The disappearance of glaciers worldwide is one of the main consequences of climate change. This is why the United Nations declared 2025 the Year of Glacier Conservation, an initiative aimed at raising awareness of their importance and promoting actions for their protection.

These ecosystems regulate the global climate and provide fresh water to millions of people, but they are rapidly disappearing, especially in tropical areas like Ecuador, where they are extremely vulnerable [1].

These giants of ice and snow have been lost in many places around the world, and Ecuador is no exception. On the other hand, one of Ecuador’s most important mountains, El Carihuairazo, is part of the Protected Area of ​​the Ecuadorian Highlands. At 5,018 meters above sea level, the majestic flight of the Andean condor can be observed. Trekking, climbing, and hiking are available. This imposing volcano has completely lost its glacier, and according to INAMHI data, 50% of the glaciers in Ecuador have been lost in the last 50 years, with an average loss of 20 to 25 meters per year [2].

Among the consequences of glacial melting in Ecuador are serious ones. One of the most critical is water scarcity, as river and stream flows decrease, especially during the dry season. This directly impacts agriculture, human consumption, and hydroelectric power generation — fundamental pillars of the country’s development. Another consequence is an imbalance in páramo ecosystems, which depend on water from glaciers to maintain their biodiversity and water regulation capacity [3].

At the social level, indigenous and rural communities living in Andean regions are facing the loss of traditional practices, ancestral cultures, and livelihoods linked to water cycles. Added to this is the increase in local climate changes, such as changes in rainfall patterns, increased exposure to droughts or intense rainfall, and the intensification of extreme events such as landslides and soil erosion, which exacerbates the vulnerability of these territories.

Figure 1: Andean landscapes and their glaciers. Photo by Author.