CoRenewal[edit]

Quick Info[edit]

Location:	Multiple locations (Ecuador, California, USA)
Founded:	2010 (formerly Amazon MycoRenewal Project)
Focus:	Ecosystem restoration through mycoremediation and bioremediation research
Contact:	www.corenewal.org

About Us[edit]

CoRenewal (formerly known as Amazon MycoRenewal Project) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education and research in ecosystem restoration, health and healing, and sustainable community dynamics. Founded in 2010, we have been at the forefront of developing innovative ecological solutions for over a decade, from supporting Indigenous communities impacted by oil spills in the Amazon to catalyzing post-fire watershed defense mobilizations in California. We bring together grassroots bioremediation, rigorous scientific research, and community skill-building by allying with fungi and other biological entities to facilitate innovative research and implementation of community-led, nature-based remediation technologies.

What We Work On[edit]

Pollutants We Address[edit]

Petroleum contamination and oil spills in Amazon ecosystems
Post-wildfire toxic ash and debris runoff
Heavy metals in contaminated agricultural soils
Municipal landfill runoff pollution
PCBs and other persistent organic pollutants
Toxic substances affecting watershed health
Ecosystem degradation from industrial contamination

Methods We Use[edit]

Mycoremediation - Using fungi to break down petroleum, heavy metals, and organic toxins
Post-fire biofiltration - Fungal wattles and mycobooms for watershed protection
Microbial community restoration - Bacterial and fungal inoculation for soil health
Community education - Workshops and courses on applied mycology and bioremediation
Collaborative research - Scientific studies with academic institutions and local communities
Indigenous knowledge integration - Working with traditional ecological knowledge systems

Current Projects[edit]

Post-Fire Biofiltration Initiative (PFBI)[edit]

Evaluating the efficacy of fungal inoculation for ecological regeneration and recovery in post-wildfire landscapes, specifically developing mycowattles for protecting waterways from toxic ash runoff.

Location: Northern California burn zones and high-risk waterways
What we're treating: Toxic ash and debris from burned structures, watershed contamination
How: Mycorrhizal fungal spores, fungal-inoculated wattles, native mushroom cultivation
Status: Active research with Wildlife Conservation Society Climate Adaptation Fund support

Amazon Petroleum Remediation Research[edit]

Long-term research program investigating fungi and bacteria capable of biodegrading petroleum contamination in collaboration with Indigenous communities in Ecuador's Sucumbíos region.

Location: Ecuadorian Amazon, Sucumbíos Province
What we're treating: Legacy oil contamination from Chevron/Texaco operations
How: Oyster mushroom cultivation, aerated compost tea, indigenous fungal species
Status: Ongoing field research and community partnership development

FENiXS: Fire Ecology Network in X-site Study[edit]

Multi-site longitudinal research examining how fungal treatments vary across different environmental conditions, climate zones, and time since fire events.

Location: Multiple sites across latitudinal gradient in Western US
What we're treating: Post-fire ecosystem degradation and soil health
How: Comparative fungal and microbial community inoculation methods
Status: Year 3 of research, supported by Wildlife Conservation Society

Past Success[edit]

Sonoma County Fire Remediation[edit]

Successfully deployed over 56 miles of fungal-inoculated wattles across Sonoma County following the 2017 Tubbs, Nuns, and Pocket fires through the Fire Remediation Action Coalition.

Challenge: Protecting watersheds from toxic runoff after devastating wildfires
Solution: Rapid deployment of mycoremediation technology and community mobilization
Result: Established proof-of-concept for large-scale post-fire mycoremediation and created replicable model for emergency response

MycoRenewal Course Series Success[edit]

Completed multiple successful online education programs including "Introduction to Mycorenewal: Regeneration & Resilience" reaching hundreds of participants globally.

Challenge: Building community capacity for grassroots bioremediation implementation
Solution: Comprehensive 6-7 week online courses with expert mycologists and practitioners
Result: Trained cohorts of community practitioners and established MycoRenewal Community Micro-grant program with North Spore partnership

Amazon Community Partnerships[edit]

Established long-term collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities and local organizations in Ecuador for petroleum contamination research and remediation.

Challenge: Addressing legacy oil contamination while respecting Indigenous sovereignty and knowledge
Solution: Collaborative research model integrating scientific methods with traditional ecological knowledge
Result: Ongoing 13+ year partnership providing both environmental remediation and economic development through mushroom cultivation

Get Involved[edit]

We're Looking For:[edit]

Research collaborators and academic partnerships
Volunteer field researchers and citizen scientists
Community groups interested in post-fire or contamination remediation
Funding for expansion of research sites and community programs
Indigenous knowledge keepers and traditional ecological practitioners
Students and early-career researchers in mycology and environmental science
Fire-affected communities interested in watershed protection

We Can Offer:[edit]

Scientific research design and implementation support
Educational workshops and mycology courses
Community organizing and partnership facilitation
Technical expertise in mycoremediation and post-fire recovery
Access to research networks and academic collaborations
Micro-grant opportunities through community grant program
Training in applied mycology and bioremediation techniques

Contact Us[edit]

Website: www.corenewal.org
Facebook: Facebook.com/amazonmycorenewalproject
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/company/corenewal
EIN: 45-4660185 (501(c)(3) tax-exempt)
Executive Director: Maya Elson
Best way to reach us: Through website contact form or social media for project inquiries

Last updated: June 24, 2025
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