The creation of the Bosque Nublado y Estribaciones de Montaña Area of Conservation and Sustainable Use (ACUS) in the Province of Bolívar marks a new milestone for conservation in Latin America.
With this designation, Conserva Aves reaches 1,111,753 hectares legally recognized as territories of life for birds across the region, consolidating its hemispheric leadership in the creation of subnational protected areas and demonstrating that collaboration between communities, local governments, and strategic partners generates measurable results for biodiversity.
The Bosque Nublado y Estribaciones de Montaña ACUS in Bolívar protects 178,334.69 hectares under an approach based on responsible planning, environmental sustainability, and comprehensive development for its inhabitants.
Of this area:
A. 69,021.78 hectares will be designated for strict conservation, where the main conservation values are concentrated, including habitats of species of conservation interest such as cloud forests. Their primary function is to ensure water regulation, ecological connectivity, and the conservation of biodiversity that sustains ecosystem services.
B. 109,312.91 hectares will be dedicated to sustainable use and restoration, reaffirming that protecting nature also means creating dignified opportunities for those who work the land.
The ordinance was unanimously approved during an ordinary session of the Provincial Council, with the participation of the Prefect and provincial councilors, reaffirming the institutional commitment to protecting natural heritage.
This territory spans seven cantons and twenty parishes, with an altitudinal range from 40 to 4,040 meters above sea level, hosting ecosystems that are strategic for water recharge and harboring valuable biodiversity. It also plays a key role in ecological connectivity by integrating with the ACUS Páramo Bolívar and the Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve, forming a continuous corridor between forest and páramo ecosystems.
The area also safeguards critical habitats for high-interest Andean bird species, including the Yellow-throated Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus), the Moustached Antpitta (Grallaria alleni), and other species listed in CITES appendices, such as certain hummingbirds, raptors, and parrots. Their presence confirms the importance of this territory as a biodiversity refuge and as a strategic space for maintaining populations sensitive to cloud forest loss.
In response to threats such as agricultural expansion and habitat fragmentation, the project incorporates the development of a baseline and bird monitoring system—essential tools for understanding the status of species and guiding the management of the area over time. This will allow conservation outcomes to be evaluated and strengthen decision-making alongside communities and local governments.
This decision responds to the realities of communities living in environmentally sensitive areas, promoting ecosystem conservation, responsible use of natural resources, and the sustainable development of productive, cultural, and tourism activities.
This achievement is the result of coordinated work on the ground, based on ongoing dialogue across political, technical, economic, and social spheres. It strengthens shared responsibility in territorial management and marks a new stage for Bolívar: a territory that, beyond confronting climate change, is actively protecting its strategic ecosystems and building a more resilient future.
We congratulate and thank all the stakeholders who were part of this participatory and sustained effort, united by a shared goal: to ensure the availability of natural resources and ecosystem services for present and future generations.
The realization of this initiative has been made possible thanks to the valuable support of the Andes Amazon Fund (AAF) and the technical accompaniment of Corporación ECOPAR, with Washington Gaibor working on the ground and Cecibel Campos coordinating the project. This effort was also strengthened by the commitment of the technical team of the Provincial Government of Bolívar and the strong political will of the provincial authorities.
About Conserva Aves
This project is part of the Conserva Aves Initiative, a regional partnership led by American Bird Conservancy, National Audubon Society, BirdLife International Americas, Birds Canada, and the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC). The initiative promotes the creation and strengthening of conservation areas led by communities and local governments along bird migratory routes across Latin America.
In Ecuador, implementation is led by Aves y Conservación and the Sustainable Environmental Investment Fund (FIAS), with the generous support of the Bezos Earth Fund.
