GALAPAGOS: In October 2010, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's call for the creation of the first judiciary on the rights of nature moved to a decision-making scenario at the Judicial Council of Ecuador (Council). The Council is the highest governing body of the Judicial Power in Ecuador. Upon Sea Shepherd's official request, on October 26, 2010, the Council received a Galapagos delegation to advocate for the creation, in Galapagos, of a judiciary specializing in the rights of nature—the first of its type in Ecuador and in the world. The hearing was held in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. The Galapagos delegation included representatives of the Ministry of Environment-Galapagos National Park, Sea Shepherd Galapagos, and World Wildlife Fund. Representatives of Projusticia-Ministry of Justice, and the Governmental Council of Galapagos also attended the hearing. The need for a specialized judiciary is justified by the extraordinary value of the natural heritage of the Galapagos archipelago, which is protected by national legislation and international treaties. At the hearing, Sea Shepherd Galapagos' legal advisor, Hugo Echeverria, emphasized the legal status of the Galapagos as being a National Park and a Marine Reserve, as well as a Biosphere Reserve, a Ramsar site, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. A legal brief was presented to the Council, explaining the potential effectiveness of the Galapagos legislation as a tool for conservation. Also explained was the urgent need of its application by judicial authorities in order to halt illegal activities affecting the Galapagos ecosystems and the endemic, native, and migratory species which are protected by law. The hearing was an opportunity to recall the groundbreaking approach of the new Constitution of Ecuador, which, in line with the World Charter for Nature, recognizes the rights of nature. It was also an opportunity to exhort the application of a recently adopted law that specifically calls for the creation of specialized judiciaries on the rights of nature. The Council informed the delegation that it will analyze the creation of a specialized judiciary on the rights of nature during its next meeting. If created, it would be the first not only in Ecuador, but in the world. Sea Shepherd
