Ecuador's Enviornmental Policies
As studied within the book “Ecuador’s Environmental Revolutions” the country of Ecuador is one of the most biologically diverse areas in all the world and is at the center of many conservation efforts. In fact, now within their constitution it guarantees the right to live in an ecologically balances environment free of contamination. The conservation of the diverse and unique ecosystems which support the lives of many endemic species has been at the forefront of public interest for years. In 1993 Ecuador approved the “Basic Environmental Principles” which was a document that clearly stated the obligation of the citizens to do their part in preserving the surrounding environment. Later in 1996 the country developed a new position that would be in charge of identifying potential environmental issues and finding ways in which to tackle and mitigate them such as the enactment of new environmental policies. This position was called the Ministry of Environment. As learned from the book at the beginning of the environmental efforts with the country there was a lot of talk but no true action taken by the government as they were still conducting state run oil drilling processes which are known to be extremely detrimental to the environment. However, as time progresses they get better and better with it, they take small steps toward being completely environmentally conscious. In 1999 it was determined that stricter policies should be put in place to protect the island of the Galapagos, they approved a law that limits agricultural activity, regulates immigration to the islands, monitors the introduction of foreign specie and promotes the well-being of the locals. Another effort made by the state was the protection of 1,135,000 ha of the amazon basin Rainforest, this action eventually leads to the country receiving the WWFs “Gift to Earth” recognition award. The protection prohibits drilling, mining, forest destruction, colonization, or any activity that could potentially threaten the areas overall biodiversity…. of course, until the government needs some money to fund internal programs that better the infrastructure of the country as a whole. This is Ecuador’s biggest struggle. As seen below in a graph that shows the amount of area within “protected areas” throughout the country
While the environmental policies are fantastic for the conservation of the area they are not very good for the overall growth of the country as there are not many exports that can generate as much money as drilling for oil and mining for various other resources. The only way in which these Ecuador can successfully grow internally as a country as well as protect and conserve their precious biologically diverse land is through international financial assistance. This is another issue that the country faces because not many outside countries see the benefit of shelling out cash to Ecuador in exchange for them not to drill for oil and save the environment because they don’t see the direct impact on their country. However, a new approach should be taken by these international countries as a small effort by many can make a huge impact for many. The Ecuadorian Amazon is responsible for generating a large portion of the air that we all breathe so saving and protecting that area is definitely in all of our best interest in terms of human longevity
Quito Bus System
Quito, which is the capital of Ecuador, is home to about 1.464 million people (in 2000), about 75% of which use the bus system that is provided by the city. Out of the 1.464 million people in the country there are only 250,000 cars, which shows how dependent the city is on its bus system. Before 1996 there were various types of busses that ranged in size, overall quality, as well as fare amount. The bus system was run by a privatized company called “The National Transport Council”. It was estimated that at this time the bus fleet consisted of about 2,500 buses but it was found that this was a low estimate and di not consider those buses that were unlicensed but still operated. The true number of busses that operate in the fleet was closer to 6000 buses. At the time the bus system was essentially unregulated, buses were hired to drivers on a daily basis, services were not well managed nor were they clean. Emissions and noise from these busses also contributed to the low quality of service.
To combat this the trolley bus system was put into place starting in 1996. In addition to the trolley bus system there were three different types of busses added to the fleet that took other routes, one operated a low fare service, one provides an upgraded urban service, and another provides a school service. The trolley bus system is more environmentally friendly and uses electrically powered busses and operates on a designated portion of the roads made especially for the system. Citizen can use the bus system based on a trunk and feeder system in which they pay one fare and can transfer to different lines to get to their destination without paying an extra fare. This bus system provided enhanced services compared to the previously stated bus system in that the operational hours (5 AM-12:40 AM on weekdays and 6 AM-10:40 PM on weekends) are increased compared to the old system shutting down promptly at 8 PM.
The key factor that made the switch from the first system to the now current system possible was the change in the transport law that made the bus system operated by one singular public entity rather than various private ones. The UPGT became the agency that was in charge of transportation planning and implementation.
The present-day bus system is a very efficient and environmentally friendly way of transporting around 75% of the city’s population on a daily basis. The vehicles are much bigger and provide more reliable, quick, and efficient services. Carries about 8,000 passengers per hour in one road lane. The current system is highly cost effective and allows for a majority of the city’s population to have access to it. It surpassed the expected 140,000 passengers a day with 170,000 passengers a day which enables the system to further progress and make improvements due to the monetary influx that the above expected demand brings in. Comparatively Quito is in a much better spot than it once was with the bus system in terms of overall reliability and accessibility as well as having a limited environmental impact in such a densely populated city.
