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Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Ecuador is one of the world’s “megadiverse” countries. It is divided into 4 well-defined geographical zones: the coast, the mountain range, the eastern divide and the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador possesses 26 distinguished habitat types, each one with characteristic flora related to altitude and precipitation. Among these are three of the world’s 10 biodiversity “hot spots,” which correspond to managed areas having high floral and faunal diversity: the humid forests of the northwest, the outside faces of the mountain range and the Amazon forests of the northeast. Species representation among taxa is as follows: 21,000 plants, 402 amphibians, 407 reptiles (100 endemics), 706 fish, 1,559 birds (37 endemics) and 324 mammals (21 endemics). Several threats to biodiversity include: deforestation, firewood collection, urban expansion, petroleum exploration and exploitation, agriculture, mining, fishing, overexploitation of natural resources, poverty and human migrations.

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

The National Protected Areas System accounts for about 16% of the national territory, covering 4,392,514ha in 22 areas.

Percentage of Forest Cover

The total forest cover is about 11,551,000ha, of which 11,473,000ha are natural forest and 78,000ha are plantations, and represents 42% of the total national surface area.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The 2020 vision of Ecuador’s National Strategy is: that Ecuador conserve and sustainably use its biodiversity, which is expressed in a better quality of life for its population, in the optimal use of its associated economic, social, cultural and environmental resources, and in the equitable distribution of the costs and benefits, derived from the use and conservation of biodiversity resources, among Ecuadorian society. To develop this vision the National Strategy and Action Plan proposes 4 main strategic axes, along with management measure, priority areas and actions. The 4 strategic axes are: consolidate and strengthen the sustainability of production activities based on native biodiversity; ensure the existence, integrity and functionality of all biodiversity components (ecosystems, species and genes); balance pressures from conservation and sustainable use on biodiversity; and guarantee the respect and exercise of individual and collective rights to participate in decisions relating to access and control of resources, and ensure that the benefits from the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, as well as the knowledge, innovations and practices of the indigenous communities and local populations are justly and equitably distributed.
 

• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (Spanish)