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Bioeconomy is positioning itself as a viable option for sustainable management of natural resources in Ecuador. Most of the alternatives promoted by the State and other organizations require considering the role of women as primary users of the forest. To analyse the relationship women-forest, the case of the Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) Kuntze known as “vainillo”, a native species of the Andes with great potential in the textile and food industries, was studied. To learn about the socioeconomic characteristics of vainillo collectors, a survey was applied to 125 families in the province of Loja. According to the results, most of the people involved in this activity are women and older people. Harvesting takes place between May and November, a period that coincides with the dry season and is characterized by male migration. This activity generates an average of US$100 per year, which complements income from agriculture. Ninety-five percent of harvesters depend on natural forests, so care and access to this resource are essential. Initiatives to promote vainillo should apply gender-focused strategies to empower women harvesters.
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