On May 8, the OEMC Drácula was officially launched in Carchi, Ecuador, with the declaration handed over to Fundación EcoMinga. The event featured participation from Conserva Aves and FIAS. A strong commitment to conservation and collaborative work was reaffirmed.
On May 8th, the official launch event for the declaration of the Dracula Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure (OECM) took place in Carchi province. The event was attended by representatives from the Conserva Aves initiative in Ecuador, led by Coordinator Matilde Villarreal and her team, along with Ana Lucía Murillo, delegate of the Executive Director of the Sustainable Environmental Investment Fund (FIAS).
Coinciding with Biodiversity Month and in fulfillment of commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition (MAATE) formally presented the declaration to local partner Fundación EcoMinga. This conservation area, located between the Andes mountain range and the Chocó tropical forests, harbors exceptional biological wealth: 55 amphibian species, 42 reptiles, 63 mammal species, 325 bird species, and over 429 vascular plants.
The event featured the panel discussion “Importance of the Dracula OECM for the Region”, with participation from FIAS Programs and Projects Manager Ana Lucía Murillo. Her presentation “Conserva Aves: A Strategic Alliance to Achieve National Conservation Goals” highlighted the initiative’s interinstitutional work with local partner Fundación EcoMinga, while emphasizing the critical need for sustained funding to ensure the permanence of these vital territories.
Conserva Aves is a regional initiative that promotes the creation and strengthening of community-led conservation areas, mobilizing technical and financial support to protect key biodiversity sites. In Ecuador, the program is implemented through a strategic partnership with FIAS.
FIAS and Conserva Aves congratulate EcoMinga Foundation for their years of dedicated conservation work. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening partnerships and highlighting the crucial actions needed to ensure effective, long-term protection of Ecuador’s biodiversity.
Conserva Aves is a regional initiative led by American Bird Conservancy, Audubon, BirdLife International, Birds Canada, and RedLAC. National partners include the Sustainable Environmental Investment Fund (FIAS) and Aves y Conservación, with Bezos Earth Fund support.