Deforestation-free cocoa and coffee push: Ecuador is promoting deforestation-free coffee and cocoa to meet EU rules and curb expansion blamed for biodiversity loss, water stress, and climate impacts, with the MAE backing REDD+ and traceability efforts. Amazon protected areas under siege: In Ecuador’s Amazon, illegal gold mining is escalating into direct threats against park rangers at Sumaco Napo‑Galeras National Park, where armed groups reportedly confiscated phones and GPS gear while claiming to “secure” miners. Energy crunch as El Niño nears: Ecuador’s electricity demand hit a new July record (5,634 MW), exceeding official forecasts, and experts warn hydro generation could drop as El Niño approaches—raising the stakes for power planning. Wildlife conservation in Loja: A campaign seeks to buy and protect Loma Delgada (35 hectares) in southern Ecuador to save water sources and habitat for the critically endangered mountain vizcacha, facing fire, invasive pines, farming, and mining pressure. Clean power deal abroad: Terra Innovatum and Waiken ILW signed a corrected LOI for up to 8 MWe of behind-the-meter microreactors for DIRECTV Latin America and SKY Brasil data centers, signaling growing interest in “clean energy” for mission-critical infrastructure. Illegal mining spotlight: Reporting also highlights how illegal mining is advancing in the Ecuador Amazon while enforcement and ranger protection lag behind.