AGP Executive Report

Canada–Ecuador Trade Deal Backlash: Civil society groups in Canada are condemning the newly signed free trade agreement, saying it could deepen Ecuador’s human rights crisis and threaten the environment, with critics pointing to investor protections tied to Ecuador’s mining sector and concerns about lack of consultation and transparency. UN Leadership & Climate/Peace Pressure: Six candidates for UN secretary-general faced a public debate at the UN, with questions spanning the Strait of Hormuz, AI, climate change, and how to act when the Security Council is blocked. El Niño Intensifies: Meteorological updates warn the 2026 El Niño is rapidly strengthening toward “Super El Niño,” raising risks of major weather disruptions. Wildlife Trade Watch: A new study highlights illegal sawfish teeth use in cockfighting across Latin America, including Ecuador, urging stronger enforcement and action under CITES. Rights-Based Conservation Training: Yale, IUCN, and Indigenous partners launched a rights-based conservation training programme to strengthen Indigenous territorial governance across Latin America.

Trade & Environment: Canada and Ecuador are signing a free trade deal in Ottawa, after talks wrapped up in early 2025; critics warn it could pressure Ecuador’s environment and worsen a human-rights crisis. Wildfire Risk: Hot, dry weather is driving fast-moving wildfires in British Columbia, with evacuations and alerts tied to the Fiftynine Creek and Pear Lake fires. Wildlife Crime: A new study says sawfish teeth—sold for up to hundreds of dollars per pair—are still being used as cockfighting spurs across Latin America despite bans, with researchers urging stronger enforcement in Ecuador and neighboring countries. Climate Outlook: Scientists say the 2026 El Niño is rapidly intensifying toward “Super El Niño,” raising risks for food security and extreme weather across vulnerable regions. Conservation Capacity: Yale, IUCN, and Indigenous organizations launched a rights-based conservation training program to strengthen Indigenous territorial governance across Latin America. UN Spotlight (Ecuador-linked): Ecuador’s María Fernanda Espinosa is among the six candidates debating how to reform the UN amid climate and conflict pressures.

UN Leadership Race: Six candidates for UN secretary-general will face a televised debate at UN headquarters, with Ecuador’s María Fernanda Espinosa among them—an important moment as the UN faces financial pressure and renewed scrutiny over its role in peace, human rights, and sustainable development. Climate & Food Security: A very strong El Niño is forecast to peak soon, with a UN-backed anticipatory plan seeking $202 million to protect 8.8 million people in high-risk countries from hunger impacts before conditions worsen. Health & Pollution: Research finds replacing gas stoves with electric induction models can significantly improve asthma symptoms, pointing to indoor air pollution as a key driver. Conservation & Wildlife Crime: Colombia’s police dismantled a wildlife trafficking network, seizing 109 endangered specimens from the Amazon and disrupting a major illegal economy. Ecuador Environment Watch: Ecuador’s National Museum selection highlights “Estratos Vivos,” a design that treats the building as an extension of the landscape—an example of how public projects can shape greener urban space.

El Niño food warning for Ecuador: With the 2026–2027 El Niño already in its early phase, Ecuador faces rising risk of flooding, crop disease, damaged roads, and limited government reserves—UN projections cited in coverage warn up to 2.6 million people could face acute food insecurity by July 2026, with the hardest stretch expected from October 2026 to February 2027. Amazon conservation push in Ecuador: Inditex and Conservation International announced a €6.5 million (2026–2028) partnership to protect more than two million hectares across six Amazon countries, including support for the Achuar Nation territory in Ecuador and stronger management of existing protected areas. Deforestation-free coffee and cocoa drive: Ecuador is promoting deforestation-free coffee and cocoa to meet EU rules like the Deforestation Regulation, aiming to protect biodiversity and water while improving traceability and governance to keep products competitive. Indigenous rights and enforcement: Coverage highlights Sarayaku’s push for the Ecuadorian government to comply with a 2012 court ruling tied to prior consultation and extractive projects—an ongoing test of Indigenous decision-making rights. Wildlife trafficking crackdown (regional): Ecuador is part of a wider “Wild Shield” operation, with Colombia reporting seizures of 109 endangered wildlife specimens and arrests tied to illegal commercialization, underscoring the cross-border nature of biodiversity crime.

