Our History
1992
At the Earth Summit in Río de Janeiro, Brazil, many in the international conservation community acknowledged that conventional approaches to protecting the planet’s rapidly diminishing biodiversity often did not take into account the needs of the people living in and around threatened areas. The conservation strategy they envisioned would seek to understand and integrate local needs by addressing the underlying social and economic causes of habitat loss. Out of this vision, co-founders Shaun Paul and Russell Byers establish EcoLogic Development Fund.
1993
EcoLogic sets up office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and with a staff of one, EcoLogic awards its first grant of $30,000 to the Mario Dary Foundation for a conservation project in Punta Munabique, Guatemala.
1994
EcoLogic initiates its second project in Petén, Guatemala, with the Bio Itza Association and hires its first full-time field staff member, based in-country.
1995
EcoLogic provides a two-year, $44,000 grant to support economic self-determination and natural resource management in 30 indigenous Guatemalan villages. Partnership with the Maya Forestry Action Plan is formalized.
1996
EcoLogic expands to Honduras as we strengthen local capacity and participation in management and protection of the Jeannette Kawas National Park.
1997
Hurricane Mitch wreaks havoc in Central America. EcoLogic responds with more than $70,000 in relief aid. EcoLogic begins work with the Foundation of Pico Bonito National Park in Honduras to coordinate relief efforts.
1999
EcoLogic and its Honduran partner organization join forces to train 100 villages in the buffer zone of the Pico Bonito National Park on how to stabilize their soils and protect their water sources.
William Foote joins EcoLogic and EcoLogic Finance is established as a vehicle to provide loans to small and medium firms dedicated to exporting “green” products like organic coffee, fair trade, or other sustainably produced products.
2000
EcoLogic begins working with a partner in Belize to create a blueprint for the local indigenous community to manage the Sarstoon Temash National Park. A Program Officer for Belize is hired.
2001
EcoLogic expands into Mexico and hires a Mexican Country Coordinator. Work begins with the National Federation of Autonomous Campesino Organizations (UNORCA) to promote agro-forestry.
Executive Director Shaun Paul is awarded a Rockefeller Next Generation Leader Fellowship.
2002
EcoLogic participates in the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, leading to a heightened focus on freshwater conservation and integrated watershed management.
Partnership with Ulew Che' Ja' (Earth, Trees, Water) is formed in Totonicapán, Guatemala.
2003
EcoLogic launches its Water Campaign to increase watershed protection and potable water infrastructure to help rural communities reforest water sources.
EcoLogic’s Shaun Paul serves as co-chair of the Partnership Sub-Committee of White Water to Blue Water (WW2BW): an initiative of governments of Spain, Great Britain, the U.S., and a variety of non-governmental organizations formed to develop a plan to promote the sustainable use of water in the Caribbean Basin.
2004
EcoLogic initiates partnership with the Regional Council of Sierra de Guerrero in Mexico.
With our partner in Honduras, EcoLogic begins the set up of Pico Bonito Forests, a model carbon-offset and sustainable development project.
2005
EcoLogic establishes a Regional Program Director based in Guatemala and launches its Ambassador Campaign to strengthen its fundraising.
In response to Hurricane Stan, EcoLogic and EcoLogic Finance team up to assist in Mexico and Guatemala.
2006
EcoLogic participates in the 4th World Water Forum, attended by 19,000, where our Guatemalan partner, Ulew Che’ Ja', is recognized as a top-ten finalist for the Kyoto Water Prize, awarded to the best grassroots water project in the world.
Pico Bonito LLC plants its inaugural tree and receives approval of its carbon-measuring 
methodology under the Clean Development Model (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. EcoLogic joins as the #4 approved methodology worldwide.
EcoLogic hires its first Managing Director.
EcoLogic Finance becomes Root Capital and becomes a separate entity. Root Capital and EcoLogic continue to work together on areas of synergy.
EcoLogic and its Belizean partner, SATIIM wage a successful campaign to demand an environmental impact assessment prior to any oil exploration activities in the Sarstoon Temash National Park.
2007
EcoLogic teams up with ProNatura in Mexico to begin watershed management restoration efforts in Veracruz.
The Municipalities of the Central Atlantic Department in Honduras (MAMUCA) enlist EcoLogic’s expertise in watershed management and restoration of biological corridor.
EcoLogic's Belizean partner SATIIM, along with other indigenous groups in southern Belize, win landmark legal victory that recognizes indigenous land rights around the Sarstoon Temash National Park.
2008
EcoLogic forms strategic alliance with Reforestamos Mexico to promote conservation-led development among indigenous communities.