To combat this the trolley bus system was put into place starting in 1996. In addition to the trolley bus system there were three different types of busses added to the fleet that took other routes, one operated a low fare service, one provides an upgraded urban service, and another provides a school service. The trolley bus system is more environmentally friendly and uses electrically powered busses and operates on a designated portion of the roads made especially for the system. Citizen can use the bus system based on a trunk and feeder system in which they pay one fare and can transfer to different lines to get to their destination without paying an extra fare. This bus system provided enhanced services compared to the previously stated bus system in that the operational hours (5 AM-12:40 AM on weekdays and 6 AM-10:40 PM on weekends) are increased compared to the old system shutting down promptly at 8 PM.
The key factor that made the switch from the first system to the now current system possible was the change in the transport law that made the bus system operated by one singular public entity rather than various private ones. The UPGT became the agency that was in charge of transportation planning and implementation.
The present-day bus system is a very efficient and environmentally friendly way of transporting around 75% of the city’s population on a daily basis. The vehicles are much bigger and provide more reliable, quick, and efficient services. Carries about 8,000 passengers per hour in one road lane. The current system is highly cost effective and allows for a majority of the city’s population to have access to it. It surpassed the expected 140,000 passengers a day with 170,000 passengers a day which enables the system to further progress and make improvements due to the monetary influx that the above expected demand brings in. Comparatively Quito is in a much better spot than it once was with the bus system in terms of overall reliability and accessibility as well as having a limited environmental impact in such a densely populated city.
Ecuador's Volcanoes
Ecuador is home to a piece of a very long mountain range that stretches along the coast of south America called the Andes mountains. Within this mountain range there are various massive mountains and volcanos that were formed due to the collision of continents. Most of the volcanos located within the Andes in Ecuador are over 5000 m tall. The video first touched upon the most notable mountains within the Andes in Ecuador, highlighting, Chimborazo, or the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes, which has 4 peaks with the tallest being over 6000 m tall, as well as its neighboring mountain, Carihauairazo, or the “Man of Wind and Snow” which has various rock structures that have been carved out by glaciers. Various animals such as lamas and alpacas prefer to live in these high elevation mountains and can withstand the mountain’s elevation due to their thick coats and increased amount of red blood cells that enable them to get enough oxygen to function.
The video then went on to highlight the most popular volcano formations within the Ecuadorian Andes. The first Volcano mentioned was, Tungurahua, which stands at 5029m tall and is cone shaped. When it snows a white hood forms at the top of the volcano and the snow actually plays a critical role in the fragile yet unique ecosystem. The snow hydrates the land with pure water and falls down the volcano through waterfalls, soil is rich in nutrients which gives life to many fruits and plant species that differ in beautiful contrasts of color, many flowers and orchids can be found within the landscape. I found this very interesting because you wouldn’t think such beauty can form on something so destructive. It also makes you think about the effects that global climate change may have on the vegetation as snowfall totals may decrease which may lead to an inadequate supply of water to sustain the plant species population at this time. The next volcano mentioned is Cotopaxi. Cotopaxi has snow on it year-round and is a popular spot for extreme sports and eco-tourism. The volcano stands at 5879 m tall and is the tallest Volcano in Ecuador. Lastly was Quilotoa which happens to be the shortest volcano of the three that are mentioned, standing at 3940 m tall. However, it features a green lake at the summit that spans 3000 m wide. The lake it very salty and was formed through volcanic processes.
The video then went on to highlight the most popular volcano formations within the Ecuadorian Andes. The first Volcano mentioned was, Tungurahua, which stands at 5029m tall and is cone shaped. When it snows a white hood forms at the top of the volcano and the snow actually plays a critical role in the fragile yet unique ecosystem. The snow hydrates the land with pure water and falls down the volcano through waterfalls, soil is rich in nutrients which gives life to many fruits and plant species that differ in beautiful contrasts of color, many flowers and orchids can be found within the landscape. I found this very interesting because you wouldn’t think such beauty can form on something so destructive. It also makes you think about the effects that global climate change may have on the vegetation as snowfall totals may decrease which may lead to an inadequate supply of water to sustain the plant species population at this time. The next volcano mentioned is Cotopaxi. Cotopaxi has snow on it year-round and is a popular spot for extreme sports and eco-tourism. The volcano stands at 5879 m tall and is the tallest Volcano in Ecuador. Lastly was Quilotoa which happens to be the shortest volcano of the three that are mentioned, standing at 3940 m tall. However, it features a green lake at the summit that spans 3000 m wide. The lake it very salty and was formed through volcanic processes.
