He World Wildlife Day 2025 is an opportunity to celebrate the beautiful and varied forms of wildlife and flora animalsIncrease consciousness of its multiple benefits and at the same time remember the urgent need that humanity must fight against crimes that threaten life Silvestre And the reduction of species induced by anthropogenic activities that lead to economic, environmental and social effects.
In 2025 the theme of this international day, «Financing of nature conservation: Invest in people and the planet«, I wanted to investigate how I had to work together to make financial flows, which are nowadays clearly insufficient, more effective, more functional and more sustainable.
Preserving life and animals in the wild
From the Patagonian steppe to the coral reefs of the Galapagos Islands, the wild animals and plants are essential parts of the complicated network of the lifetime of the earth. Silvestres Not only do they regulate natural processes, they also offer essential services that support human self -supplying agents: more than the Half of the worldwide gross domestic product depends on natureAccording to the Treaty on International Trade of Endangered Species Fauna and Flora Silvestres
However, More than a million endangered species, That is why preservation financing is urgent. That is why the World Life Day is commemorated this Monday Silvestre With the subject financing of life preservation Silvestre: Invest in people and the planet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA5DU64SSMA
Handed over to organized crime
Worldwide the reasons why the loss of life is activated Silvestre They are well known, among them, pollution and climate change and environmental crime such as deforestationIllegal mining, poaching and species traffic.
In Latin -America, Fauna Silvestre Of mega -redivers countries such as Ecuador has been at the mercy of organized crime, which has found a chance in environmental crime To diversify their activities because “they are crimes that generate a lot of money and that have a low risk”, Unu News indicates the head of the United Nations office against drugs and crime (UNODC) in the country.
“It is very complex to investigate them and it is very complex to punish them,” says Leopoldo Fernández, who explains that, although the traffic of Drugs entail a high risk of going to prisonAn illegal activity that is related to the environment may not have a consequence or causes a maximum of an administrative or monetary sanction.
According to the agency, Transnationale organized crime has included environmental crime as a financial pillar Fundamentally for drug trafficking and expansion of its influenceFacilitating money laundering and strengthening convergence with other crimes such as corruption, arms trade and human trafficking. Criminal networks facilitate the illegal traffic of natural resources and generate between 110,000 and 281,000 million dollars in illegal profit every year, according to data from the Latin -American financial action group (Geatilat).
The exploitation of Environmental crimes, such as illegal mining and life traffic Silvestre, It not only contributes to money laundering for international posters and armed groups, but also feeds corruption and influences safety in the western hemisphere and the global level.
Strengthen settings
“You have to strengthen settings, The technical and operational possibilities must be strengthened To detect, investigate and punish this type of crime, “says Fernández, who emphasizes that one of the portfolios that Unodc has in the country is precisely on environmental crime, as a result of which they want to strengthen regional cooperation to prevent and combat them.
One of the most important projects that the agency is currently supporting is to strengthen the capacities of all involved in an investigation into a crime against flora or faunaSo that they know how to protect the proof of a crime (retain the chain of custody).
“Because when we take the process, if not solid, the process is falling,” says Fernández. “Criminal organizations that benefit from this kind of crime They also invest money in other specialists; They can be lawyers, counters or experts from other areas That they will support them during judicial processes.
In the country, The increase in illegal mining has driven deforestation, The relocation of local and indigenous populations, the destruction of habitats and therefore the loss of biodiversity. Fernández warns that there are criminal groups that control mineral areas and use minerals to launch money and to finance all their activities. “Official sources speak of 20 million dollars in gold on the borders of Ecuador. We are talking about more than 7000 million a year, “he says.
Ecuador: Loss of animals in the wild
On the field, News Un spoke with the deputy director of the scientific police in Ecuador, Xavier Chango, transmitting a workshop on the preservation of the detention chain in the city of Cuenca. Lieutenant -Kolonel explained that the workshop was aimed at the first responds, or those who arrive at the crime scene and that they are not necessarily police officers, but reach.
“It is important that this first respondent knows what to do,” explains Chango. “Many of the indications found in the scenes are eventually destroyed, polluting or simply disappearing by the location of the facts.” Consequently, the indications that allow an investigation and, as explained by UNODC, cannot be determined, not determined responsibilities to apply sanctions against the violation of natural rights.
CHANGO emphasizes the variety of scenarios for which civil servants must be prepared, in which it can be injured species or remains of it Dead species such as claws, feathers, fat or trees that have occurred illegally and minerals. According to the civil servant, crimes against fauna Silvestre They occur throughout the country, including the Galapagos Islands, the home of unique animals of their kind.
Pink dolphins, jaguars, armadier, turtles, iguanas, all run the risk of traffic and illegal possession. The deputy director agreed that there has been an increase in illegal mining. To tackle this complex panorama, the National Police has a group of biologists, geologists, foresting engineers, environmental engineers and SOOTechnical veterinary doctors for research into environmental crime. Chango acknowledges that it is a small team, but hopes it will grow.
“In Ecuador, nature has rights that have been established in the Constitution. A violation of rights You must investigate and punish it“Says sharp. The deputy director of the scientific police in Ecuador, Xavier Chango, speaks with the biologist Ximena Ceballos during the workshop for researchers of the environment and first respondents in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Save wild animals
One of the workshop participants was Ximena Ceballos, a biologist at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological transition. Ceballos carries out rescue and He learns environmental education -conversations with biodiversity management and life traffic Silvestre, Because in the province in which it works, Morona Santiago, there are large percentages of traffic and property.
In 2023 he reached Make a total of 75 rescue operations, in which they have met different species Like snakes, monkeys, parrots, turtles and even an otter. On another occasion, the biologist retained the illegal possession of glasses, the only native bear in South America and is classified as vulnerable according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
In reference to illegal possession, Ceballos explains that families sometimes no longer want animals in houses. “They call or come to the office and say they have found the animal, but at the time of making an assessment, I realize that the animal is domesticated. In those cases, the animal can no longer be released.
“We, as Ecuador, know that we are a mega -acadiver country, so I call on the entire province of Morona Santiago to ensure, because it helps the Ministry of the Environment to set the complaints for the issue of illegal property, and No participants in buying animals in the wild“Ask the biologist.
Protecting the biological wealth of the country is not exempt from risks. Another of the workshop participants, Paul Tito, reminds that, on one occasion, almost Drivers in dump trucks that try to subtract materials from a protected area that is over. In his capacity as manager of the Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve, his work includes the control and surveillance of environmental crime in that area, such as hunting, illegal mining, illegal wood transport, abuse and speeding violations.
Close the financial gap
As nature conservation mechanisms are strengthened, more resources are required for this area. In the words of the General Secretary of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Fauna and Flora Wild, ‘The beautiful biodiversity of our planet is pricelessBut keeping has a costs. “
Ivonne Higuero insists that every year billions of dollars are needed to fill the financial gap of the world For the preservation of animals in the wild“A gap that we have to close to guarantee the survival of the species and ecosystems that support us all.”