With these programes in place it is hardly surprising that the Ecuadorians have to destroy their environment in order to earn a living. If ecologists were really concerned with the environment in the third world they would do more to convince their governments to retire the international debt of countries like Ecuador. They would also support the introduction of subsidies for Ecuadorian industries that did not harm the environment. The reason is simple, opposition from people with respect to increased taxes. Even though citizens of developed countries complain when governments want to apply conservation taxes, they see nothing wrong with doing the same to disadvantaged third world workers.
World trade is one such reason.
Ecuador, as the world's largest banana exporter has been itself severely disadvantaged by import quotas in Europe and the lack of MFN status in the North American market. Here as well there is a role for subsidies, as subsidising other industries would make it less advantageous to collect sea cucumbers. Much hypothesising is done by environmentalists regarding problems in the third world, but at the end of the day there is one clear and plain truth. Now that we in the developed world have destroyed our environment through development, we are ordering the less developed world not to do the same. If we really want the third world to protect its environment then the duty falls on us to endure the financial cost.