Environmental Policies Governing Urban Growth Ecuador is known as the country in the middle of the world. There are four distinct natural regions in Ecuador the Sierra, the Coast, the Amazon Basin and the Galápagos Islands. Ecuador contains some of the world’s greatest biodiversity and is home to 25000 different species of orchids, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and vascular plants. Ecuador only covers 0.2% of the earth's surface and has 10% of the world's vascular plant species. Ecuador has established national parks, scientific stations, and protected areas to preserve biodiversity. Keeping their country free from contamination is a fundamental public interest. The Galapagos Islands is threatened by activities that exploit natural resources. In 1999, a law was passed to protect endemic species and to limit agricultural activity, immigration to the islands, and invasive species. Ecuador was the first country to respond to global warming by reducing the worlds production of CO2 which was the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Citizens appreciate the government initiating protection of biodiversity. Ecuador received the WWFs “Gift to Earth” award for the protection of Amazon Basin rainforest. This regulation prohibits any activity that could threaten the area’s biodiversity and promotes the wellbeing of the indigenous peoples. With financial assistance and foreign cooperation more efforts could be done to preserve the Ecuadorian environment. Quito Bus System Ecuador has been experimenting with being a more sustainable country. One of the ways Ecuador is being more sustainable is by improving their transportation system. Quito one of the main cities in Ecuador inhabits more than 1.5 million people. Many of the residents in this city take public transportation due to being in an area of poverty. In effort to cut back CO2 emissions Quito Trolleybus System was introduced. The trolleybuses are electric powered and have their own separate lanes. This system cuts back on traffic in the city and CO2 emissions since the trolleys are not running off diesel. Natural Disasters There are four distinct regions in Ecuador the Amazonian Rainforest, the Andean Mountains, the Galapagos Islands, and a long Pacific Coastline. Ecuador is blessed with beautiful scenery and extinctive resources but is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and other natural hazards. Coastal and amazon regions experience floods, droughts and landslides caused by the El Nino. In the highlands earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are the most frequent natural disasters that take place. Since most people in Ecuador live in poverty, they are the most vulnerable to these disasters. Policy management over the past 30 years has been heavily concentrated in response and relief. However, Ecuador is in need to strengthen mitigation and preparation rather than just improvising solutions after a disaster takes place. Ecuador’s civil defense is committed to disaster management during an event of a natural disaster. Americare has provided the most aid in emergency response and disaster relief for Ecuador. Since 1987 Americares has provided more than 16 million dollars’ worth of medical aid and humanitarian relief to Ecuador. Ecuador’s Red Cross and JBG plays a key role before and after a disaster occurs. The Red Cross also provides workshops that inform the citizens on how to prepare for a disaster. Ecuador’s natural disaster management plan is not the best, there is a lack of communication between all levels of government. Once the natural government gives orders they step back and let lower level government handle the rest, but they fail to do a follow up. Ecuador’s disaster management plan is a work in progress with every natural disaster they learn new ways to deal with them. https://youtu.be/7_QzCmc0b2M Cotopaxi The continents colliding created the volcanoes along the Andes. Chimborazo is the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes. Llamas and alpacas survive in this environment due to their thick fur coat and there extra red blood cells that provide them with oxygen. Rock sculptures in the mountain have been cut by glaciers. The soil in the Andes is rich in nutrients and provides a contrast of color in native wildlife and plants. Every species in this habitat is biologically unique. Cotopaxi is one of the most beautiful mountains on the planet. It is 5,897 meters high. The summit has a breath taken view. The Andes is perfect for recreational activities. Cloud Forests Cloud forests are found in mountainous areas and are different from lowland rainforests. They get their name from constant presence of clouds or mists that cover the vegetation. Another name for them is sky islands. They consist of a single story of trees or trees of the same height. Since there are high moisture levels in these forests there is a rich amount of biomass and diversity. This unique ecosystem accommodates habitat for many threatened and endemic species. 10% of the worlds endemic bird species are found in cloud forests. These forests are rare they make up 1% of the world’s woodlands and are found predominantly throughout the tropics. The appearance and form of cloud forests vary depending on altitude, temperature, cloud cover, soil conditions and wind exposure. The tall trees of the multi-storied lowland rainforests gradually give way to new forest formation called the lower montane forest. As altitude increases and temperature drops owing to the air cooling as it rises. There is greater exposure to wind at higher elevations. In the lower part of the montane zone the elevation on average is up to 35 meters. When you move up in elevation in these forests the trees become smaller and mossier. Lots of clouds means fewer light levels, which means the plants don’t get as much energy so they can’t grow as tall do to photosynthesis. Trees trunks are crooked due to the increase in elevation, wetter soils, exposure to clouds and wind driven fog. Bamboo is the undergrowth species which replaces palms. They stabilize water quality and maintain the natural flow of the streams and rivers found within them. If you remove cloud forests the amount of water would drop by up to 33%. Epiphytes capture water from fog and clouds and make up about ¼ of all cloud forest species. 86% of cloud forest sites are identified as areas of conservation by the WWF. Products of cloud forests are medicinal plants and game meats. There unique ecology makes them vulnerable to deforestation and climate change. Humans clear cutting forests for farming of coffee, introducing invasive species, logging, development of roads, pipelines, and buildings is there biggest threat. Latin Pulse - Water Crisis Water is the oil of the future it is a natural resource that the world can’t survive without. There is no alternative to water like there is for oil. The lack of drinking water together with pollution in South America is impacting people’s health and the economy. This issue is brining awareness about recycling and water purification. A shower uses about 25 gallons of water every five minutes. In Chile people are installing clocks in showers and better shower heads. 97.5% of the water is saltwater on our planet, which is unfit for human use. Privatization of water advantages the rich and not the poor. Guayaquil Ecuador is an example of privatization of water. All but 5% of the sewage goes into local waterways and children are victims of hepatitis. World bank considers this project in Ecuador as a success story, but many activists are speaking out. Ecuador experiences water problems similar to the rest of Latin America. There main problem is the infrastructure and logistics. Water is very hard to provide in areas that are taken over by people that migrate from the countryside, so they are forced to provide water by trucks.