Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en Ecuador

The Mancomunidad del Chocó Andino (MCA) in Ecuador manages a 124,000-hectare mosaic of conservation areas, including private reserves and biosphere components, to protect high biodiversity against extractive threats. While the MCA employs a participatory governance model involving local governments and community networks, it faces significant challenges from state-led mining concessions, land tenure insecurity, and fragmented financing. The document argues that the OECM framework could strengthen the MCA by providing legal recognition of local control and facilitating access to sustainable funding, provided it avoids top-down administrative burdens.

• The Mancomunidad del Chocó Andino (MCA) covers 124,000 hectares across six rural parishes in the northwest of the Distrito Metropolitano de Quito, featuring 11 distinct ecosystems and high endemism, with 4050% of orchids and amphibians being endemic.
• The territory is managed as a 'diverse territorial mosaic' comprising various conservation modalities, including 4 geobotanical and ecological reserves, 11 protective forests, 20 private reserves, and the Chocó Andino Biosphere Reserve.
• Mining represents a primary threat, with 15.13% of the MCA territory (18,907 hectares) granted as metallic mining concessions by national entities, often without prior consultation with local governments.
• In August 2023, a popular consultation resulted in 68% of voters supporting a ban on all metallic mining within the 124,000 hectares of the Chocó Andino, although the national government has not fully implemented this mandate.
• Land tenure is highly informal, with approximately 80% of owners or possessors lacking legal documents as of 2021, which restricts access to public policies and financing.
• The MCA implements a Sustainable Land Management (SLM) program that integrates tenure regularization, restoration, and sustainable production, currently covering 540 points across private farms.
• Local perceptions of conservation tools vary: the Biosphere Reserve is often seen as symbolic or 'more of an honor' than an effective tool, while private reserves are viewed as the most effective due to personal conviction and independence from the state.
• Monitoring efforts are primarily focused on biological and ecological data (biodiversity, carbon), leaving a gap in systematic socio-economic monitoring regarding income, food security, and social equity.
• The OECM framework could benefit the MCA by providing legal recognition of local control and facilitating access to international funds (such as REDD+ or climate funds), provided it does not impose new bureaucratic burdens without tangible benefits.

APA

Crespo, J. M., & Lobo, R. (2025). Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en Ecuador. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1820/Ecuador_CS_Mancomunidad_del_Choco_Andino.pdf

Chicago

Crespo, Juan Manuel, and Rafaella Lobo. Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en Ecuador. WWF International, 2025. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1820/Ecuador_CS_Mancomunidad_del_Choco_Andino.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Crespo |first1=Juan Manuel |last2=Lobo |first2=Rafaella |title=Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en Ecuador |publisher=WWF International |date=December 2025 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1820/Ecuador_CS_Mancomunidad_del_Choco_Andino.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{crespo2025del, author = {Crespo, Juan Manuel and Lobo, Rafaella}, title = {{Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en Ecuador}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2025}, month = dec, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1820/Ecuador_CS_Mancomunidad_del_Choco_Andino.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }