The death of Lonesome George, the name by which the last species of giant tortoise from Pinta Island was known in Ecuador and the world (Chelonoidis abingdonii) in the early hours of Sunday, June 24, who lived at the Charles Darwin Foundation in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos; it is an event that not only marks the end of a species on our planet, but also shows the fragility of nature and the lack of awareness of humans regarding it.
According to the World Conservation Union, there are 153 species in danger of extinction in Ecuador. Little has been said about what we Ecuadorians do to preserve the great biodiversity that we have in our country. We know that there are many species that are also at risk of disappearing, among them a very emblematic one, the Ecuadorian Andean Condor. The giant Galapagos tortoises, like the Andean condor, are not only emblematic species of Ecuador, but they also have something in common: their danger of becoming extinct.
Given these circumstances, what should we do as a country to protect this heritage? George strongly calls on us to ask our authorities for greater control of our protected areas. It is common to find our parks and nature reserves neglected by the authorities and a lack of education and respect from citizens towards our environment.
The Constitution of the Republic 2008, in its article 66.- “recognizes and guarantees people and in its numeral 12 recognizes the right to conscientious objection, which may not undermine other rights or cause harm to people or nature.” Article 71 tells us “….The State will encourage individuals and legal entities, and groups, to protect nature, and will promote respect for all elements that make up an ecosystem.” Likewise, article 73 indicates that “The State will apply precautionary and restrictive measures for activities that may lead to the extinction of species, the destruction of ecosystems or the permanent alteration of natural cycles.”
ProgresoEC calls on citizens to join forces with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Tourism so that they can put more and better resources into the protection of these species that make our country unique.
Through the signing of a petition and proactive citizenship, authorities will be asked to generate better plans to save the most vulnerable species that are on the verge of extinction in Ecuador.
To read the full text of the petition and sign it, please access this link