An in-depth investigation by the Chaski of Pachamama on territorial sovereignty, the Rights of Nature and their implications for the sustainable development of tourism in Ecuador.
The Sovereignty of Nature
Ecuador, beyond being a destination with a great variety of landscapes across its four regions, is the setting for one of the most audacious legal transformations in human history. By recognizing nature as a subject with its own intrinsic rights in the 2008 Constitution, the country broke with centuries of anthropocentric legal tradition. This change is not cosmetic; it redefines the relationship between the State, communities, and economic activities.
Thus, tourism can be conceived as the most powerful strategic ally for conservation. Conscious tourism—that which respects the limits of life—generates a circular economy that protects territories from the voracious advance of industries that see the rainforest or the moorland only as cubic meters of raw material. This edition of PachaMamita's Chaski It is a tribute to those territories that resist the operators who, with ethics and courage, demonstrate that life is the most important axis on which they base their ventures.
Sovereignty over territorial knowledge implies understanding that the water in a waterfall is not "a tourist attraction," it is the lifeblood of an ecosystem that sustains culture and survival. Below we will explore why defending places like Fierro Urco either Kimsacocha It is, in reality, the defense of Ecuador's living alternatives for development.
Living light from Kawsak Sacha
The victory of Kichwa Indigenous People of Sarayaku before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, it was not only a legal victory; it was the birth of a territorial management model based on Kawsak Sacha (Living Forest). Sarayaku demonstrated that prior consent is non-negotiable and that the territory is a living being that feels and has rights in real practice.
In this context, the work of Papangu Tours It emerges as a tool for visibility and sustenance. This conscious tourism operator translates the Kawsak Sacha philosophy into a transformative experience. By navigating the territories of Sarayaku, visitors participate not only in enjoying the biodiversity but also in an act of cultural resistance. Papangu Tours demonstrates that tourism can be a tool for territorial sovereignty.
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Territories Under Surveillance
In-depth analysis of real cases. Click on the cards to expand.
Yasuní: The open wound
The challenge of operating responsible tourism in the face of state negligence in cleaning up oil liabilities.
Yasuní faces an existential dilemma today. Despite the results of the popular referendum, the Ecuadorian state maintains a delaying stance regarding the dismantling of infrastructure in the ITT block. Amid this negligence, Yasuni Kurysacha Travel It stands out as a community tourism agency that prioritizes life over extraction.
For Yasuni Kurysacha Travel, Each expedition is an exercise in sovereignty. Tourism here acts as a watchdog: visitors directly observe the impact of environmental liabilities that the State ignores. This agency allows ancestral Kichwa knowledge to become the basis for development that respects the right of the rainforest to comprehensive restoration (Art. 72).
In Fierro Urco and Kimsacocha
Protecting water sources from the threat of industrial metal mining.
The southern highlands of Ecuador are experiencing a historic moment. Fierro Urco, the "Water Star of the South", the people Saraguro It maintains constant vigilance to prevent the entry of mining machinery that intends to drill into vital springs.
On the other hand, the defense of Kimsacocha (Quimsacocha) in Cuenca is emblematic. Just a few months ago, thousands of Cuenca residents marched through the streets, reaffirming that water is worth more than gold. The Loma Larga mining project aims to impact a fragile páramo ecosystem; Cuenca's response is clear: water is the cornerstone of Ecuador's viable development alternatives.
Engabao and the Mangrove in Resistance
Sovereignty over communal lands and estuaries in the face of industrial real estate development.
The Engabao Commune It represents the struggle for the sovereignty of ancestral lands against real estate projects that seek to privatize access to the sea. At the same time, the defense of mangroves in areas like Muisne is urgent: mangroves have the right to comprehensive restoration (Art. 72).
The mangrove forest is being encroached upon by the expansion of industrial shrimp farms. Community-based mangrove tourism is emerging as the only real barrier left to protect this biome, demonstrating that a healthy estuary generates more long-term economic benefits than a temporary export-oriented shrimp farm.
Brotherhood Reserve: The Right to the Sea
Protecting marine biological corridors from international industrial fishing.
The creation of the Reserve Brotherhood It extended marine protection to an additional 60,000 km². This is an application of the rights of marine species to complete their life cycles without the pressure of industrial fishing. For scuba diving tourism, this reserve is a guarantee of the business's future, allowing migratory species like the hammerhead shark a safe corridor.
Resilience of Life
While oil collapses due to resource depletion and leaves unpayable remediation costs, conscious tourism is strengthened by the revaluation of protected biodiversity.
A healthy destination has resilience 400% superior in the face of global crises.
Practical Integration Framework
How to truly integrate conscious tourism with the Rights of Nature. Click on the points for technical details.
Participatory Diagnosis
It involves mapping the territory's natural resources in collaboration with local residents. Current tourist routes must be identified, but above all, the sources of environmental pressure (mining, logging, pollution).
Environmental Health Indicators
Establish measurable technical parameters: water quality in springs, presence of key species and frequency of polluting events.
Community Monitoring
Development of protocols for collecting technical evidence from the community (georeferenced photos, basic sampling).
Environmental Clauses
Integration of incident reporting commitments into contracts with tour operators using the territory.
Certification and Visibility
Seeking sustainability certifications that reflect the actual conservation of the area and provide differentiating value in the market.
Access to Legal Advice
Link NGOs and defenders to formulate claims or precautionary measures if the territory is threatened.
Operational Roadmap
A technical and proactive guide for the conscious management of the destination.
Regularization in the SUIA
How to do it efficiently? You must obtain the Environmental Registration through the SUIA system of the Ministry of the Environment (MAATE). This step is your primary legal protection.
Technical Action: Ensure your Environmental Management Plan includes specific biological monitoring indicators. Being properly registered grants you active legitimacy to report harm to third parties before the courts.
Limits of Acceptable Change (LCA)
Land Management: Exceed the static "load capacity". Use the method LCA: Identify physical indicators (path erosion, root compaction) and establish a maximum threshold.
Technical Action: Monitor trail width every six months. If the impact exceeds the threshold, implement route rotation or reduce the load. Maintaining soil health is essential to ensuring the land's right to regenerate itself.
Ethical and Constitutional Guide
How to apply it: The Guiding Regulations (Art. 23) prohibit feeding wildlife. The guide must be trained not only in biology, but also in constitutional rights basics.
Technical Action: Establish mandatory induction talks for tourists on the Rights of Nature before starting the tour. The guide is the first enforcer of the law in the territory.
Alert and Reporting Protocol
Technical Action: If any damage is detected in the territory (oil spill, illegal logging, mining invasion), document it immediately with georeferenced photos.
Keep basic water monitoring kits on hand. The speed of collecting technical evidence is crucial for the courts to issue orders. Comprehensive Restoration (Art. 72) against those who violate the law of nature.
Useful Contacts
MAATE complaints
1800-ENVIRONMENT
Ombudsman's Office
1-800-REPORT
National Emergency
9-1-1
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Legal Personality of Nature?
2. Can mining operate in a tourist area?
3. What should I do if I discover environmental damage along my route?
4. Is the environmental consultation binding?
5. What role do NGOs play in territorial defense?
6. Does noise affect the Rights of Nature?
7. What is the difference between remediation and restoration?
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