Palo Santo Forest Ecuador

The country has a new conservation area of Forest and Protective Vegetation (BVP) under the name “El Artesan EcuadorianHands”, a space of 50 hectares, whose vegetation is dominated by the Palo Santo tree (bursera graveolens) important for the culture and local economy, so its conservation is crucial to maintain biodiversity, in addition to the properties and unique aroma of this forest species.

This BVP is the 170th at the national level and its declaration is part of the work carried out by the Undersecretariat of Natural Heritage, through the Directorate of Forests of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition. The property is located in the Joá Commune, in Jipijapa, Manabí.

Carlos Ponce, Director of Forestry, mentioned that “the category of Protective Forest and Vegetation consists of an area that conserves and guarantees sustainable forest management with a social, cultural and environmental focus.”

The protective forest has reforested areas and initiatives for the production and sustainable management of “palo santo” in the dry forest, for the benefit of families in the sector.

Welcome to the Ministerial Agreement MAAT E – 2022 – 136 of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition of the Republic of Ecuador. This agreement is a comprehensive effort to protect the natural and cultural heritage of the country, guarantee the fundamental and inalienable human right to water and recognize the right of the population to live in a healthy and ecologically balanced environment.

The agreement was established based on numeral 7 of Article 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador, which establishes as one of the primary duties of the Ecuadorian State the protection of its natural and cultural heritage. In addition, Article 12 recognizes that access to water is a fundamental and inalienable human right.

The agreement was signed by Abg. José Antonio Dávalos Hernández, Minister of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (S), in July 2021. It was prepared by technical specialists, reviewed by the Director of Water Resources Management and Quality (E), and approved by the Undersecretary of Water Resources.

A significant result of this agreement is that it establishes criteria for delimiting or zoning Permanent Conservation Zones (PCZ) within the EL ARTESÁN BVP. These criteria will be used as inputs to establish PCZs in this area.

In addition, this agreement recognizes that environmental protection is essential for sustainable development. It establishes measures to promote sustainable production practices that minimize environmental impacts while promoting economic growth.

The agreement also recognizes that climate change poses significant challenges to environmental sustainability. It therefore establishes measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while promoting adaptation strategies that increase resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Another critical aspect addressed in this agreement is waste management. It recognizes that waste management is an essential component of environmental and public health protection. Therefore, it establishes measures to promote waste reduction at source, recycling programs, proper disposal practices, among others.

Finally, this agreement recognizes that public participation is essential for effective environmental management. Therefore, it establishes measures to promote public participation in decision-making processes related to environmental management.

In conclusion, Ministerial Agreement MAAT E – 2022 – 136 of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition of the Republic of Ecuador is a comprehensive effort to protect the country’s natural and cultural heritage, guarantee the fundamental and inalienable human right to water, and recognize the population’s right to live in a healthy and ecologically balanced environment. It establishes criteria for delimiting or zoning Permanent Conservation Zones (ZCP), promotes sustainable productive practices, mitigates the greenhouse effect, protects biodiversity and the environment.