Hot Ecuadorian Mangrove News You Might’ve Missed
By Jason Effmann
If you want an example of how a relatively small entity can produce a wallop of an environmental impact, find yourself a mangrove. Although covering only 0.1 percent of the earth’s surface, mangrove forests store more carbon per square mile than any other ecosystem on earth—depending on what study you’re referencing, up to four times more carbon than your “traditional” terrestrial forest. (Turns out, perpetually wet coastal soil is an uber-efficient carbon storage facility.)
Additionally, mangroves help reduce the harm caused by coastal storms (including hurricanes and tsunamis), maintain the structural integrity of coastlines, and despite their fairly homogenous appearance provide habitat for a wealth of species.
So it seems like a good idea to keep mangroves around. Only: Mangrove forests have been reduced at a rate between 1% and 2% per year, with a total loss rate of 35% over the last 20 years. Much of this is the result of development and agriculture—both of whom then tend to suffer, long-term, from a lack of the very thing they cut down in the first place.
Fortunately, we have another example of how a relatively small entity (or two) can produce a wallop of an environmental impact, and it’s found in Ecuador, home of the world’s tallest mangrove forest in the area known as Reserva Majagual.
This past September—after a legal contest that lasted more than three years—Ecuador’s Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the Rights of Nature for mangroves, declaring as unconstitutional a rule that allowed for activities and infrastructure that interrupted mangroves’ functions and threatened their wellbeing.
In short: Mangroves are now protected to the same degree as other high-profile ecological zones in Ecuador.
Earth Law Center was among the organizations filing amicus curiae briefs in the case, providing expertise as to the benefits of mangroves and the fragility of these environments. It’s just one of several cases in the country where ELC is helping nature make strides: Already the Constitutional Court halted mining concessions in Los Cedros Protected Forest for violating the Rights of Nature. Three more amicus submissions on a variety of cases within the country await.
As to why these types of cases are so successful within Ecuador, having the Rights of Nature baked directly into the country’s constitution doesn’t hurt. Another factor is the consistent presence of environmental advocacy groups like Earth Law Center, who are able to assist in bringing cases forward and providing conclusive evidence in favor of protecting and even expanding those baked-in rights. This is one of the ways donations to ELC help—keeping people in close proximity and working within the country’s legal system to ensure the right thing gets done.
With the rights of mangrove forests now declared in writing, the ELC and other advocates for the Rights of Nature move on to fight the next case. Meanwhile, those mangrove forests will keep doing what they do best: fighting climate change. Right on, mangroves.
And speaking of doing what you do best, there are plenty of opportunities for you to help the Earth Law Center. You can volunteer, donate, become a moderator of our online community, or simply sign up to receive our newsletter. Thanks for being a part of this community, and our efforts to secure nature’s rights, everywhere.
