Historic Decisions Made for Conservation of the Galapagos Islands
Copyright 2001 WWF International
November 2, 2001
Quito, Ecuador - Ecuador's Attorney General adopted two resolutions in support of the application of the Galapagos Special Law and the authority of the Galapagos National Park.
These resolutions were a response to the special inquiry submitted by Lourdes Luque de Jaramillo, Minister of the Environment, establishing that the Tintorera vessel is not an artisanal craft, and thus, according to the Galapagos Special Law, it must leave the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
On the other hand, members of the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court decided to reject the habeas corpus appeal submitted by M. Jorge Guevara, owner of the vessel Maria Canela II, thereby empowering the Galapagos National Park to take any pertinent action needed in this case. The habeas corpus appeal sought to invalidate the Galapagos National Park's decision to confiscate and sell at auction the Maria Canela II vessel.
Fundacion Natura (WWF associate) and WWF consider that these decisions set an important precedent and demonstrate that the Galapagos Islands will be protected through the observance and application of the Special Law and the determination of the authorities to enforce it.
For further information contact:
Irma Larrea, WWF-Galapagos Program, Tel. [593 2] 25033-89 to 94, extension 309;E-mail: wwf-galapagos2@fnatura.org.ec