Enhancing Financial Health of the National System of Protected Areas -SNAP (2011- 2016) ” initiative, supported by UNDP and GEF in Ecuador, represents a pioneering approach to conservation management. This project strategically integrated economic and environmental planning across key protected areas, including Yasuní, Cuyabeno, Ilinizas, Cayambe Coca, Chimborazo, and Galera San Francisco. By adopting innovative management practices and focusing on optimizing operational efficiency, the project aimed to minimize expenditures and maximize the financial sustainability of these vital ecosystems.

The initiative addressed the challenges of traditional conservation funding models, which often rely heavily on entrance fees and external donor support, by introducing cost-saving technologies and fostering local economic involvement. It enhanced capacity building and infrastructure development to ensure that conservation efforts were both economically viable and ecologically effective.