Preserving Key Biodiversity Areas: Ecuador Towards a Sustainable Future

24 Abr 2024
When you value something, you protect it. We have limited time. We have to use that time well. In conservation, some places are crucial for preserving Earth's biodiversity. These places go by the name of Key Biodiversity Areas or KBAs.

The Global Standard for Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) accomplishes this by prioritizing and preserving habitats crucial for unique and endangered species. The KBA association, which includes 13 of the world's largest conservation organizations, developed this standard, which the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) approved in 2016.

In 2022, BirdLife International and Fundación Jocotoco launched the KBA project in Ecuador. In line with international commitments, Jocotoco compiled biodiversity data, fostered collaboration among public and private entities and independent researchers, and advocated for using scientific criteria in conservation initiatives.

We recently unveiled the outcomes of the KBA Ecuador project. Ecuador boasts 125 identified KBAs, home to 878 species of flora and fauna. 504 are unique to the KBAs to which they correspond.

"Identifying the 125 KBAs in Ecuador helps us focus on conserving them. We should celebrate this achievement together. At Jocotoco, we strongly believe that the best way to conserve nature is by collaborating with different groups, especially local communities, and using scientific knowledge to guide us," says David Parra, Jocotoco's Conservation Director.

Jocotoco's expertise in conservation allows us to execute this project effectively. We currently protect and manage a network of 17 reserves, all located in KBA zones, where we have identified 4,244 species. Thanks to Ecuador's rich biodiversity, we protect 10% of bird species worldwide in our reserves, which cover only 0.0002% of the Earth's land surface. Our aim is to protect large landscapes, creating networks and corridors, from lowland rainforests to high Andean páramos. Our focus is on the big picture so that nature and people can thrive in the long run.

The Utility of KBA

Manuel Sánchez, coordinator of the KBA project, highlights the crucial role that KBAs play in shaping Ecuador's public policies for development and conservation:

"They contribute to achieving the 30x30 goal of protecting 30% of the country's land and sea by 2030. Furthermore, community involvement in the process aligns traditional knowledge with scientific understanding of biodiversity."

The Kichwa community of Santa Clara, in the Ecuadorian Amazon region, showed how helpful the KBA tool can be. They used it to protect the Piatúa River from the construction of a hydroelectric dam that would affect its flow. Jessica Grefa, from the Kichwa Piatúa Resists Collective, says:

"We learned about the goal and importance of the KBA during training in Tena. We joined efforts to do a study that provided ecological info about our territories. This includes the views and knowledge of the original Kichwa people. The study recorded 261 species. Two were frog species so unique that our territory became a KBA."

Businesses can also use KBA information to be better stewards in these areas. This way, they can reduce or avoid harm to the environment.

Join the mission to protect Key Biodiversity Areas. Visit https://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/ for more information. Let's preserve Ecuador's natural wealth for future generations!