Desafíos y perspectivas de la consulta previa y ambiental en la protección de los derechos de la naturaleza en Ecuador

This article analyzes the application, challenges, and perspectives of prior and environmental consultation in protecting the rights of nature in Ecuador, based on the study of emblematic cases and a review of constitutional jurisprudence. The study uses qualitative analysis and a socio-legal approach to identify the factors influencing non-compliance with the mentioned participation mechanisms. In addition, it examines the jurisprudential impact of constitutional rulings in similar cases, seeking to prevent the repetition of rights violations. The findings reveal a persistent gap between the formal recognition of rights and their effective application, due to factors related to economic interests, institutional weakness, and structural barriers that hinder the real participation of the affected communities. The study concludes that, to advance towards an efficient protection of the rights of nature, a change is needed that reaches the political and cultural institutional structures of the country, strengthens state enforcement capacities, promotes comprehensive public policies, and guarantees access to justice and integral reparation for the affected communities. This article contributes to the debate on environmental justice and collective rights in Ecuador by providing a critical and proactive analysis from a legal and social perspective, committed to the defense of nature and peoples.