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| Fundación Ambiente y Sociedad | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fundación Ambiente y Sociedad |
| Native name | Fundación Ambiente y Sociedad |
| Formation | 2001 |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Quito, Ecuador |
| Region served | Ecuador, Amazon Basin, Andes |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
Fundación Ambiente y Sociedad is an Ecuadorian non-governmental organization focused on environmental conservation, sustainable development, and social inclusion. Founded in the early 21st century, the organization operates across the Amazon Basin, Andes, and coastal regions of Ecuador collaborating with indigenous peoples, municipal authorities, and international agencies. Its work spans policy advocacy, community-based projects, technical research, and capacity building with attention to biodiversity, water resources, and land use.
Fundación Ambiente y Sociedad originated from a coalition of environmentalists, academics and community leaders in Quito in 2001, emerging alongside regional networks such as Conservation International and World Wildlife Fund as part of a broader movement that included initiatives like the Yasuní-ITT Initiative and partnerships with the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization. Early projects linked to protected areas such as Sangay National Park and Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve developed connections with universities like the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador and Central University of Ecuador. During the 2000s the foundation engaged with multilateral donors including the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank and participated in policy forums with the Ministry of Environment (Ecuador) and indigenous federations such as CONFENIAE and CONAIE.
The foundation’s mission is to promote sustainable management of natural resources, protect biodiversity, and strengthen community rights by integrating scientific research with artisanal knowledge from groups like the Waorani, Kichwa, and Shuar. Core objectives align with international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Paris Agreement, and include advocacy for legal instruments like the Environmental Management Law (Ecuador) and land titling mechanisms used in conjunction with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The organization emphasizes cross-sector collaboration with entities such as UNEP, UNDP, and regional NGOs like Socio Bosque.
Programs address conservation planning, watershed protection, sustainable agriculture, and community enterprise development. Notable initiatives have included participatory mapping projects linked to REDD+ frameworks, riparian restoration in basins feeding the Guayas River and Napo River, and agroforestry pilots inspired by models from Agroforestry Networks and projects supported by FAO. The foundation has implemented capacity-building workshops in collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and scientific monitoring aligned with methodologies from the IUCN and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Projects often engage municipal governments such as the Metropolitan District of Quito and regional conservation units like Ministerio del Ambiente y Agua (Ecuador).
Governance structures include a board of directors, an executive team, and technical advisory committees that have included academics from institutions such as the University of Cambridge, the University of British Columbia, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Organizational policies reflect standards promoted by international bodies like the Charity Commission and reporting frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative. The foundation’s organizational chart features program managers for thematic areas including biodiversity, water governance, and indigenous rights, and legal advisors versed in norms from the Andean Community and the Inter-American Development Bank safeguards.
Funding sources combine philanthropic grants from foundations like the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation, contract research from agencies such as the European Union and bilateral partners like USAID, and project financing from multilateral lenders including the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. Strategic partnerships have been formed with conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, academic institutions including Yale School of the Environment, and local federations like FEINE. Collaboration has also involved private-sector actors active in sustainable supply chains, certification bodies like Rainforest Alliance, and networks such as IUCN and ECOLEX.
Impact assessments combine participatory evaluation with quantitative indicators aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals and monitoring protocols comparable to those used by BirdLife International and the Global Environment Facility. Reported outcomes include increased legal recognition of communal lands, improved water quality in targeted watersheds, and restored habitat corridors connecting sites similar to Cajas National Park and lower montane forests. Independent evaluations have been undertaken by consultancies with ties to Palladium International and research centers at the University of Queensland, while peer review of methodological approaches has engaged journals and networks such as Conservation Letters and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The foundation publishes technical reports, policy briefs, participatory maps, and scientific articles that have appeared in collaboration with journals and repositories like Environmental Research Letters, PLOS ONE, and the Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research. Research themes include ecosystem services valuation, participatory mapping methodologies connected to OpenStreetMap practices, and socioeconomic analyses tied to programs by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and ECLAC. Its outputs have been cited in policy dialogues involving the Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources and regional planning tools employed by municipal governments and international partners.
Category:Non-profit organisations based in Ecuador Category:Environmental organisations