For the communities of Riobamba, Guano, and Penipe, the capulí—or Andean black cherry—is a constant companion of the inter-Andean valleys. It is the essential ingredient of jucho, the dark, spiced beverage shared during the Pawkar Raymi harvest festivals, and its deep roots have long served as a silent defense against the erosion of steep agricultural terraces. Yet, as soils were thinned by wind and the persistent ash of the Tungurahua volcano, the native stands of Prunus serotina began to falter.
Recognizing this quiet decline, Ing. Carlos Jara, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources, led a group of researchers to bridge the gap between the laboratory and the field. They did not merely seek to plant trees, but to improve them, selecting genetic material that could better withstand the harsh conditions of the central Andes while providing a more bountiful harvest for the families who rely on them.
The closing of the project was marked not by speeches alone, but by the physical transfer of stewardship. These final one thousand plants represent a culmination of work begun years ago, moving from the university's research plots into the hands of those who know the soil best. By diversifying the local economy with fruit production and furniture-grade timber, the project seeks to ensure that the rural population can remain on their ancestral lands.
As the ceremony concluded, the researchers and farmers stood together—a rare moment where the precision of science met the practical needs of the territory. The small saplings, with their dark, fine-grained wood still hidden beneath youthful bark, are now scattered across the parishes of Chimborazo, beginning the slow work of holding the mountain together.