Within the framework of the Sangay–Podocarpus Corridor project, the First Symposium on Gender and Environment was held to discuss the relationship between gender and environmental sustainability, with the aim of integrating gender equity and social justice into strategy development, with inclusive solutions. On November 22, 2024, at the Auditorium of the Botanical Garden of Cuenca, the First Symposium on Gender and Environment was held as part of the project “Conservation Strategies for Amphibians in the Sangay–Podocarpus Connectivity Corridor.” The event, organized by Fundación Amaru and based on the “Gender Tracking Tool (GTT)” of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), brought together more than 60 attendees and experts from various disciplines.

The main objective was to foster dialogue on the relationship between gender and environmental sustainability, exploring how environmental policies can integrate gender equity and social justice to generate inclusive solutions. Featured Interventions

The program included presentations by recognized experts in conservation and gender:

• Intersections of Gender and Environment, by Dr. Johanna Reyes Reinoso, professor and researcher at the Catholic University of Cuenca.
• The Role of Women in Biodiversity Conservation, presented by Mgtr. Carlos Cabrera, from RITT and CEPF.
• Women in Environmental Project Management, by Biol. Laura Lojano, from Fundación Cordillera Tropical.
• Water, Governance, and Gender, delivered by anthropologist Ma. Daniela Samaniego, from Fundación Rikcharina.

Panel Discussion: “Intersectionality and Gender” The symposium concluded with a panel moderated by Mgtr. Ana Cordero Cueva, professor at the State University of Cuenca. The panelists were Mgtr. Verónica Vivar, Dean of the Academic Unit of Agricultural Sciences at the Catholic University of Cuenca (UCACUE); Biol. Laura Lojano, President of Fundación Cordillera Tropical; Mgtr. Diego Armíjos, Herpetology Specialist at the Technical University of Loja and the Sangay–Podocarpus Corridor; and Mgtr. Jazmín Salazar, head of the microbiology laboratory at UCACUE’s Center for Research, Innovation, and Technology Transfer.

During the discussion, topics such as gender differences in job opportunities, women’s participation in rural areas, and their role in research and environmental conservation were addressed. The event made it clear that, although gender gaps in environmental conservation in southern Ecuador have decreased, much remains to be done to achieve equity in this field. This symposium was consolidated as a space for sharing experiences and generating inclusive proposals.