A new agreement between the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Legacy Landscapes Fund (LLF) will provide $1 million annually for at least 50 years to conserve Ecuador’s Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, a globally significant area of biodiversity.

This funding supports the Ecuadorian government’s decision to prioritize conservation over oil exploration in the region. WCS will collaborate with the government to manage the park and surrounding areas, ensuring biodiversity protection and supporting local communities.

The Yasuní Biosphere Reserve is a hotspot for biodiversity, with thousands of plant and animal species. It also provides vital ecosystem services like carbon storage, clean water, and potential medicinal discoveries.

WCS has a long history of working with Yasuní’s Indigenous communities, who rely on the park’s resources for their livelihoods. LLF funding will expand these programs and strengthen local governance.

“This agreement will enable us to delve deeper into our work…strengthening collaboration with local communities…and secure their livelihoods,” said WCS official Joe Walston.

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation also supports this initiative, seeing it as a way to “foster and sustain the crucial partnership of key stakeholders.” This long-term funding is expected to significantly improve Yasuní’s conservation efforts and serve as a model for collaborative park management in Ecuador.