This document summarizes key issues related to Ecuador's forest sector and implications for its national REDD+ strategy. It notes that Ecuador has high deforestation rates driven by land use change, unsustainable logging, extractive industries, and infrastructure development. There are conflicting interests between private forest ownership and government environmental policies. Critical issues include a lack of independent oversight, limited economic incentives for sustainable forest management, inequitable forest value chains, and high levels of illegal logging. The document advocates for more transparency, public access to forest information, and strengthened civil society involvement to improve forest governance.