Innovating in conservation: First workshop on ecosystem services in KBAs

This global effort, funded by the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) and led by BirdLife International, is developed in collaboration with UNEP-WCMC, Durham University and the Jocotoco Foundation. 

The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants from the Ecuadorian regions of El Oro, Loja and Zamora, including government decision-makers, community leaders and academics, who were trained by two international experts on how to identify, measure and value ecosystem services. 

First, Gabriela Toscano, BirdLife International Site Manager for the Americas, delved into the concept of KBAs, explaining that these areas are identified based on scientific criteria that evaluate ecosystems and species at risk. "Protecting these areas means protecting the most valuable part of our biodiversity. "It is essential to know where they are and how to manage them in order to make informed decisions and allocate strategic resources that really make a difference," she stated. She also highlighted the importance of involving local stakeholders in this training process, especially the communities that depend on these areas. "It is crucial that the communities that directly depend on these resources have the necessary knowledge to make decisions about their management and conservation," she expressed. 

Stefano Barchiesi, one of the speakers and representative of BirdLife International's Global Science Division, underlined the importance of this project for the future of global biodiversity. "This effort seeks to support developing countries in creating policies that not only protect biodiversity, but also contribute to improving livelihoods and reducing poverty, all while addressing the challenges of climate change," he explained. He also highlighted that the project is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement, establishing a strategic vision where biodiversity and climate interrelate to create long-term solutions. 

The three-year project addresses a crucial need: the lack of information on how climate change is affecting essential ecosystem services, such as water supply and climate regulation. Stefano noted that this lack of knowledge limits the ability to effectively manage and protect Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), vital to ecosystem sustainability. "We are working to develop innovative and scalable solutions that integrate science and local actions in conservation," he said. 

Andrés Factos, from the Ministry of Environment, highlighted the relevance of these meetings to connect local realities with national and international goals. "For MAATE, this exercise is key, since we are in the process of updating the National Biodiversity Strategy, and this workshop helps us advance in the implementation of goal 11 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, a fundamental part of the Convention on Biological Diversity." 

During the workshop, the TESSA (Site-Specific Ecosystem Services Assessment) tool was used to evaluate the benefits that a group of preselected KBAs offer to local communities and how climate change threatens these resources. David Parra, director of conservation at Jocotoco, highlighted the relevance of this analysis. "We seek to understand how our mountains, forests and water sources contribute to people's well-being and how we can defend these services in the face of climate change," he said. 

Finally, Bhopal Pandeya, senior program officer at UNEP-WCMC, highlighted the collaborative impact of the workshop. "This space not only seeks to close knowledge gaps, but also to generate practical strategies that benefit all the actors involved. It is an opportunity to build solutions based on science, the exchange of experiences and collective action," he concluded. 

This workshop marked the beginning of a transformative effort to protect Ecuador's most valuable ecosystems, with a shared vision that unites the local and the global in a commitment to nature.