Global Community: Randy Borman and the Cofán Forest Guardians | Ep. 9

In this episode we’ll be talking to Randy Borman, a respected leader among the Cofán  indigenous people of Ecuador. Randy was born at the headwaters of the Amazon; he grew up among the Cofán  people, speaking their language and living life in the forest as any young Cofán does. However, he also learned American culture from his missionary parents, and later pursued a Western university education before returning to his home and his people in Ecuador. Today, Randy is a respected leader among the Cofán, and is also well-known internationally among global environmental advocates. In our conversation we talk about indigenous worldviews, the unseen world, protecting the rain forest as a defense against climate change, and the need for a global cooperative approach to earthkeeping.

Notes:

Guest: Randy Borman - Head of Fundación Sobrevivencia Cofan

Cofan Survival Fund webpage

Randy Borman bio

Washington Post interview

Cofan Facebook page

Cofan people - Wikipedia page

Cofan and ecotourism program

If you would like to support the work of Cofán earthkeepers in Ecuador, you’ll find a link to the Cofán Survival Fund in this episode’s notes section. And please note that Randy’s dream of a coop approach to carbon offsetting is still just an idea. If you or someone you know would be interested in further conversation about putting such a plan into action, we would love to be in conversation with you. Please send an email with your ideas and questions to [email protected].

Key words:

Amazon rainforest, Ecuador, indigenous, Cofan, carbon offsetting, carbon coop, forest management, carbon sequestration, river turtle, environmental exploitation, Cofán

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