Background: Protected areas are critical to the development of Ecuador, they cover a third of the country and contain some of the world’s richest biodiversity.  There is a critical need to help local authorities to manage these resources to provide tangible benefits from the parks and indigenous lands while preserving intact habitat for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and other ecosystem services.  Tourism in natural areas serves as a tool to meet conservation and economic growth objectives simultaneously.  The Ecuador Sustainable Tourism Alliance (ESTA) works with local, national, and international partners to create improved tourism policies, resources management, and tourism options that benefit residents and neighbors of Ecuador’s parks and protected areas. 

Objectives: 1)      Expand sustainable tourism in and around protected areas; 2)      Increase tourism’s economic benefits; 3)      Make tourism more sustainable; and4)      Improve tourism management in Ecuador’s national parks, including Galapagos, a threatened world heritage site. 

Activity description: USAID, on behalf of the U.S. Government,  supports tourism activities that generate benefits and improve living standards of communities in or adjacent to nine protected areas: Machalilla, Manglares Churute, Cotopaxi, Cayambe-Coca, Cotacachi-Cayapas, Chimborazo, Yasuní-Cuyabeno, and Galapagos.On the business side, this Global Development Alliance will increase incomes by engaging local actors in tourism value chains.  On the policy side, it will engage the tourism industry in decision-making for protected area management, including improved financing, better control and management, and increased local use.A participatory design phase established local and national priorities in Competitiveness, Conservation, Market Access, Communications and Community Benefits. 

Major expected results through 2009: Approximately 60,000 hectares in areas of biological significance will be under improved management, and about 7,000 people will receive increased economic benefits from sustainable natural resource management and conservation.Partners:Ministry of EnvironmentMinistry of Tourism 

Implementing partner: AED, Academy for Educational Development 

Project duration: Two years (2007-2009)  

Investment: $3 million 

Contact: Rocio Cedeño, USAID/Ecuador, Tel. (593-2) 398-5208, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it