El Niño Food Warning for Ecuador: Ecuador is entering the early phase of a potentially strong El Niño, with limited public food reserves raising fears that flooding, crop disease, damaged roads, and disrupted distribution could quickly trigger acute food insecurity for about 2.6 million people by July 2026. Electricity Strain as Heat Peaks: Power demand hit a new July record (5,634 MW), above official forecasts, and experts warn hydro generation may drop as El Niño approaches—making it harder to secure extra electricity. Amazon Wildlife Crackdown: Colombia dismantled a wildlife trafficking network in the Caribbean, seizing 109 endangered specimens worth over 207 million pesos, underscoring ongoing biodiversity pressures across the region. Ecuador’s Forest-Smart Coffee and Cocoa: Ecuador is pushing deforestation-free coffee and cocoa to meet EU rules and curb local deforestation, using REDD+ and traceability efforts to protect forests while keeping exports competitive. Indigenous Rights and Conservation: A Pastaza Shuar leader highlights GEF-funded ecosystem corridors that connect Amazon landscapes while supporting community schools and farming grounded in ancestral knowledge. Legal Pressure on Ecuador’s Environment: Chevron asked a U.S. federal court to enforce a $215 million arbitral award tied to pollution claims in the Amazon. Museum Design Update in Quito: Ecuador selected “Estratos Vivos” for the new National Museum of Ecuador after a revised competition process, with a landscape-integrated design aimed at reconnecting exhibitions with Quito and Pichincha views.

Climate & Food Security: Ecuador is entering the early stages of a potentially strong El Niño, with warnings that flooded farmland, crop disease, damaged roads, and limited reserves could quickly turn weather stress into a nationwide food crisis. Amazon Conservation Funding: Inditex and Conservation International will invest about €6.5 million (2026–2028) to protect and restore over 2 million hectares of Amazon forest across six countries, including Ecuador’s Achuar Nation territory. Indigenous Rights & Land Protection: A GEF Voices interview highlights Shuar women leaders in Pastaza pushing ecosystem connectivity corridors that support conservation and community schools, linking ancestral knowledge with territorial protection. Agroecology in Galápagos: Ecuador’s Agroecology Schools program in Galápagos has trained 25 producers on soil-regenerating, biodiversity-friendly farming across Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, and Isabela. Sustainable Agriculture for EU Markets: Ecuador is promoting deforestation-free coffee and cocoa to meet EU rules, aiming to protect forests while keeping rural livelihoods competitive. Mining Pressure in the Amazon: New reporting points to illegal mining advancing in Ecuador’s Amazon and questions whether authorities are doing enough to stop it.

Amazon conservation funding: Inditex and Conservation International will invest about €6.5 million (2026–2028) to protect and restore Amazon areas across six countries, including Ecuador’s Achuar Nation territory, aiming to safeguard over 2 million hectares and strengthen management of existing protected zones. El Niño food-risk watch: Ecuador is entering early El Niño conditions with limited public food reserves, raising alarms that flooding, crop disease, damaged roads, and disrupted distribution could quickly trigger acute food insecurity for millions. Energy pressure in Ecuador: Electricity demand hit a new July record at 5,634 MW, above official forecasts, as El Niño threatens lower hydro generation and experts warn power purchases from Colombia may be constrained. Indigenous rights and the Amazon: The Sarayaku community says the Ecuadorian government is still not fully complying with a 2012 court ruling tied to prior consultation violations over extractive activity. Sustainable farming in Galápagos: Ecuador’s Agroecology Schools program trained 25 producers and tested 15 experimental plots to regenerate soils and protect biodiversity while reducing reliance on imported food. Deforestation-free coffee and cocoa: Ecuador is pushing deforestation-free coffee and cocoa to meet EU rules, using governance and traceability efforts to protect forests and biodiversity. Earthen architecture win: Ecuador’s La Casa de las Rocas won first prize in the Terra Landscape Architectural Award for integrating earthen design into a natural site. InnoLabs education push: An Erasmus+ project is expanding STEM labs in Ecuador and Cuba, linking universities with community needs and practical prototyping through events like CreLab 2026.

