The Cofán now

At present, the Cofán of Zábalo are continuing their goals of conservation and wise use of their environment. Conservation projects are the main economic activities, while hunting, fishing, and subsistence agriculture provide the daily needs of the village. The growth of an identity along with a pride in their history and traditions is very apparent in this community.

Dureno is now the largest Cofán community, with over three hundred inhabitants. Lack of forest resources has pushed most people into some form of commercial agriculture, but the culture remains strong and the language intact.

Cofán villages are all in various states of risk due to colonization and lack of organization. Dovuno is the most affected, with little more than two thousand hectares available and a high rate of intermarriage with the Quichua-speaking colonists from the Napo region to the south. Sinangoe still maintains a good land base but is likewise losing tradition and culture to intermarriage with Spanish-speaking colonists. Chandia Nae, the smallest community with less than eighty people, is isolated and still maintains its traditional lifestyle. The Colombian Cofáns have largely been acculturated by intense colonization in their region, and land usage areas are sharply curtailed.

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