CEPF's investment in the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena Biodiversity Hotspot was guided by the following strategic directions as outlined in the ecosystem profile.

  1. Establish/strengthen local and regional mechanisms to foster corridor-level conservation.
     
    • 1.1 Develop and operationalize existing and new frameworks and processes for information exchange, alliance building, and dialogue for coordination between stakeholders, governments, international donors, and NGOs.
       
    • 1.2 In a civil society led effort prepare a financing strategy for conservation in the corridor, to examine trust funds, endowments, conservation concessions and eco-trusts.
       
    • 1.3 Support environmental monitoring and evaluation systems for development and conservation initiatives and for selected species.
       
    • 1.4 Through civil society efforts, incorporate corridor conservation priorities and plans into the Ecuadorian National Biodiversity Strategy, and into Ecuadorian local and regional development and decentralization plans; integrate coastal ecosystems into corridor priorities.
       
    • 1.5 Increase awareness of, and support for, biodiversity conservation in the corridor among key stakeholder groups.*
       
    • 1.6 Through targeted civil society initiatives, improve and consolidate legal framework for national systems of protected areas.*
       
    • 1.7 Launch and complete transfrontier territory planning processes, including agro-ecological zoning of critical areas, to promote land use that is compatible with corridor priorities.*
       
    • 1.8 Ensure that civil society efforts lead to the incorporation of biodiversity concerns into decision-making processes associated with major initiatives, such as Plan Colombia, Plan Pacifico, and Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline.*
       
  2. Bring selected protected areas and species under improved management.
     
    • 2.1 Through civil society efforts prepare and implement management plans for selected protected areas, including Mache Chindul Reserve, Angel Ecological Reserve, and Awa Forest Reserve.
       
    • 2.2 Consolidate selected protected areas - through targeted civil society efforts - including Tatamas, Utria, San Quianga, Farallones de Cali, Munchiques, Galeras, Callapas Matage.
       
    • 2.3 Improve protection and management of habitat for critical species and Cotacachi Cayapas.
       
    • 2.4 Foster and support applied research on little known, threatened and endemic species and habitats.*
       
    • 2.5 Strengthen the institutional capacity of municipalities, communities, NGOs, and the private sector for protected areas management.*
       
  3. Identify and promote sustainable development practices in communities near selected protected areas.
     
    • 3.1 Identify, demonstrate, and disseminate best practices in key sub-sectors: improved forest management, carbon sequestration projects, reforestation; agroforestry, NTFP, coffee, and cacao; sustainable shrimp farming; and ecotourism.
       
    • 3.2 Identify, demonstrate, and disseminate traditional uses of natural resources.*
       

*Investment priorities to be supported in conjunction with funding partners through funds leveraged by CEPF support.

Read more about CEPF's strategy in the hotspot in our ecosystem profile (PDF - 1.5 MB), also available in Spanish (PDF - 1.2 MB).