El Niño Food Warning for Ecuador: Ecuador is entering the early stages of a potentially strong El Niño, but with limited public food reserves after past shocks. UN projections warn up to 2.6 million people could face acute food insecurity by July 2026, as flooding, crop disease, damaged roads, and disrupted distribution could quickly push basic foods out of reach. Energy Stress as Heat Builds: Electricity demand hit a new July record in Ecuador, and officials warn that hydro generation could drop as El Niño approaches, making it harder to secure extra power. Amazon Rights vs Extraction: The Sarayaku community is pressing Ecuador to fully comply with a 2012 court ruling tied to prior consultation failures for oil-related activity. Deforestation-Free Coffee and Cocoa Push: Ecuador is promoting deforestation-free coffee and cocoa to meet EU rules and curb local deforestation, linking compliance efforts to forest protection and rural livelihoods. Chevron vs Ecuador in Court: Chevron is seeking enforcement of a $215M arbitral award in U.S. federal court tied to pollution allegations in the Amazon. UNESCO Tourism and Human Rights: New research flags how UNESCO World Heritage status can boost tourism while sometimes undermining Indigenous and local rights through conservation restrictions. Innovation in Universities: The InnoLabs project is expanding STEM labs in Cuba and Ecuador to solve local problems and strengthen ties between academia and communities.

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.

Illegal mining in Ecuador’s Amazon: Rangers at Sumaco Napo‑Galeras National Park say heavily armed men intercepted patrols, confiscating phones, GPS and cameras, and claiming they were “securing” miners—another sign criminal groups are penetrating protected areas. Wildlife conservation under pressure: A campaign seeks to buy and protect Loma Delgada (35 hectares) in Loja to safeguard water sources and habitat for the critically endangered Ecuadorian vizcacha, threatened by fire, invasive pines, farming and mining. El Niño and climate risk: An “unprecedented” El Niño is forming, with ripple effects expected to raise heat and disrupt weather and food systems across regions, including South America’s Pacific coast fisheries. Fossil fuel free zones: A growing push from countries and networks argues for permanently protected areas where fossil fuel extraction is banned as a practical climate tool. Ecuador-linked food and trade: Ecuador’s shrimp and mangrove impacts remain in the spotlight as trade pressures collide with conservation, while Ecuador’s Amazon coffee farmers prepare for Europe’s anti-deforestation rules.

Illegal mining in Ecuador’s Amazon: EL PAÍS reports armed groups are increasingly confronting park rangers at Sumaco Napo‑Galeras National Park, seizing phones and GPS gear and effectively taking control of protected areas—another sign that illegal gold extraction is penetrating Ecuador’s National System of Protected Areas. Wildlife conservation in Ecuador: A new campaign seeks to buy Loma Delgada (35 hectares) in Loja to secure habitat for the critically endangered Ecuadorian vizcacha, protect local water sources, and stop nearby mining pressure. Climate risk across Latin America: Governments are ramping up preparations for El Niño’s likely mix of drought, extreme heat, flooding, and wildfire risk, but experts warn that turning forecasts into action has often lagged. Biodiversity science spotlight: A Clemson entomologist reports discovering 339 previously unknown rove beetle species in Ecuador in a single year, underscoring how much life still remains undocumented. Energy and environment context: A data roundup ranks where households pay the highest energy bills, with Europe dominating—useful backdrop for climate and affordability debates.

Illegal Mining in the Amazon: Ecuador’s protected areas are facing a new level of danger as illegal gold mining pushes into the Sumaco Napo‑Galeras National Park, where heavily armed men allegedly intercepted park rangers, seized phones and GPS gear, and demanded “security” for miners. Wildlife Under Pressure: In Loja province, the critically endangered Ecuadorian mountain vizcacha clings to a tiny 35-hectare refuge threatened by fire, invasive pines, farming, and mining; a $167,106 effort aims to buy the land, protect water sources, and secure the habitat. Deforestation-Free Coffee: Southern Ecuador coffee growers are preparing for the EU’s anti-deforestation rules by using forest conservation, traceability, and geospatial monitoring—nearly 400 farmers involved since 2019 to keep coffee “deforestation-free.” Climate Risk for the Region: Latin American governments are ramping up El Niño preparedness, with plans for drought, extreme heat, flooding, and wildfire risk as forecasts strengthen.

