The decline of the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), a vulnerable species in Latin America, has raised urgent concerns within the scientific community. Current estimates suggest that only between 2,500 and 10,000 adult Andean bears remain in the wild, primarily threatened by massive deforestation and increasing conflicts with local populations due to habitat loss.
In Ecuador, a conservation project aims not only to protect these bears but also to understand the human factors contributing to their decline. Engaging local communities is central to the initiative, which seeks to develop mutually beneficial solutions. An example includes promoting alternative crops like vanilla, providing income for communities without the need to deforest.
Another critical aspect of the project is the legal recognition of local community lands. Many people in South America live and work on lands without legal titles. The team collaborates with the Ministry of Environment and provincial government to facilitate the necessary documentation process, ensuring legal security for local communities.
An innovative strategy includes extending rights to nature to the Andean bears themselves. This provision, already present in Ecuador's constitution, has previously enabled legal actions for biodiversity protection and could now be used to confer specific legal protections to the bears. Dr. Joanna Smallwood highlighted how Ecuador's Nature Rights laws have been crucial in protecting sensitive habitats against harmful practices like mining, and they could now recognize Andean bears as sentient beings with rights that allow for direct legal actions to preserve their habitats.
This integrated approach not only seeks to safeguard Andean bears but also promotes fair and balanced solutions for the involved local communities. Thus, the project emerges as an initiative that transcends wildlife conservation, advocating for a broader vision that respects both natural and human rights along the Andean Bear Corridor.