Challenges in the legal protection of urban fauna in modern environments

Abstract

This study addressed the adequacy and effectiveness of local and national legal regulations in relation to the environmental preservation of urban fauna in the city of Tulcán, in Ecuador. To this end, this research focused on analyzing the effectiveness and applicability of the ordinance that regulates the possession, management and protection of urban fauna and, thereby, proposing solutions to improve awareness and compliance with environmental regulations. Therefore, surveys and interviews with residents and local authorities have been used, in a combination of methods developed under quantitative and qualitative approaches. Among the results obtained, it has been observed that 58 % of those surveyed are unaware of the current regulations. Jointly, the lack of resources and training among authorities has prevented effective application of the sanctions applied for the violation of the rights of urban fauna. Consequently, it has been concluded that it is crucial to improve the dissemination of regulations, by strengthening inter-institutional collaboration. In addition to promoting a culture of shared responsibility that ensures effective protection of urban fauna and