EbA in the Dry Forest Ecological Corridor: ecosystem management and inclusive multi-level governance to reduce vulnerabilities and increase resilience to the effects of climate change in local communities

Ecuador is one of the 20 mega-diverse countries in the world, with a great variety and interrelation of ecosystems that provide numerous ecosystem services and environmental goods. The country is divided into four well-defined natural geographic zones (Coast, Sierra, Amazon, and Galapagos Islands) and has 91 types of ecosystems. 

The Dry Forest is a unique and fragile ecosystem of the coastal zone of Ecuador, made up of vegetation adapted to extreme climatic conditions due to the influence of the Humboldt Current. These conditions result in xerophytic vegetation, rainfall concentrated in a few months of the year (>600 mm), and an average annual temperature of 24.9°C. This dry forest provides benefits (ecosystem services) to humans that are essential for life, well-being, and sustainable development. 

This ecosystem is threatened: of the dry forests and tropical savannas that once covered the provincial lands, only 1% remains today. The population of the Chongón-Colonche mountain range faces significant socioeconomic challenges but also has significant potential for development based on the sustainable use of its natural resources. 

The project aims to consolidate the ecosystem management model of the Dry Forest Ecological Corridor of the Chongón-Colonche mountain range (located in the provinces of Manabí, Santa Elena, and Guayas) through a governance based on multi-level and inclusive co-responsibility among actors; the progressive integration of EbA into local plans, regulations, provincial and inter-provincial strategies; and the promotion of an extensive geographical connectivity and broader participation. 

The project will strengthen awareness and understanding of the importance of natural assets and ecosystem services for resilience and local development through training programmes and awareness–raising events, the development of practical guides and the delivery of technical tools, and the creation of permanent spaces for debate, critical analysis, and participatory decision-making. 

Project Status:

Ongoing