“My dream was to plant millions of trees and I'm not going to do it alone.”

The Andes, located in South America, are the longest mountain range in the world. It stretches for a spectacular distance of nine thousand kilometers. The huge area is home to many unique animal species, including spectacled bears, pumas and the Andean condor. More than five thousand meters above sea level, the mountain slopes are covered with plants of this species polylepiswhich are the only ones able to develop in such conditions. They include trees that play an important role in the regional ecosystem. The water they store from clouds and melting glaciers is slowly released by the spongy moss, thus feeding mountain streams and ultimately the springs of the Amazon River.

Unfortunately, this unique world is brutally losing the fight against human activity. As noted by the American station CNN, as a result of deforestation and construction, only 500,000 hectares of land remain, which is about 1-10 percent of the original area. Thus, the forest ceased to be a natural barrier against floods and soil erosion, and the safety of people living at the foot of the Andes was threatened.

However, in recent years there have been initiatives aimed at rebuilding the crumbling ecosystem. One of them is co-created by Constantino Aucca Chutas, a Peruvian biologist whose grandparents were farmers from the indigenous Quechua community.

– When I was a child, I grew up near rivers admiring the creatures and beauty of this nature. “I thought it would be great if we could pass this on to the next generations,” he told CNN.

Aucca Chutas is a co-founder of the Accion Andina project, which aims to restore mountain forests and protect local communities that depend on them. Although initially activities took place only in Peru, the initiative has now expanded to Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia. As part of it, over a million hectares of Andean forest are to be restored by 2045.

The co-author of the initiative explained on CNN that concern for the environment is deeply rooted in the nature of the Incas. Native tribes believe in the so-called the concept of “Ayni and Minka”, which involves working together for the common good.

– We were first united in the Andes during the Inca Empire. The second time we united in the fight for independence. Now is the third time we are united. United for one tree – said Aucca Chutas.

Every year, a tree-growing festival takes place in the valleys near the Peruvian city of Cuzco. After traditional rituals, which include music and dance, participants dressed in traditional costumes begin their journey deep into the mountains. They carry with them bundles of young tree seedlings of the species Polylepis. In previous years, up to 100,000 trees were planted in just one day.

In the process, the knowledge of the Inca is invaluable because it was discovered that trees Polylepis vary depending on region and altitude. In return for help, Accion Andina provides communities with support such as arranging medical care and installing solar panels to help provide electricity to villages.

– My dream was to plant millions of trees and I do not intend to do it alone – emphasized the biologist.

Accion Andina's activities have been appreciated internationally. This year, the initiative co-created by Aucca Chutasa received the “Earthshot Prize” in the “nature conservation and restoration” category, awarded by Prince William. Two years earlier, the Peruvian biologist was hailed by the United Nations as a “Champion of the Earth”.

“This community-led recovery is an example of how people can come together for nature, creating jobs and increasing conservation efforts around the world,” Elizabeth Mrema, deputy executive director of the UN Environment Program, told CNN.