La institucionalización del conservacionismo en el Ecuador [1949-1953]: Misael Acosta Solís y el Departamento Forestal

Abstract

The article documents the antecedents and the creation of the Forestry Department of Ecuador; the fírst State agency dedicated to forest protection and environmental control. The study analyses the influence of the fírst director of this institution: Misael Acosta Solís, a geo-botanist born in Ambato and reputed researcher in forestry and conversation issues for Ecuador. The research explores the concepts of conservationism that were assumed by the State and other Ecuadorían institutions, as well as the tensions between envíronmental discourse and practice.