Ecuador

Protecting nature, empowering communities

Home to rich biodiversity, vast native forests and many ethnic groups, Ecuador is a country with deep cultural and natural wealth. But many people still face poverty, and climate change is putting both lives and ecosystems at growing risk. To help tackle these challenges, we work in close partnership with local organisations to strengthen leadership, protect biodiversity, and support people to access better opportunitiesto earn a living in harmony with nature and thrive.

Our work includes regional and national programmes focused on climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and protecting ecosystems that communities depend on. We also collaborate with governments, local organisations and United Nations agencies to share what works and expand our impact.

20,000 hectares

of new protected areas created in Zamora Chinchipe and Azuay by 2029, including the creation of the first international conservation area between Ecuador and Peru

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1.2 million hectares

of Indigenous Peoples’ territory will have strengthened participatory governance andimproved access to climate financing to support their conservation efforts by 2029

A group of people with pink faces involved in Practical Action in Zimbabwe.

650+ families

will have improved their livelihoods through the strengthening of sustainable value chains forcoffee, cocoa, plantains, and Amazonian green businesses by 2029

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10,000 people

in 3 rural communities in western Ecuador will have a better understanding of early warningsystems and how to act before disaster strikes by 2027

Map of Ecuador highlighted in orange, showing the locations of Manabí, Morona Santiago, and Zamora Chinchipe provinces labeled with black dots.

Unique biodiversity

Ecuador stretches across four natural regions: the Coast, the Highlands, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands. It is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with over 45% of its land covered by native forests.

The Amazon region alone makes up nearly half the country and is home to more than 950,000 people, including 11 Indigenous nationalities. It holds most of Ecuador’s native forests and freshwater sources and is rich in plant and animal life. It also plays a vital role in tackling climate change, storing a large share of the country’s carbon reserves. But the pressure on the region is growing, with over 2.2 million hectares of forest lost in recent decades.

Like its Andean neighbours – Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia – Ecuador is also facing more frequent and intense climate-related hazards — from floods and droughts to forest fires, landslides and storms. As more people move into high-risk areas and environmental degradation continues, the risks to lives and livelihoods are increasing.

As environmental pressures grow, it’s clear that protecting nature and supporting people to live safely and with dignity are two sides of the same coin.

Areas of focus in Ecuador

A man wearing a straw hat and a colorful woven shawl stands among green plants, possibly harvesting or inspecting crops.

In Ecuador, Practical Action focuses on protecting biodiversity and vital ecosystems like Indigenous territories and conservation areas, by working closely with the communities who care for them. Indigenous organisations are at the centre of this work, so we proudly support their leadership, help improve local value chains, such as banana and cacao, and contribute to building fairer, more secure opportunities for thousands of families.

We also work closely with communities and local authorities to address climate risks, improve access to useful climate information, and strengthen learning through regional knowledge networks. By linking local knowledge with wider regional collaboration, we support climate action that is practical, inclusive and lasting.

At the core of our work is the belief that environmental conservation and the well-being of people go hand in hand. Addressing both is not only necessary, but urgent.

“Practical Action is a strategic ally for the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE) in its work to promote initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions of indigenous peoples, nationalities and communities”

Byron Lagla, director of protected areas and other forms of conservation, MAATE

Projects in Ecuador

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Ecuador office

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