SUPPORTING PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF COASTAL TROPICAL FOREST IN ECUADOR S NEW CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE

General

THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE RECenTLY DECLARED MANAB CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE AREA (ACUS), A 207,000 HA BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR COMPRISING FOUR CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES IN COASTAL ECUADOR, BY STRenGTHenING AND IMPLEMenTING INCenTIVES FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE TROPICAL FOREST. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL PROTECT AND CONNECT KEY REMNANTS OF HIGHLY THREATenED DECIDUOUS, SEMI DECIDUOUS, AND SEMI HUMID FOREST ALONG ECUADOR S CenTRAL COAST THAT PROVIDE HABITAT FOR MANY THREATenED SPECIES INCLUDING THE CRITICALLY enDANGERED EQUATORIAL CAPUCHIN (CEBUS AEQUATORIALIS) AND ESMERALDAS WOODSTAR (CHAETOCERCUS BERLEPSCHI). CONSERVATION EASEMenTS AND OTHER INCenTIVES FOR CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION WILL BE IMPLEMenTED, PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES TO DEFORESTATION AND UNSUSTAINABLE LAND USES, SUCH AS BURNING TO MAINTAIN CATTLE PASTURES AND MONOCULTURED CROPLAND, THE TWO MOST DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE THREATS TO THE REGION S FOREST COVER, BIODIVERSITY, AND CLIMATE. THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES ARE TO 1) ADVISE AND TRAIN COMMUNITY LEADERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMenT OFFICIALS ON THE APPLICATION OF NEW AND EXISTING POLICIES THAT SUPPORT LANDOWNERS WHO PROTECT AND RESTORE FOREST ON PRIVATE LANDS (INCLUDING CONSERVATION EASEMenTS, PROPERTY TAX EXONERATION, AND LAND MANAGEMenT ASSISTANCE) 2) IMPLEMenT CONSERVATION EASEMenTS WITH LOCAL L