The outcome of this significant case to protect the Los Cedros Reserve from mining would set a precedent for all future Rights of Nature cases, and could dramatically limit the ability of mining companies to operate in Ecuador.
Today, Monday October 19th, Ecuador’s Constitutional Court is expected to begin hearing arguments and amicus briefs with respect to its landmark case to determine whether the Rights of Nature, guaranteed by the Ecuadorian constitution, can be applied to the country’s Protected Forests (Bosque Protectores). The Court has chosen the case of the Protected Forest Los Cedros, as the test case.
The Los Cedros reserve, like many Protected Forests in Ecuador, are under threat by mining. Canadian mining company, Cornerstone Resources has been granted concessions and working in the park for many years, and Australian company BHP, also has concessions.
To find more information about the case, the campaign, and the ongoing efforts to protect one of the world’s most exceptionally biodiverse places: https://bit.ly/341Rnx7 . To sign the open letter from individuals and organizations to submit to the court on the 22nd see: shorturl.at/enB19 #SaveLosCedros #NaturesRights