Ecuador : Indicators

Although there are mechanisms for managing information on forest use plans, and the responsibilities between the Ministry of Environment (MAE) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries (MAGAP) relating to commercial plantations are established by executive decree, in practice it is the MAE which continues to exercise responsibility related to forest use plans inside and outside protected areas. The structure and regulatory role of MAGAP’s under-secretariat for forest production is still taking shape through the generation and promotion of a policy to encourage forest production.

The MAE has developed a Forest Administration and Monitoring System (SAF) through which it monitors forest use plans and licences, and automatically grants timber transportation manuals. The management plans are available through requests for information.

There needs to be greater coordination between the institutions responsible for forest management in the country, to enable the policies to function in practice and so that the information systems can be shared between them and the population in general.