Análisis de la cooperación técnica sur-sur regional en el área ambiental en Ecuador en el período 2007-2012

Abstract

The Ecuadorian Constitution of 2008, shows the concern that the Ecuadorian government has in relation to the environment, therefore prioritizes the protection, preservation and proper use in its Chapter Two, Section Two, Healthy Environment, in Articles 14th and 15th. The main objective of this study is to analyze the South South Cooperation, at the regional level in environmental matters in Ecuador according to the 2008 Constitution between 2007 and 2012. The Theory of Interdependence was chosen for this study. The main referents of the theory are Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye. One of their main ideas is that in order to achieve optimal development in a State, it needs from the actions and experiences of others, which can be applied to the reality of itself, in this sense, foreign policy and domestic policy are closely linked to each other in order to form a single process. This points us to the international cooperation as a good tool to accomplish national and international goals. In the first chapter, we can find the several sources and ways of international cooperation. In this study, the technical cooperation is prioritized. Ecuador makes part of several international organizations that show the running of the international relations in the country, since being part of these organizations the government must achieve objectives and guidelines. CELAC and UNASUR are the two regional spaces that are prioritized organizations for this research. By giving importance to environment, laws and regulations applied at the national level must be adjusted to the objectives of Good Living, in that way environmental protection is ensured. Since Ecuador is a developing country, it is necessary to access to the international aid that exist in the region, but it is very important to follow national laws in order to participate in international cooperation projects. In this regard, it should be mentioned that in the Constitution of Ecuador, the regional integration is a priority. In the second chapter the situation of South-South cooperation between the years 2007-2012 was analyzed in order to have a greater understanding of its evolution and implementation in the country through regulating entities, that facilitate access and tracking of the activities performed in the framework, of cooperation such as SENPLADES and SETECI. It is clarified that each Autonomous Decentralized Government have the power to search and manage their own cooperation, without going through the process that SETECI has, but the goal should accomplish national objectives. In the government agencies case, such cooperation must be access through SETECI, but more international instruments such as Memorandum of Understanding cannot be excluded. In the third chapter, priorities of cooperation are known, these are given by the Ministry of Environment, and the main priorities are: adaptation, mitigation of climate change; solid waste management; bio trade; protected areas management; invasive species eradication; among others. Ecuador keeps relations of South-South international cooperation with countries like Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Venezuela. Three projects have been developed successfully in Ecuador and have been offered nowadays to be replicated in other countries of the region. It has been concluded that South-South cooperation cannot be measured or evaluated for amounts of money paid or received; as this cooperation is technical, administrative costs that are generated by the implementation of this cooperation are not always real, so the south-South cooperation is measured by the impact but not the financial part. The South-South cooperation projects on environmental issues, have increased since 2007, so we can see that under the State's and the Ministry of Environment priorities, a greater number of actions are identified at the regional level, actions that can contribute with the preservation of the environment in the country.