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Ecuador, one of the leading countries in ocean conservation
Posted On 22 Sep 2022
Within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly 2022, which takes place in New York, United States, Gustavo Manrique, Minister of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition of Ecuador, was part of the Blue Leaders event and ratified the commitment of the country to safeguard the ocean and the planet.
Gustavo Manrique, Minister of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition of Ecuador was part of the Blue Leaders event.
The purpose of the event, organized by the Government of Belgium, was to catalyze high-level political support to achieve the goal of protecting 30% of the global oceans by 2030, an issue that will be addressed at the next COP of the Convention on the Biological Diversity to be developed in December; in addition to providing a key impetus to complete the negotiations of the future treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in the high seas, and create a platform for countries to announce national commitments regarding the protection of the oceans.
“Ecuador has made great efforts in legal frameworks to protect our oceans from pollution, but despite that we have local problems that only global solutions can solve. Only with the highest political ambition can we achieve it”, said Minister Manrique.
During the meeting, Germany promised to provide financing of 1.5 billion euros to generate new conservation strategies, including the 10-Point Plan to finance biodiversity, an initiative led by Ecuador, Gabon, Maldives and the United Kingdom and supported by several countries of various regions.
Minister Manrique ended his speech by highlighting Ecuador’s work in conserving the oceans through the creation of 2 new marine reserves, where Hermandad in Galapagos stands out, as well as the expansion of El Morro, which together with other actions have resulted in the increase of 42% of the territory under conservation. For this and for the relevance that the ocean has for the health of the planet and the human being, Ecuador is consolidated as part of the Blue Leaders.
Currently, about 17% of the world’s land area is under protection, according to a 2021 report from the World Economic Forum.
