In this report, La Follette students conduct a comparative analysis of Latin American conservation policies to decrease deforestation on privately protected lands in Ecuador.
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Summary
This report reviews conservation policies from Latin American countries in a comparative analysis to assist the Ceiba Foundation in exploring policy recommendations to decrease deforestation on privately protected lands in Ecuador. This analysis focuses on Mexico, Brazil, and Costa Rica, emphasizing governmental policies such as payment for ecosystem services (PES), conservation easements, and tax exonerations. Using criteria of political feasibility, institutional feasibility, ecological benefits, community benefits, and scalability, this report recommends that the Ecuadorian government increase education and outreach to ensure widespread knowledge of its PES program, Socio Bosque. It also recommends increasing the payment frequency to build trust and reliability in programs like Socio Bosque, diversifying finance mechanisms to improve long-term sustainability, and standardizing enforcement to reduce inconsistency and strengthen program integrity.
Information
- Course: Workshop in Public Affairs, PA 869, taught by Jason Delborne, Spring 2025
- Authors: Avery Bluey, Caroline Corona, Emmanuel Figueroa, Brando Flores, and Chloe Roberts
- Client: Ceiba Foundation