Eighteen years ago, the provincial government of Tungurahua launched a paramo management plan aimed at restoring high-altitude flora and fauna while addressing local poverty. The initiative sought to decrease livestock pressure and reduce agricultural work in these sensitive environments, alongside improving water sources for the communities. Reports indicate that there is noticeable progress in the ecological condition of the paramos, leading to the restoration of water springs.

Despite these ecological improvements, community leaders and local authorities express concern that the poverty alleviation objectives of the plan have not been fully met. They point to continued emigration trends, with many young people, and entire families moving away from rural areas to larger cities or abroad in search of better economic opportunities. This migration underscores ongoing socioeconomic challenges faced by the populations relying on the paramo ecosystems.

The situation highlights the delicate balance between ecological restoration efforts and the pressing need for economic support for rural communities. As the plan continues, it may require a deeper focus on economic development strategies alongside environmental restoration to ensure that the goals of poverty reduction are adequately addressed, thereby preventing further depopulation of these vulnerable areas.