2025 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

The "Planting Resilience" practice was a reforestation project initiated in 2020 by the GAD Provincial of Manabí to mitigate deforestation and water scarcity. It was created in response to the conversion of forests into pastures and water shortages, establishing a main nursery to produce native plants and restore degraded ecosystems, improving water and soil quality.

In its first phase, an irrigation system was implemented, essential supplies and equipment were acquired, and staff was trained in sustainable production. Additionally, community outreach activities were held with local communities, institutions, and organizations to raise awareness about the importance of reforestation and environmental conservation.

During its implementation, the project delivered 358,779 plants to 3,154 direct beneficiaries, who reforested approximately 1,000 hectares of degraded land. Moreover, it indirectly benefited over 1.5 million people, thanks to the improvement in water quality and biodiversity restoration. Beneficiaries participated in workshops on reforestation, watershed management, and soil conservation, strengthening their capacities to implement sustainable practices and protect local ecosystems.

The communication strategy included community meetings, social media, and official GADPM channels to encourage collaboration. Active participation of the beneficiaries as "guardians" of the plants was promoted, fostering a strong commitment to the sustainability of the project and its long-term impact.

The success of "Planting Resilience" was reflected in public policies focused on reforestation and water management, integrating climate resilience into the GADPM's development plans. Furthermore, it strengthened local capacity in environmental management, raising awareness about the importance of addressing climate change and conserving ecosystems.

In conclusion, "Planting Resilience" has been key to the ecological restoration of Manabí. Through environmental education and collaboration among local stakeholders, the project has brought about significant changes in the community and administration, ensuring a lasting impact on environmental management and the province's climate resilience.

• https://www.manabi.gob.ec/ (External link)
• Collaboration agreement (External link)