Protection Action in Defense of Galapagos Turtles and Iguanas: Guaranteeing the Rights of Nature and Biodiversity

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.