizens aged 18 to 65. Those who fail to vote without a valid excuse may face a fine of approximately $46. However, voting is optional for individuals aged 16 to 17, those over 65, members of the military and police, and people with disabilities. This approach encourages widespread participation while accommodating various circumstances.

It's heartening to see a nation where direct democracy is embraced, where every voice matters so much it is required, and collective action leads to meaningful change. The US would do well to embrace this model.

Looking forward to sharing more about this fascinating topic!

What President Daniel Noboa’s Election Could Mean for Ecuador’s Chocó Andino

In August of 2023, Ecuadorians voted with the forest in their hearts. In a landmark referendum, they said no to mining in the Chocó Andino—a region of deep ecological and cultural importance, and one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. That same day, they also voted to leave oil in the ground in the Yasuní. These votes weren’t just about policies. They were about identity, vision, and the soul of a country.

Now, with Daniel Noboa stepping into the presidency, many of us are wondering: what’s next for the rights of Nature?

Noboa, Ecuador’s youngest-ever president, campaigned largely on promises of economic revival and national security. While his platform said little about environmental issues, the truth is he inherits a moment shaped by the will of the people—a mandate for conservation that cannot be ignored.

The Chocó Andino isn’t just a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It’s a living classroom, a water source, a spiritual sanctuary. It’s home to over 400 species of birds, countless endemic plants and amphibians, cloud-kissed peaks, and families whose ancestral ties to the land stretch back for generations.

And it is under threat—from mining interests, illegal deforestation, and extractive models that see only short-term gains.

The 2023 referendum gave us a rare window: legal recognition that the Chocó Andino should not be sacrificed. But legal wins are only as strong as the political will behind them. This is where President Noboa must decide what kind of legacy he wants to leave.

The communities of the Chocó Andino have long been the guardians of the forest—creating ecotourism initiatives, regenerative farms, and conservation projects rooted in deep place-based knowledge. They’ve shown what sustainable development can look like in practice. Now, they need partnership. They need enforcement of mining bans, not just words. They need investment in real alternatives: in eco-education, community-led tourism, land-based learning, and climate resilience infrastructure.

At Cloud Forest Institute, we believe this moment is not just political—it’s transformational. The path Noboa chooses could either erode years of grassroots efforts or finally align national policy with the visionary work already happening on the ground. We hope he sees that protecting the Chocó Andino is not a barrier to economic development—it’s a blueprint for a future where ecology and economy are no longer in conflict.

We’ll be watching. We’ll be participating. And we’ll be doing what we’ve always done—walking alongside communities, planting seeds of regeneration, and inviting others to come learn, grow, and protect what remains.

Coming Full Circle: In 2026 we will Celebrate 30 Years of Cloud Forest Institute

We are humbled and overjoyed to mark three decades since Cloud Forest Institute first took root in Mindo, Ecuador. What began as a bold dream—to learn, serve, and protect one of the planet’s most precious ecosystems—has grown into a living legacy of partnerships, education, conservation, and community action.

From our earliest efforts supporting cloud forest conservation and Indigenous sovereignty in the face of petroleum exploitation, to guiding hundreds of volunteers, travelers, and students through immersive service-learning experiences, we have seen firsthand the transformative power of connecting people to place. Together with our local partners, we’ve helped protect over 4,000 acres of critical cloud forest habitat, supported community-driven sustainable tourism, and inspired a new generation of environmental stewards.

Now, after a 9-year hiatus focused on family and reflection, we return to Mindo with renewed purpose—and a deepened sense of urgency. The world has changed. The pressures on ecosystems, cultures, and communities have only intensified. But so too has the opportunity to come together and act with clarity, courage, and hope.

As we reignite our programs, we are guided by the wisdom of our history and the fresh energy of this new era. Our roots run deep, and our vision reaches forward: empowering students, volunteers, and lifelong learners to not only explore and appreciate the cloud forest, but to engage meaningfully in its protection.

In a time when regeneration is more vital than ever, we are proud to reawaken our mission—to live, learn, and serve in harmony with nature.

This milestone is not just a celebration of the past—it’s a call to action for the future. We invite you to join us—whether as a student, supporter, or traveler—as we build the next chapter of this extraordinary journey.

The cloud forest is waiting.
The work is calling.
And together, we are just getting started.

Building Cultural Bridges: Welcoming a New Chapter of Learning in Summer 2025

We are thrilled to announce the Cultural Bridges Program, launching in Summer 2025 in proud partnership with Bridge Charter Academy!

After a 9 year hiatus from leading service-learning and ecological immersion experiences in Ecuador, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome a new generation of students ready to connect across cultures, languages, and landscapes.

The Cultural Bridges Program invites students to step out of the classroom and into the vibrant life of Mindo, Ecuador—gateway to the Andean Chocó Cloud Forest. Here, learning won’t be confined to textbooks: Spanish language skills will come alive through everyday conversation, hands will get muddy planting in community gardens, and hearts will open to the rhythms of cloud forest life.

This program represents the heart of what Cloud Forest Institute stands for:
Building real relationships. Practicing service grounded in respect. Learning by doing. Growing by giving.

Together with Bridge Charter Academy, we've designed a transformative field experience where students will:

• Immerse themselves in Spanish through service projects and cultural exchange

• Participate in ecological stewardship, contributing directly to community conservation efforts

• Experience daily life in an Ecuadorian cloud forest town known for its biodiversity, hospitality, and creativity

• Develop a Learning Portfolio, documenting their reflections, growth, and Spanish language practice

The Cultural Bridges Program is more than a travel opportunity—it’s a chance for young people to become global citizens, to deepen their sense of connection to the planet and to one another.

In a world that feels increasingly divided, we believe that building bridges—not walls—is the path forward. This program plants the seeds of empathy, curiosity, and courage in the leaders of tomorrow.

We can’t wait to share this journey with our first cohort of Bridge students—and we are just getting started. 🌎🌿

Stay tuned for updates, photos, and stories from the cloud forest as the Cultural Bridges Program unfolds.

The adventure of a lifetime awaits. And the first step starts here.