|
Quito, Ecuador
September 18th 2009
Ecuador has approximately 10 million hectares of native forests. Those forests store a large amount of carbon, hold levels of biodiversity that are among the highest on the planet, and generate other environmental services crucial for human well being. Around 60% of the forest area is located outside the National System of Protected Areas, most of which is owned by private land owners and indigenous communities
However, those forests are seriously threatened in areas with high forest cover, 64% of the population lives in poverty and around 22% in extreme poverty. Under these conditions, pressure to exploit and convert forests is high, among others because there is a lack of economic incentives to conserve the forest. Ecuador has one of the highest deforestation rates in the region. Around 200,000 hectares of native forest are lost each year, which represents CO2 emissions of about 55 million tons per year.
Read More...
ECUADOR: National Government Advising on Relevant Legal and Institutional Frameworks Based on Past Experiences Across Latin America
 Ecuador is currently in the process of drafting laws to regulate environmental services, and the Ministry of Environment had expressed an interest in learning from the experiences of other countries in the Latin American region. In response, The Katoomba Group assembled a team which included experts from the IUCN Environmental Law Center, and RISAS – a Quito-based PES network.
This rapid response began with a one-day public seminar attended by 40 individuals from government agencies, NGOs, academia, and donor organizations. Following this open forum, expertise was provided through a one-day closed meeting to four members of Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment. Discussion focused on legal and institutional frameworks related to PES in South American countries. Presentations were made about PES-related law in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, and Katoomba Rapid Response partners answered questions from the Sub-Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Tannya Lozada.
For additional resources:
Payments for Ecosystem Services – Legal and Institutional Frameworks
 Following the workshop and Rapid Response, The Tropical America Katoomba Group and IUCN Environmental Law Center completed a joint publication: “Payments for Ecosystem Services – Legal and Institutional Frameworks”, edited by Thomas Greiber. The document analyzes legal and institutional frameworks for water-based payments for ecosystem services and includes in-depth case studies of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Key topics include: legal and institutional frameworks; property rights; contracts; securities and risk allocation; negotiation processes; monitoring, non-compliance and enforcement; dispute resolution; and public participation.
The Katoomba Legal Initiative
The Katoomba Group's Legal Initiative has developed considerably since this 2009 consultation. Its current objectives include:
- Examine existing law and policy frameworks around PES;
- Inform the development of equitable PES laws and policies; and
- Collect and disseminate tools and resources related to PES law and policy to individuals, lawyers, and project developers.
To learn more, visit the website http://www.katoombagroup.org/regions/international/legal.php or email Slayde Hawkins, Legal Advisor and Policy Analyst shawkins[at]forest-trends.org.
| 
