Abstract

GUDYNAS, Eduardo. The Political Ecology of the Biocentric Turn in Ecuador's New Constitution. rev.estud.soc. [online]. 2009, n.32, pp.34-46. ISSN 0123-885X.

Ecuador's new Constitution is the frst in Latin America to have a biocentric perspective. It introduces the concept of Nature's rights together with the right to ecological restoration. It promotes a new articulation with traditional knowledge by referring to both Nature and Pachamama. And it provides a framework to base environmental policies and management on an Andean perspective of the good life (sumak kawsay) and new kinds of development strategies. This paper describes and analyzes these new features from the perspective of political ecology and environmental ethics. It examines the impact of the concept of intrinsic value and offers a series of future challenges in feld of politics and management. The biocentric turn represents an alternative to modernity, making it possible to value Nature, and articulate it with indigenous knowledge, in new ways.

Keywords : Nature's Rights; Intrinsic Value; Biocentrism; Political Ecology; Environmental Ethics; Ecuador.

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