USAID Sustainable Forests and Coasts Project 2nd FY11 Semi-Annual Progress Report

The project's implementation strategy focused on providing technical assistance to reduce threats to biodiversity conservation and increase local capacity to manage natural resources in priority areas, particularly in protected areas. The project's threats targeted and strategies designed to minimize them were tailored to the project's results framework and presented in alignment with the Project's Intermediate Results (PIRs). The project provided a series of incentives to conserve the remnants of high biodiversity areas along the Ecuadoran coast, including technical assistance for land titling and meeting other prerequisites for accessing the MAE's conservation incentives (Socio Bosque), facilitating market access/linkages, and training in best practices. The project formed key alliances to formalize collaboration with local public and private sector actors and leveraged over $12 million. The project worked in close partnership with the Ministry of Environment (MAE) and strengthened local capacities, resulting in local stakeholders taking ownership in project activities, which is key for assuring their continuity and sustainability. Notable achievements during this reporting period include the formation of conservation coalitions in the Gulf of Guayaquil and the Gran Reserva Chachi, the presentation of climate change adaptation measures for Parque Nacional Machalilla to local stakeholders, and the facilitation of the award of over 15,000 hectares in mangrove concessions in the Gulf of Guayaquil. The project also simplified concession award and reporting requirements for the MAE, strengthened communication and environmental education materials in protected areas, made the mangrove monitoring and enforcement system more operable in the Gulf of Guayaquil, and promoted the implementation of priority activities in the Ayampe Environmental Land Use Plan. Additionally, the project presented initial findings from the red crab stock analysis, fomented forest regeneration/recovery, increased local capacity for implementing good natural resource management practices, and assured the sustainability of project initiatives. The project also helped develop and present a forestry law proposal to the Minister of Environment, Marcela Aguiñaga, and incorporated it into the new Environmental Code proposal. The project was highlighted in the Regional Inspector General's Audit of the USAID Environmental Program and by the USAID. The project's progress and achievements demonstrate its commitment to mitigating threats to biodiversity conservation and increasing local capacity to manage natural resources in priority areas.