Ecuador Passes Law to Reform Management of Protected Areas
Ecuador has approved new legislation to improve protected area management, create a specialised national service, and support Indigenous rights and conservation efforts.
New environmental regulations adopted by Ecuador aim to transform the way the country controls its protected areas. The Organic Law for the Strengthening of Protected Areas establishes a systematic and technical legal structure meant to guarantee the long-term viability of Ecuador's natural legacy and ecosystems.
The establishment of the National Service for Protected Areas of Ecuador, a new public entity under the direction of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition, lies at the heart of this change. Among other duties formerly held by the Ministry, the service will assume control of the National System of Protected Areas regulation. Both financially and technologically independent, the agency will have the power to plan, control, and monitor over 70 protected areas, which cover about 20% of Ecuadors land and marine lands.
The law also introduces mechanisms to improve funding and governance, including support through public investment, international partnerships, and private donations. The law recognises Indigenous communities' collective rights and imposes strong restrictions on the conversion of protected land into private property. To stop environmental damage, tourism activities will be confined to particular regions.
Professional park rangers is a crucial element of the legislation as it guarantees they have enough resources and training. The reform promotes partnership among local communities, environmental agencies, and international conservation groups to reach common environmental objectives.
National Assembly President Niels Olsen characterised the measure as a show of love for the nation, suggesting a departure from institutional neglect. He emphasized that the change embodies a promise of active and smart governance rather than bureaucratic delay.
Welcoming the measure as a great step toward sustainable conservation, chair of the Charles Darwin Foundation Yolanda Kakabadse She observed that the framework presents Ecuador with an opportunity to strengthen its international environmental leadership by merging open oversight with community participation.
The law draws Ecuador more in line with international environmental accords including the Escaz Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This legal evolution shows Ecuadors continuous dedication to biodiversity, ecological protection, and community-focused environmental governance.
Source: Mongabay
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