Last Court Standing
Democracy and the rule of law are in decay globally. In Ecuador, President Noboa continues his attempts to transform the state towards authoritarianism. So far, the Constitutional Court has successfully resisted these attempts and preserved its independence and integrity. Whether it can maintain this position will likely become clear in the coming days. Two rulings are pending that are crucial for the survival of Ecuadorian democracy. For this reason, the court is once again facing drastic intimidation.
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Are Rights of Nature Working?
Legal initiatives recognizing the rights of nature have transformed from a trickle to a cascade. But are they really effective? A systematic study on the implementation of the Ecuadorian Los Cedros ruling, one of the most prominent decisions of this sort, shows that it has been notably effective in protecting the forest from mining threats. However, its impact on local community involvement has been limited, and the fate of Los Cedros and the case remain vulnerable.
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