NATURAL CAPITAL SOLUTIONS
Ecuador’s coast supports more than 60 000 artisanal fishers, yet faces severe pressure from overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change. These threats endanger both marine biodiversity and the livelihoods that depend on it. Despite the presence of established Marine and Coastal Protected Areas (MCPAs), management is ineffective with gaps in governance, enforcement, and community participation.
This program aims to conserve Ecuador’s coastline by improving the management practices of seven MCPAs in Manabí and Santa Elena provinces while creating alternative sustainable incomes and supporting artisanal fisheries. Focused efforts will be on strengthening management of the MCPAs with better control and monitoring systems and the establishment of alternative livelihoods, with increased community participation, educational opportunities, and inclusion of women-led projects.
The goal is to conserve the coastline of Manabí and Santa Elena provinces while improving the sustainable livelihoods of the communities that depend on it and its healthy ecosystems. The program focuses on strengthening MCPA management through assessments, new tools, and improved co-management with fishers; diversifying livelihoods with market studies and pilot projects; and promoting sustainability through microgrants and communication campaigns.
Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco is dedicated to supporting the sustainable management of protected areas and expanding conservation efforts across mainland and the Galápagos. Since then, Jocotoco has established a network of 19 conservation reserves totalling over 46,341 ha protecting some of the world’s most endangered species by conserving their remaining natural habitats.
Jocotoco’s actions work to compliment the efforts by the Ecuadorian Government to project Ecuador’s globally significant biodiversity. Its approach focuses on close engagement with local communities and helping authorities integrate sustainable livelihoods, including fishing and tourism.
The 2014 Galápagos Protected Areas Management Plan was created to safeguard the Galápagos region’s natural and cultural heritage. It provides a comprehensive framework for managing the Galápagos National Park (GNP) and the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR). In line with regulatory requirements, the Management Plan must be updated every ten years. A key prior step to this process is to undertake a Management Effectiveness Assessment, which generates findings to be incorporated into the new plan and provides the foundation for aligning it with more recent management instruments, such as the current Special Law for Galápagos (2015) and the Galápagos Territorial Zoning Plan (Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial). This ensures that management strategies remain consistent with contemporary governance frameworks, conservation needs and sustainable livelihoods priorities.
OFC is funding the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Management Plan to create a platform for the future update of the Management Plan to ensure alignment with the current regulatory regime and global best practices. The aim is to ensure a stronger, more adaptive framework for the long-term protection of the Galápagos ecosystems while supporting the wellbeing of its people.