Cloud Forests
Cloud Forests or “Sky Islands” are considered rare in or world as they cover about 1% of the the worlds woodlands, however they are very unique and integral areas in terms of environmental, societal and ecological processes. The forests are lush evergreen forest that occur at high elevations. These forests are consistently experience the presence of clouds and mist which create conditions tat are unlike any other wood land area on Earth. Due to this consistent presence of moisture various plant species must be able to withstand these kinds of conditions, and in some cases the conditions influence how the species grow and the rate of growth. For example, due to the high levels of moisture these forests have a lot of epiphytes which are plant organisms such as mosses, lichens, palms and others. Epiphytes derive their moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, and water surrounding them, in fact they contain about 3000 L/ha of water. Another interesting fact about the plant species within these cloud forests is that the tree sizes are relatively consistent and as you move up in elevation the smaller the trees and other plant species get. This is because due to the constant presence of clouds, fog and other moisture there is not as much sun that gets to the trees and plants in which they need to photosynthesize to produce energy for growth. However, since this energy is not available it is reflected in their growth. Additionally, due to the moist conditions the trunks and limbs of the trees begin to twist and turn in ways that you would not typically see in the lower lying rainforests. Along with the plant species these forests also foster a large variety of animal species. Cloud forest contain a large amount of endemic bird species.
These forests also have widespread sociological impacts. For example, in some regions the cloud forests supply hundreds of thousands of people in urban areas. This is because of how clean the water is and how it is moist all year round. The conservation of these forests is critical as they are responsible for the collection of a substantial percentage of water in given areas. For example, if a cloud forest was to be cut down it is estimated that about 33% of the area’s water would be lost. That’s a pretty significant amount of water lost especially if that area is dependent on that water for clean drinking water. These cloud forest also foster the growth of many fruits as well as, tomatoes, avocados, and coffee. The risks to these cloud forest include human impact mainly through agricultural means. However, a large majority of the cloud forest are protected by reserves or are identified as crucial biodiversity/ ecological areas in which development is not suggested and attention to conservation is. Due to the uniqueness of these forest as well as the beauty they attract much interest in terms of ecotourism which has the potential to have a positive influx on the economy and the overall education and awareness of these types of forests and how they have an impact on human lives.
SAVE THE CLOUD FORESTS!!
These forests also have widespread sociological impacts. For example, in some regions the cloud forests supply hundreds of thousands of people in urban areas. This is because of how clean the water is and how it is moist all year round. The conservation of these forests is critical as they are responsible for the collection of a substantial percentage of water in given areas. For example, if a cloud forest was to be cut down it is estimated that about 33% of the area’s water would be lost. That’s a pretty significant amount of water lost especially if that area is dependent on that water for clean drinking water. These cloud forest also foster the growth of many fruits as well as, tomatoes, avocados, and coffee. The risks to these cloud forest include human impact mainly through agricultural means. However, a large majority of the cloud forest are protected by reserves or are identified as crucial biodiversity/ ecological areas in which development is not suggested and attention to conservation is. Due to the uniqueness of these forest as well as the beauty they attract much interest in terms of ecotourism which has the potential to have a positive influx on the economy and the overall education and awareness of these types of forests and how they have an impact on human lives.
SAVE THE CLOUD FORESTS!!
Water Crisis
Latin America has one of the biggest sources of freshwater in the world. Many say that water can be seen as the oil of the future in the sense that there are no alternatives to water in terms of necessities for human life and there are many risks that influence the overall quality and availability of the resource. Most of the water in the region comes from the Amazon River, glaciers, and the Andes Mountains, however the glaciers that provide fresh water are melting at a very alarming rate. For example, the San Rafael Glacier in the Chilean Patagonia (UN Biosphere Reserve) has sunk drastically over the last 100 years. A Tour guide of the popular ecotourism spot said that in just 6 years the glacier sank from 300 ft to around 150 ft, which means that at this rate in another 6 years the glacier will be no more, which can be a little scary to think about.
Throughout Latin America there is a common trend of demand of water increasing while the supply starts to decrease as well as be contaminated which effects the overall health of people in the area. Not only is a clean water supply crucial to the health and wellbeing of citizens in Ecuador but it is also crucial to the overall economic growth of these countries. Around 77,000 children die in Latin America per year due to water-related illnesses. This is a number that is far too high and poses economic and psychological burden on the families and people affected by this horrible statistic.
Contaminated water has a widespread impact that not only impacts human health from consumption but it also effects tourism and agriculture as some water sources are used to irrigate farms or a once clean and safe waterbody or waterfall is now visibly damaged or contaminated bringing a sense of shame from a place that once brought joy and pride. It’s all sad to see and has widespread negative effects throughout the countries. With this alarming situation occurring there have been efforts to progress and find new ways to save water and to provide safe water to citizens in need. Efforts towards conserving water include the addition of clocks in showers to ensure that citizens are showering at an efficient rate that uses the least amount of water and energy as possible to reduce the harmful effects and save money . There is also a shower head that incorporates air into the water like a jacuzzi and is shown to save 25 cents a shower which can total up to 96 dollars a year per family member.
