Social capital and advocacy coalitions: examples of environmental issues from Ecuador.

Resumen

This chapter examines how local groups in Cotacachi, Ecuador, form advocacy coalitions to influence environmental policy at the local, national, and even international levels. Using an advocacy coalition framework, it looks at how civil, government and commercial groups sought and formed alliances around two environmental issues: governance of the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve and open-pit mining in Intag. Analysis of the outcomes of these two cases points to important lessons on how stakeholders can overcome differences in desired future conditions to work towards sustainable development.