Summary
The Afro-Ecuadorian community “La Chiquita” with members of the Awá nationality filed an action in the Provincial Court of Justice of Esmeraldas, for damages to their health, the environment, and nature due to the cultivation of African palm in the San Lorenzo canton, Esmeraldas province. The plaintiffs presented themselves as representatives of nature and condemned the violation of their rights contained in articles 71 and 73 of the Constitution. They argued deforestation was being created through clear-cutting carried out in the area for palm cultivation, which is wiping out the existing vegetation in the La Chiquita Wildlife Refuge.
The action was accepted by the provincial court, and a series of repairs and compensations were ordered. A horizontal appeal for extension was filed, which was accepted and processed, but subsequently annulled because it was not filed in time. The court continues to request the execution of its orders.
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2025. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor.https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/palm-cultivation-in-the-la-chiquita-community/.
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