Ecuador boosts policy makers’ capacity to integrate ecosystem services into agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
With the aim of promoting agroforestry and silvopastoral systems in Ecuador, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Practical Action, and Solidaridad carried out the training module “Ecosystem Services and Technical Approaches to Promote Agroforestry and Silvopastoral Systems.”
This module is the third to be implemented under the leadership of MAG and with technical support from Solidaridad and Practical Action to continue strengthening capacities that can promote an effective transition to sustainable production models, contributing to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and the creation of resilient livelihoods.
The training brought together 30 officials from MAG, the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition (MAATE), and the Amazonian State University, who are involved in the development of public policy related to agroforestry systems and environmental sustainability in the country.
During two intensive days of training, participants delved into:
- Key concepts such as biodiversity, ecosystem services, agroecosystems, and their link to sustainable production
- The Global Standard for Nature-Based Solutions (NbS)
- Carbon markets
- Sustainable livestock conversion strategies
- Research conducted in Amazonian and coastal ecosystems.
The methodology combined theoretical presentations by national experts, analysis of practical cases, and collaborative work dynamics, facilitating the exchange of experiences and collective reflection. The process was carried out in collaboration with IUCN South, the Amazonian State University, the Technical University of Manabí, and the Center for Future Thinking – T’inki.
This initiative, led by the Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition (MAATE), is part of a comprehensive process of institutional capacity building that has the technical support of the BLF – Andes Amazon project. Since January 2025, specialized technical assistance has been provided to support government efforts to provide training on topics such as agroforestry systems and financial and non-financial mechanisms and instruments. With the completion of this third module, a solid technical foundation has been consolidated among key actors in Ecuador’s agricultural and environmental sectors, who now have concrete tools to incorporate ecosystem services into public policy planning, sustainable production strategies, and the formulation of climate-focused rural development projects.
About the Project BLF Andes Amazon
The BLF Andes Amazon Project is funded by UK International Development under the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund. Practical Action, leader of the consortium implementing the BLF Andes Amazon Project, and Solidaridad, promoter of the Asómbrate Program, have established an inter-institutional alliance to promote the implementation of financing mechanisms that encourage production in sustainable, resilient, and deforestation-free agroforestry systems within the scope of the BLF in Peru and Ecuador.