Ecuadorian Government prohibited to cut down trees in Esmeraldas

Rafael Correa

Since yesterday, an emergency rule was stated in the province of Esmeraldas, in order  to ensure “the permanence through time of the ecosystem services provided by the trees”

The measure aims to “bring an end to the activities of logging in native forests and natural regeneration which have been taking place in the area in an irregular way”, thus implies the Decree 116 which was signed on Monday by the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, and which will be valid for 60 days.

The order says that the ministries of the environment, Interior, Defense, Coordination of Safety, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministries of Intelligence and National Communication, must create and carry out a plan of action that will allow the  neutralization and suspension of  “all kinds of irregular exploitation” of native forests in Esmeraldas.

In addition, this document indicates the prohibition to issued logging permits in forests and the renovation of existing ones, and that there will be an audit to all permits granted.