Recent History

Arcoiris was created as a response to the environmental problems in Southern Ecuador. It's first actions were directed at the fight against destructive mining within Podocarpus National Park, the result of which was the end of illegally granted mining rights by the Ecuadorian Institute of Mining in 1993. This was approved and enforced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Ranching and the National System of Protected Areas.

The years following mark an important milestone in the conservation of the region, because these initial actions motivated the active participation of new public and private supporters. Their continued activism has helped maintain that, to this day, no more mining rights have been given in any of the protected areas. They even helped out in a similar situation later on, when road construction began in protected areas. Arcoiris and its supporters were able to put a stop to the problem once again with the decree Tribunal de Garantías Constitucionales.

Recognitions

• September of 1989:   Comité Permanente de IX Feria Regional del Sur, First Prize in the exposition Conservación del Medio Ambiente
   
• April of 1984:   CAJE (Centro de apoyo juvenil Ecuatoriano-Loja) named Arcoiris "Organismo Trabajador por el bien de la Comunidad"
   
• May of 1994, London, England:   PNUMA (Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente) "Premio Global 500"
   
• July of 1994, Quito, Ecuador:   Television Program TELEAMAZONAS' National Award "Planeta Azul" for Ecologic Merit
   
• 1998, Loja, Ecuador:   Cámara Provincial de Turismo, recognition for the support of ecologic tourism development in the South
   
• November, 2000, Ilustre Municipio de Loja:   Ecologic Merit Award "Reinaldo Espinoza"
   
• May, 2001, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja:   Recognition for institutional support
   
• 2001, Ilustre Municipio de Sozoranga:   Recognition for creating jobs in Sozoranga