Ecuador is a multi-faceted and diverse country. The Ecuadorian producers of herbs and medicinal plants in the Amazonian, Andean and coastal regions of the Pacific have founded the Network of Producers of Herbs and Medicinal Plants “Mashi Numi”.

The name Mashi Numi is composed of one word in Quichua and one in Shuar language.  Mashi (Quichua) means ‘friend’ and Numi (Shuar) stands for ‘forest´ thus, being a ‘friend of the forest’ implies:
- Sufficient knowledge and adequate use of the plant
- Production in harmony with the environment
- Conscientious practices such as organic production and sound farming and harvesting
  practices.

Amazon
Ancient cultures with unparalleled wisdom of the use of plants. The most prominent Amazonian cultures are the Shuar and Ashuar cultures.

Andes
 Land of the Incan and pre-Incan cultures. Production takes place over vast areas of woods and farmland located between giant volcanoes and very close to the sun.  

Pacific Coast 
A region featuring a sub-tropical climate, with an eco-system ranging from tropical cloud forest to tropical wet forest. It is populated by native cultures who are descendants from African Ecuadorians or Indigenous people.