The Los Cedros Biological Reserve – located in northwestern Ecuador – is home to
biologically diverse and ecologically significant wet tropical and cloud forests. It is also
the site of planned mining operations. In a seminal case, however, the Constitutional
Court of Ecuador ruled to protect Los Cedros, emphasizing that constitutionally protected rights of nature and other rights prohibited the ecological and social harm that would result if planned mining activities proceeded.
Now, the challenge is to ensure this ruling is effective in practice. Working with partners
in Ecuador, the MOTH Project is undertaking efforts to support the implementation of
this essential ruling.