Wildlife Under Pressure in Ecuador’s Andes: A $167,106 campaign aims to buy and protect Loma Delgada (35 hectares) in Loja, safeguarding water sources and a rare vizcacha habitat threatened by fire, invasive pines, farming, and nearby mining. Protected Areas Under Threat from Illegal Mining: In Ecuador’s Amazon, park rangers at Sumaco Napo‑Galeras report armed confrontations tied to illegal gold mining, with criminal groups pushing deeper into the national protected-area system. Conservation Tech for Galápagos: Ecuador’s Galápagos is using an AI-and-satellite monitoring system to track about 250,000 wildlife images in 100 days, boosting marine reserve research in the Hermandad Marine Reserve. Deforestation-Free Coffee Ahead of EU Rules: Southern Ecuador coffee growers say traceability and geospatial monitoring are helping them meet the EU’s anti-deforestation import rules while keeping forest cover. Climate Risk Across Latin America: Governments across the region are preparing for El Niño impacts—drought, extreme heat, flooding, and wildfire risk—while warning that turning forecasts into action remains a challenge.

Amazon Protected Areas Under Threat: Ecuador’s Amazon rangers say illegal gold mining has escalated into armed confrontations, including cases where heavily armed men seized rangers’ phones and GPS while claiming they were “securing” miners inside Sumaco Napo‑Galeras National Park. Mangroves + Shrimp Sustainability: Ecuador’s shrimp sector signed a mangrove protection and restoration agreement with Conservation International Ecuador, targeting 250 hectares inside farming areas by 2030 and aiming to cut an estimated 112,870 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. Deforestation-Free Coffee Ahead of EU Rules: In southern Ecuador, nearly 400 coffee growers are using forest conservation, traceability, and geospatial monitoring to meet the EU’s anti-deforestation import rules, with the initiative operating across 23 areas. Galápagos Research Push: Ecuador strengthened research in the Hermandad Marine Reserve, coordinating a scientific agenda with regional partners to guide conservation decisions for a 47,000 km² biodiversity hotspot. Plastic-Fighting Fungus in the Amazon: Scientists reported a fungus from Ecuador’s Amazon that can break down polyester polyurethane (a common plastic), including in oxygen-poor conditions—an early lead for tackling persistent waste. Climate Preparedness for El Niño: Latin American governments are ramping up wildfire, drought, heat, flood, and water/energy contingency plans as El Niño strengthens.

Wildfire smoke and heat risk: Dense Canadian wildfire smoke is triggering unhealthy air-quality alerts across the U.S., including the New Jersey-New York area hosting the 2026 World Cup final; FIFA says the smoke isn’t a threat right now, while forecasters warn it could worsen overnight. El Niño preparedness: Latin American governments are ramping up plans for El Niño impacts—drought, extreme heat, flooding and wildfire risk—after forecasts suggest strengthening conditions. Ecuador Amazon plastic breakthrough: Scientists report a plastic-eating fungus found in the Ecuadorian Amazon that can break down polyester polyurethane, even in low-oxygen conditions, pointing to new ways to tackle persistent waste. Ecuador mangroves and shrimp: Ecuador’s shrimp sector signed an agreement with Conservation International to restore mangroves (starting with 250 hectares inside farming areas) to cut emissions and protect biodiversity. Galápagos research push: Ecuador is strengthening science in the Hermandad Marine Reserve, with a new research agenda roadmap aimed at better conservation decisions for 47,000 km² of ocean. Biodiversity find in Ecuador: A Clemson entomologist discovered 339 previously unknown rove beetle species in Ecuador in a single year, highlighting how much life remains undocumented.

Amazon Plastic Breakthrough: Yale-linked researchers in Ecuador’s Amazon found a plastic-eating fungus (Pestalotiopsis microspora) that can break down polyester polyurethane and may work even in low-oxygen landfill conditions. Mangrove Recovery for Shrimp: Ecuador’s shrimp sector, via the National Aquaculture Chamber and Sustainable Shrimp Partnership, signed a mangrove protection agreement with Conservation International Ecuador to restore 250 hectares by 2030 and cut an estimated 112,870 tons of CO₂. Galápagos Research Push: Galápagos authorities strengthened the Hermandad Marine Reserve research agenda, coordinating a roadmap with regional experts to guide conservation across 47,000 km² of ocean biodiversity. Ecuador Science Spotlight: A study reports South America’s first insect-bearing Cretaceous amber from central Ecuador, preserving 112-million-year-old forest life. Local Industry Security: Sun Chemical Ecuador achieved BASC certification, aiming to tighten supply-chain security and compliance.