MAATE Gets Retained Machinery For Illegal Road
The Protected Forest within the Tinajillas Rio in Ecuador was targeted with illegal machinery in the process of trying to open a new road within the forest. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE), including the National Unit for the Investigation of Crimes Against the Environment and Nature (UN-IDCAN) of the National Police were all involved in the crime. On July 24, 2024, a backhoe, light generator and an industrial drill was located in the forest. While they went through inspection, the machinery and tools used had been illegally placed on an open road inside the boundaries of the conservation area.
An alert was given out by the Municipal GAD of Limon Indanza where the ministry was brought to attention of the Organic Environmental Code, encouraging it to use the elements within the policy for the illegal activities. This caused all activities to be suspended due to its lack of environmental permission, while further preventing further damage to the ecosystem within the conservation areas.
The Forests and Wildlife Unit submitted a report from the Zonal District 6 and the technical office of Morona, stating how the illegally opened road is 4.68 kilometers and 6 meters in width, causing huge damage on the native ecosystem and its water resources- including affecting its biodiversity and permanently altering the natural landscape of the Tinajillas Protective Forest.
Following guidelines that Environmental Minister Sade Fritschi set in place, MAATE set out an administrative process against the offender. Afterwards on July 25, technical and legal personnel from the organization were seen at the Prosecutor’s office of the Limon Indanza region to give them information on the trial for the crime. The report was typed and filed under invasion of areas of ecological importance under the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code (COIP).
As for the machinery and tools, they were restrained under the custody of Judicial Police of Morona Santiago. The Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition, following procedures under the government of El Nuevo Ecuador, has reinstated their commitment to strive for further conservation and sustainability of natural resources through regulation and stricter environmental and water control.
Khaleb Hernandez | Environmental CorrespondentHello everyone! I am currently a senior studying Environmental Science and Policy in Tampa, Florida. Before I moved to the United States, I was raised in Guatemala City- where I was exposd to an abundance of environmental injustices and experiences. With my mother being from Colombia, I’ve traveled to various places around Central and South America to realize there are many topics not being addressed for the well-being of smaller communities, mostly indigenous or communities living under the poverty line. Hearing people’s stories inspired me to dig deeper into how these communities have adapted to their way of living, including lacking the basic resources we have access to in our daily lives. With Latina Republic, I aspire to share their stories and bring awareness to their unique circumstances, including giving them the attention they need in all forms. I am confident sharing stories will attract a greener future and more opportunities to guide the right people into improving the ways of living in Central and South America.
