Working Against Illegal Wildlife Trade in the Pastaza Region, Ecuadorian Amazon: An Initial Analysis
In Ecuador, the harvest and trade of wild species for consumption, medicine and recreation in addition to the over exploitation of natural areas, is too great to be sustainable and is leading to massive biodiversity loss and extinction.
Ecuador recognizes the rights of nature within its national constitution however, ensuring these rights are applied and that the legal system defends them remains one of the many obstacles that effect the progression of many conservation efforts. Other limitations include the lack of resources and inadequate numbers of professional, technical and appropriately experienced work groups. The growing population which has civilization extending towards the Amazon region, commercial deforestation, poverty, lack of education, and the lucrative illegal trade market are other key elements.
Our group is implementing educational, research and active rescue and rehabilitation programs of the conservation of wild species of fauna, flora and natural areas. As well our group is raising awareness of the illegal wildlife trade globally and creating and maintaining government and other official contacts to help with the politics of the illegal trade system.
Operating closely with government organizations and other conservation groups for the confiscation of illegal wildlife is imperative to many species survival. With the enhancement of current environmental projects and the creation of model projects, such as a well functioning wildlife rehabilitation centre, alongside the development of quality educational programs for schools and universities, would lead the current situation into a positive and more hopeful direction.