The Biocorredor Amazónico Program (BCA) and the BCA Fund have made significant progress in 2025 toward protecting the Amazon region, according to a recent announcement. These initiatives follow a debt-for-nature swap completed in December 2024, which enabled the mobilization of nearly $460 million for conservation and resulted in $800 million in fiscal savings for Ecuador.
The establishment of the BCA Fund on November 20, 2024, is seen as an important institutional milestone. The fund features an independent and technical structure to manage resources from the debt transaction. Its governance was strengthened this year with the formation of a multisectoral board that includes representatives from the government, Indigenous communities, academia, and experts in finance and conservation. Non-governmental members were selected through public calls conducted in ten Indigenous languages to ensure territorial legitimacy and diversity in decision-making.
Selection processes for executive leadership and operational teams were also completed. These teams are tasked with managing the fund with integrity, efficiency, and intercultural sensitivity—qualities expected to align investments with local priorities and achieve sustainable outcomes over time.
A key technical development has been the creation of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (MyE), designed to establish indicators, methodologies, and protocols for measuring each funded initiative’s performance and impact. This framework aims to enhance transparency, traceability, and accountability both nationally and internationally.
The program has also advanced on developing a Social and Environmental Safeguards System to ensure that all interventions respect collective rights, protect natural habitats, meet international sustainability standards, prevent risks, encourage community participation, and deliver long-lasting benefits.
The BCA Program aims to improve management across 4.6 million hectares of land while protecting an additional 1.8 million hectares and safeguarding 18,000 kilometers of rivers as it moves into its implementation phase with robust structures for participation and oversight.
“The New Ecuador reaffirms its commitment to the Amazon by combining conservation efforts with financial stability and community well-being in a model projected as a regional reference,” stated officials involved with the program.
