Guide for the design and construction of infrastructure of the National System of Protected Areas of Ecuador.

@Ministerio de Ambiente del Ecuador, 2019

It is an instrument that aims to guide and generate knowledge on best practices for construction projects in protected areas that seeks to ensure a low environmental impact and the integration of infrastructure in the context of protected areas. The instrument is aimed at both the private sector and public agents likely to generate infrastructure in these areas (for scientific, tourism, leisure, housing or mobility purposes, etc.), some of which are inhabited. The standards proposed in the guide are not mandatory but highly recommended for obtaining a construction permit in one of the country's natural protected areas. Ecuador's Secretariat of Protected Areas uses it as a guideline and quality standard to validate construction projects against environmental preservation standards. The guidelines promote bioclimatic design, consideration of local heritage or cultural standards, the use of low-impact materials and the use of nature-based solutions. This instrument can also be used in other contexts for which the close relationship between built space and nature requires following particular and exemplary rules for infrastructures: they can be ecological neighborhoods, parks, etc.

Overview

Type of instrument:

Legislative, regulatory and strategic instruments›Standards

Challenges addressed

Ecologic connectivity
Green space management (e.g. accessibility)
Nature appropriation / stewardship
Reconnection to the biosphere / environmental education

Consideration of nature-based solutions:

The instrument focuses on the preservation of existing natural spaces while construction processes are being carried out. It promotes the use of BNS to achieve this objective, in the areas of energy management, climate protection, water management and landscape management. Beyond its direct application in the specific framework of protected areas, it can also be applied in rural or urban contexts where the preservation of key ecosystems and where the built environment must be generated under controlled standards. The instrument treats in a differentiated way the multiple natural/built contexts in Ecuador, considering climate, topography, risk exposure, heritage character, and natural context; so it can be replicated throughout the country.

Targeted (peri-)urban areas:

Parks and (semi)natural urban green areas

Urban green space connected to grey infrastructure

Good practice characteristics:

Multifunctional NBS support

Locally appropriate

Potential to be replicated / upscaled

Governance

Government body/bodies

Initiating body:

Ministry of Environment

Instrument design:

Details about how the instrument was designed:

The instrument was designed by a private consultancy (YES Innovation, Ecuador), in cooperation with the national protected areas management department of the Ministry of Environment. The cooperation materialized through recurrent meetings and workshops to understand the specific requirements of the protected areas, their organization, their expectations and, as the design of the instrument progressed, the adjustment of particular technical aspects to optimize the design standards.

Involvement of non-governmental actors:

Private sector, corporate, business

Type of actor involvement:

The consultant carried out the design of the instrument

Instrument implementation:

Type of involvement:

The application of the instrument is done on a voluntary basis, although in reality, for any type of construction project in an area of high natural interest, specific permits are required that must follow the guidelines mentioned in the instrument. The exact way in which the instrument is applied is the responsibility of each protected area manager.

Targeted actors:

Private: household, real estate developer, business , financial

Researchers, university

Protected area managers

Financing

Sources of funding:

Funds provided by non-governmental organization

Budget:

Less than 50 000 €

Details about instrument financing:

The cost of design and implementation of the instrument is low. It has been financed by the German cooperation in Ecuador via a cooperation contract between the Ministry of Environment and GIZ for the support of the country's protected areas.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

Is a monitoring framework in place?:

Did an evaluation take place?:

Achieved outcomes and impacts:

We do not have detailed information on the direct effects of the application of the instrument.

Success factors and lessons learned:

The design of the plan was based on real cases of infrastructure construction managed in the country's protected areas. By observing their practice and processes, it was possible to provide technical answers where they were most needed, supporting already well-established processes. On the other hand, the limited dissemination of the plan and its non-regulatory nature limit its scope and impact, which could go beyond the protected areas themselves to serve as a reference in urban and rural non-heritage areas.

Sources and further information

References

List of references:

Ministry of the Environment of Ecuador (2019). GUIDE FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURES OF THE NATIONAL SYSTEM OF PROTECTED AREAS. ECUADOR. Quito, Ecuador.

Interview(s):

YES Innovation

Further documents

Documents:

GUÍA PARA EL DISEÑO Y LA CONSTRUCCIÓN DE INFRAESTRUCTURAS SOSTENIBLES EN EL SISTEMA NACIONAL DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS DEL ECUADOR - 2019 (2).pdf

Weblinks:

https://en.yes-innovation.com/kopie-von-publicaciones?pgid=kwqt97x6-6759f56f-9ee…

Photos

@Ministry of Environment of Ecuador, 2019.