]1/2/2020 In the morning around 8am before we left for the airport, I gave my presentation on Tourism, Development, and Conservation in the Galapagos. At the airport, we killed some time by walking around and getting some food to hold us over. After a 7-hour flight, we got to our hotel, Exe Galeria in Guayaquil, at around 10. An hour later, after dinner, Diego gave us a presentation to welcome us to the country. He emphasized the diverse terrain and variable environments of Ecuador. He discussed how Ecuador is one of the 17 countries with the largest biodiversity and that 18.5% of the country is national park. Ecuador made a monumental move when it became the first country to make laws to protect wildlife often with severe penalties. Kotzé and Villavicencio Calzadilla (2017) discuss how Ecuadorian "rights of nature" is the only one of its kind to "entrench the rights of nature" with deep roots in indigenous traditions. The importance of nature is further emphasized as 33.26% of the country is run by the ministry of the environment.
First dinner in Guayaquil
Diego touched on several issues with some species that are occurring due to anthropogenic reasons. Shark finning is a major issue in the country and is a valuable item in Asia, and more often than not human greed and self-concern takes over any concern or care for the damage that may be done. Recently some migratory birds, for example osprey, have begun staying permanently, likely due to changing weather and temperatures associated with climate change. Ecuador is very diverse geographically, which makes for its unique and diverse landscapes and species richness. Its equatorial position and the Coriolis effect results in the Humboldt and holt currents influences weather and carries nutrients that allow for the species richness seen in the Galapagos. Ecuador is divided into three regions: coast, Andes, and Amazon. The Andes differ greatly in northern and southern regions because of the structure of the volcanoes. There are 10 different types of forests. Ecuador is also diverse culturally, with a total of 27 cultures. Cechua is spoken in the Amazon among the indigenous tribes. Free healthcare enables all Ecuadorians to receive medical assistance, which is very favorable among the people. The country is largely different from the U.S in that Ecuador makes healthy food cheaper and more accessible, more of a commodity than something difficult to attain.
References: Kotzé L.J. & Villavicencio Calzadilla P. , 'Somewhere between Rhetoric and Reality: Environmental Constitutionalism and the Rights of Nature in Ecuador ' (2017 ) 6 (3 ) Transnational Environmental Law , pp. 401 -433.