A potential solution to quality and availability of water is taking the responsibility out of the hands of the government (some being very weak) and putting it into the hands of privatized companies that in theory provides better service because of the fact that there are service charges and that the company makes a profit. However, many feel negatively towards the privatization of water supply by US companies which ultimately keeps the poor from having access to water due to them not having enough funds to get the water. Privatization can affect the lives of many and can have a direct impact on the agricultural sector of the country in which they would not like to have happen. People of Ecuador view it as unsustainable and allows for these companies to trample over human rights and the laws and constitution.
Various other disadvantages of privatizing water supply Include, people make profit off water which is an essential human need and since it comes with a cost they are taking water away from the poverty-stricken areas which is inhumane and not right. Most privatization isn’t even regulated and leads to overall disaster. High rates, environmental destruction, lack of good service, as well as human health impacts such as cholera and hepatitis have happened in privatized markets. Privatization hasn’t even worked particularly well in areas of high regulation such as the United States.
The issue is that public services haven’t worked either. However, the movement toward privatized water supply has motivated governments to reassess their operations and ways of distributing clean water to its citizens which has been successful in some cases.
In the video the world bank representative and the representative from one of the privatized water companies of course were the only ones saying that privatized systems work and have worked in the world and effort should continue to work towards it. Particularly they say that it works well in Guayaquil however a resident of Guayaquil said otherwise earlier in the video.
It just blows my mind that an essential human need can be taken away from someone just because they don’t have enough MONEY for it when MONEY is a human construct. Like comon, water needs to be a publicly provided service and should be regulated and paid high attention to again because it is an essential human need for life!
Throughout Latin America there is a common trend of demand of water increasing while the supply starts to decrease as well as be contaminated which effects the overall health of people in the area. Not only is a clean water supply crucial to the health and wellbeing of citizens in Ecuador but it is also crucial to the overall economic growth of these countries. Around 77,000 children die in Latin America per year due to water-related illnesses. This is a number that is far too high and poses economic and psychological burden on the families and people affected by this horrible statistic.
Contaminated water has a widespread impact that not only impacts human health from consumption but it also effects tourism and agriculture as some water sources are used to irrigate farms or a once clean and safe waterbody or waterfall is now visibly damaged or contaminated bringing a sense of shame from a place that once brought joy and pride. It’s all sad to see and has widespread negative effects throughout the countries. With this alarming situation occurring there have been efforts to progress and find new ways to save water and to provide safe water to citizens in need. Efforts towards conserving water include the addition of clocks in showers to ensure that citizens are showering at an efficient rate that uses the least amount of water and energy as possible to reduce the harmful effects and save money . There is also a shower head that incorporates air into the water like a jacuzzi and is shown to save 25 cents a shower which can total up to 96 dollars a year per family member.
A potential solution to quality and availability of water is taking the responsibility out of the hands of the government (some being very weak) and putting it into the hands of privatized companies that in theory provides better service because of the fact that there are service charges and that the company makes a profit. However, many feel negatively towards the privatization of water supply by US companies which ultimately keeps the poor from having access to water due to them not having enough funds to get the water. Privatization can affect the lives of many and can have a direct impact on the agricultural sector of the country in which they would not like to have happen. People of Ecuador view it as unsustainable and allows for these companies to trample over human rights and the laws and constitution.
Various other disadvantages of privatizing water supply Include, people make profit off water which is an essential human need and since it comes with a cost they are taking water away from the poverty-stricken areas which is inhumane and not right. Most privatization isn’t even regulated and leads to overall disaster. High rates, environmental destruction, lack of good service, as well as human health impacts such as cholera and hepatitis have happened in privatized markets. Privatization hasn’t even worked particularly well in areas of high regulation such as the United States.
The issue is that public services haven’t worked either. However, the movement toward privatized water supply has motivated governments to reassess their operations and ways of distributing clean water to its citizens which has been successful in some cases.
In the video the world bank representative and the representative from one of the privatized water companies of course were the only ones saying that privatized systems work and have worked in the world and effort should continue to work towards it. Particularly they say that it works well in Guayaquil however a resident of Guayaquil said otherwise earlier in the video.
It just blows my mind that an essential human need can be taken away from someone just because they don’t have enough MONEY for it when MONEY is a human construct. Like comon, water needs to be a publicly provided service and should be regulated and paid high attention to again because it is an essential human need for life!