Sustainable land use in Quito to safeguard vulnerable communities from floods, droughts and fires

The document outlines a CDKN-supported initiative in Quito, Ecuador, to address climate vulnerabilities such as landslides and wildfires affecting low-income hillside communities. Through a vulnerability study and a five-year Action Plan, the project promoted ecosystem restoration, sustainable agriculture, and the integration of climate resilience into municipal development planning.

• The success of the project depended on the presence of political will, local community interest, and the integration of the initiative with provincial development plans, which are identified as essential enabling conditions for similar projects.
• Engaging priority sectors and empowering key actors, such as agricultural stakeholders in Quito, is necessary to ensure project buy-in and alignment with local needs.
• Medium-scale climate vulnerability studies are improved when local communities are involved in the process and validate the findings, reducing the risk of overlooking local realities.
• To fully realize the potential of the city's adaptation plan, climate resilience criteria must be fully integrated into development planning decisions across all sectors, though this is described as a long and complex process.
• The project led to the creation of a five-year Action Plan with approximately 50 projects, 21 of which were prioritized. Practical outcomes include the establishment of an agroforestry nursery to restore native vegetation and prevent erosion, the resettlement of families from flood-risk areas, and the creation of urban green spaces and farms.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2016). Sustainable land use in Quito to safeguard vulnerable communities from floods, droughts and fires. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CDKN-Essentials_Quito_Final_WEB.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Sustainable land use in Quito to safeguard vulnerable communities from floods, droughts and fires. 2016. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CDKN-Essentials_Quito_Final_WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Sustainable land use in Quito to safeguard vulnerable communities from floods, droughts and fires |date=June 2016 |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CDKN-Essentials_Quito_Final_WEB.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2016sustainable, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Sustainable land use in Quito to safeguard vulnerable communities from floods, droughts and fires}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2016}, month = jun, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CDKN-Essentials_Quito_Final_WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }