QUITO, ECUADOR, March 4, 2026—Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment and Energy, (MAE) has officially recognized the Llanganates–Yasuní Altitudinal Connectivity Corridor as a Special Conservation Area through Ministerial Agreement MAATE-2025-0065-A. Covering approximately 2,159 square kilometers, the corridor connects the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes with the Amazonian forests of the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, marking a significant milestone for biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management in Ecuador’s Andean–Amazonian region.

In mid-2025, Ecuador’s National Environmental Authority officially recognized the Cuyabeno–Yasuní Connectivity Corridor, which links two of the most important protected areas in the Amazon: the Cuyabeno Wildlife Production Reserve and Yasuní National Park. 

The technical support provided by WCS in these processes has focused on strengthening a national network of connectivity corridors aimed at safeguarding biodiversity, preserving ecosystem integrity, and ensuring the long-term survival of wildlife species on the Llanganates-Yasuni Stronghold.

The official announcement recognizing the Llanganates-Yasuni corridor took place in the town of Santa Clara, Pastaza Province. Byron Lagla, Director of Protected Areas and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures at MAE, presented formal recognitions to the institutions and local governments that led the design and development of the corridor.

The designation follows a participatory process launched in 2024 that included ecological assessments, feasibility analyses, community workshops, and the establishment of strategic partnerships to integrate the corridor into local Development and Land-Use Plans (PDOTs). The initiative was led by the Decentralized Autonomous Governments (GADs) of the provinces of Napo and Pastaza; the municipal GADs of Tena, Carlos Julio Arosemena Tola, Santa Clara, Arajuno, and Pastaza; and Grupo Chakra, with technical support from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Spanning a broad elevational gradient—from high Andean páramo ecosystems to lowland tropical humid forests—the corridor creates a continuous ecological transition between Andean and Amazonian landscapes. These gradients, shaped by differences in temperature, rainfall, and vegetation structure, support diverse habitats and facilitate the movement of species sensitive to environmental change. By enabling wildlife to shift along elevational gradients in response to changing climatic conditions and resource availability, the corridor functions as a critical climate refuge.

Strengthening ecological connectivity between Yasuní Biosphere Reserve and Llanganates National Park represents a strategic advancement in protecting ecosystems that link the Andes and the Amazon, helping sustain ecological processes, hydrological systems, and cultural values vital to communities and biodiversity across the region.

“The official recognition of the Llanganates–Yasuní Connectivity Corridor is a landmark achievement for conservation in Ecuador,” said Sebastian Valdivieso, Country Director of WCS Ecuador. “By securing ecological connectivity between the Andes and the Amazon, we are helping safeguard biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, and support local communities whose livelihoods depend on healthy ecosystems. This corridor reflects the power of collaboration between national authorities, local governments, civil society, and international partners.”

This coordinated effort was supported by financial contributions from the Legacy Landscapes Fund (LLF) through its “Legacy Landscapes” program and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, with co-funding from the Bezos Earth Fund and Harvey and Heidi Bookman.

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