2024-08-16 21:33:53
Twenty-two producer organizations, local communities and indigenous peoples from Napo, Chimborazo and Morona Santiago are benefiting from the “Parks for Life” project of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE), with technical assistance from FAO and CONDESAN.
Ecuador, one of the 12 megadiverse countries in the world, is seeking an efficient management model for the State Subsystem of Protected Areas (SEAP) that meets the objectives of conservation, social participation and sustainable use of environmental resources. The “Parks for Life” project contributes to this objective, with an investment of 4.4 million dollars and a term of 5 years.
The project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and executed by the Consortium for Sustainable Development for the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN), will be implemented on 6,000 hectares of the Cayambe-Coca and Sangay National Parks. It is expected to train 1,880 officials, technicians and park rangers, and benefit 3,000 families, with at least 40% of them being women.
Gherda Barreto, FAO Representative in Ecuador, highlighted the importance of the project: “This intervention will contribute to strengthening governance and the integrated management of agro-productive landscapes and the sustainable use of ecosystems. Our vision of development is comprehensive, incorporating environmental, cultural, food, social and economic aspects to achieve sustainable development.”
In the coming months, new alliances will be established with Decentralized Autonomous Governments (GAD), academia and private and civil society organizations for the execution of the project.