Quevedo & Ponce - Noticias Legales
Protection Action in Defense of Galapagos Turtles and Iguanas: Guaranteeing the Rights of Nature and Biodiversity
- June 11, 2024
- Quevedo & Ponce
In 2022, it was discovered that endemic species from the Galapagos archipelago were being illegally traded in countries such as Uganda, Mali, and Switzerland, as well as on online platforms.
Faced with this alarming situation, our partner Milton Castillo filed a protection action that resulted in a favorable ruling. This ruling orders the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition of Ecuador (MAATE) to manage the transfer of the following species from Appendix II to Appendix I in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
- Amblyrhynchus cristatus
- Conolophus marthae
- Conolophus subcristatus
- Conolophus pallidus (Iguanas)
- Chelonoidis nigra (Galapagos Tortoise)
Species listed in Appendix I of CITES cannot be commercially traded and can only be exported for research purposes, thus providing a higher level of protection compared to species in Appendix II, which can still be traded under strict international parameters.
Judge Viviana Pila, in her ruling, emphasized the violation of the precautionary principle established in the Constitution of Ecuador, highlighting the need to prevent potential harm and protect the rights of nature.
At Quevedo & Ponce, we are deeply committed to the fight against the illegal trafficking of species in the Galapagos Islands. This issue not only threatens the rich biodiversity of the archipelago but also endangers the survival of unique species worldwide. We work tirelessly to ensure that the Galapagos archipelago continues to be a symbol of Ecuador’s extraordinary biodiversity.
Más Artículos
The special emergent contract was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court, by ruling 49-20-IN/25, declared article 19 of the Humanitarian Support Law partially unconstitutional, which allowed the unilateral termination of the emerging contract without compensation. Despite this, the contract remains valid, but the employer must compensate if the contract ends before the agreed period.
El contrato especial emergente fue declarado inconstitucional por la Corte Constitucional
La Corte Constitucional, mediante sentencia 49-20-IN/25, declaró parcialmente inconstitucional el artículo 19 de la Ley de Apoyo Humanitario, que permitía la terminación unilateral del contrato emergente sin indemnización. A pesar de esto, el contrato sigue vigente, pero el empleador deberá indemnizar si termina el contrato antes del plazo acordado.
Abandonment in Judicial Proceedings: Is It the End of a Right?
Abandonment in judicial proceedings is declared when the parties fail to act for six months following the last providence, except in cases involving the rights of children, persons with disabilities, and labor rights. If declared for the first time, the claimant may file a new claim after six months; if it occurs again, the right to sue is extinguished.
El abandono en los procesos judiciales: ¿El fin de un derecho?
El abandono en los procesos judiciales se declara cuando las partes no actúan durante seis meses tras la última providencia, salvo en casos de derechos de niños, personas con discapacidad y derechos laborales. Si se declara por primera vez, el demandante puede presentar una nueva demanda tras seis meses; si ocurre nuevamente, se extingue el derecho a demandar.
WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge
The WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Traditional Knowledge, adopted in 2024, establishes an international framework for the protection and recognition of ancestral knowledge. Through innovations such as the disclosure requirement, it promotes transparency in the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge in patented inventions, ensuring respect for the communities of origin.
