La relación entre las actividades extractivas y la protección de los derechos de la naturaleza en el cantón Sígsig, provincia del Azuay, año 2024

Abstract

This research examines the relationship between extractive activities and the protection of the rights of nature in the Sigsig group of Azuay province. In 2008, a constitutional reform recognized nature as a subject of rights, marking a historic milestone in the legal field. However, the effective implementation of these rights remains a challenge due to the lack of a clear regulatory framework and the weakness of the institutions responsible for regulating extractive activities. Both legal and illegal mining have caused serious environmental damage, affecting key ecosystems such as rivers and protected forests. This has caused social tensions due to the loss of protected resources, and has caused social tensions due to the loss of natural resources vital to local communities. The lack of effective control over these activities reflects a gap between policies that promote economic development based on resource extraction and constitutional principles that prioritize environmental conservation. Citizen participation, improved legal implementation, and a more sustainable development approach are essential to achieving a balance between resource exploitation and nature preservation. This paper highlights the need to strengthen public policies and the need for clear and effective regulations that effectively protect the rights of nature.