New marine reserve in Galapagos Islands marks a huge win for ocean conservation at COP26

The president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, announced the declaration of a new marine reserve for the Galapagos Islands today in Glasgow, Scotland, during the most relevant climate change event in front of the most important world leaders. The aforesaid announcement is closely related to Ecuador's commitment to reaching 30% of marine protection by 2030, on the brink of a new treaty to protect the planet during the Convention on Biological Diversity of the United Nations.

Gustavo Manrique, Minister of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition stated, "This new marine reserve expands the current area in 60,000 new km² and creates a corridor, which connects Ecuadorian waters with Costa Rican waters, thus creating a safe swimway where important endangered migratory species, such as sharks, whales, turtles and manta rays travel."

This new marine reserve will also serve as a living laboratory to conduct scientific research, which will allow a deeper understanding of the biosphere.

Marine reserves are well-known strategies to tackle climate change, thus allowing the ocean time to recover and keep offering benefits for humanity.

Ecuador is leading the actions to protect the biosphere, thus demonstrating the solid commitment of moving toward a true ecological transition, which allows the country sustainable and productive development.

This initiative comes just one day before the leaders of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama launched a new marine protected area to be called the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR). This effort will serve as a passage for animals like tuna and sea turtles to move along the ocean corridor to feed, reproduce, and give birth.

These are two major positive updates in the effort to protect critically endangered species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape.