The conservation of biodiversity is closely linked to sustainable development.
This is particularly evident in the so-called developing countries. Latin
America, for instance, hosts some of the most important biodiversity hotspots in
the world. However, this biodiversity is threatened by development processes
which lead to environmental degradation and thus a significant loss of biodiversity.
In Ecuador, new approaches towards sustainable development with a particular
focus on biodiversity conservation and environmental protection have been developed
in recent years. Against the background of data on biological diversity in Latin
America and a description of conservation endeavours in the Latin-American
region, this chapter analyses the Ecuadorian efforts to achieve sustainable development
and long-term protection of biological diversity. Positive impacts as well as
new challenges and conflicts, which result from these approaches, are identified and
discussed.