Cuenca Extends Watershed Conservation Agreements to Yanuncay and Miguir

Cuenca is extending its Mutual Conservation Agreements program from the Tomebamba sub-basin into the Yanuncay and Miguir sub-basins. The program is designed to reduce pollution risks and support the recovery of eroded areas, according to El Mercurio on August 20, 2026.

The municipal program involves the Commission for Environmental Management, the public companies ETAPA EP and EMAC EP, academic institutions, and other organizations.

What has already happened in Tomebamba

The source reports 40 mutual agreements in the Tomebamba sub-basin involving gastronomic, tourism, and agricultural activities. Actions have included:

• Building and maintaining septic tanks where sewer systems are unavailable
• Installing grease traps
• Improving solid-waste management
• Reforestation to recover riverbank forests

The work has covered the stretch from El Molino to the first ETAPA EP checkpoint for entry into Cajas National Park.

What happens next

In Yanuncay, initial work began this year with environmental education and information gathering. Technical inspections have already been carried out, and the source says six activities have been identified for possible inclusion. The first commitments are expected to be signed from September.

In Miguir, the Municipality signed a two-year agreement with the University of Cuenca to gather information about local activities and develop sustainable-management mechanisms. The study covers water use, soaps and cleaning products, and wastewater.

The environmental team and ETAPA EP conduct periodic inspections in the area every three months. The source also lists garbage collection three times per week among the actions already implemented.

The land-use question

Residents and business owners in the sub-basins support conservation measures but say planning and land-use coordination must be addressed before agreements advance. That concern is especially visible in Miguir, where local representatives asked for the Municipality’s Planning and Urban Control personnel to participate in future meetings.

What this means for Cuenca expats

The program matters to residents who live, dine, operate tourism businesses, or travel along the routes toward Yanuncay, Miguir, and Cajas. The immediate change is not a blanket restriction; it is a move toward documented commitments for activities that affect water, wastewater, waste, and surrounding land.

Owners and visitors should watch for official announcements about the September commitments and any conservation rules attached to particular properties or activities. The source does not provide a final list of affected businesses or a new fee schedule.

Source: El Mercurio