This document provides an introduction to ancestral knowledge and medicinal plants used by indigenous communities in Ecuador. It discusses the cultural and biological diversity of the Sierra, Costa, and Amazon regions of Ecuador where different indigenous nationalities are located. The document notes that ancestral knowledge is an important part of local identity and that medicinal plants have been used for generations based on accumulated experience. It provides examples of some common medicinal plants used by Mochica people in La Joya de los Sachas including tumbo, guayusa, piñon, chuchuhuasi, and sacha inchi. The municipality of La Joya de los Sachas and the Municipal Council of Emparo Social Joya de los Sachas are working