NEW WORK: Oil exploitation of Ecuadorian Amazon

Even though it occupies just 0.15 percent of the entire Amazon region, the nearly 4000 sq. mile Yasuni National Park is one of the most biodiverse places on this planet. Roughly one-third of its amphibian, reptile, bird and mammal species thrive in it. Yasuni is also home of a small indigenous tribe, the Huaorani, who have been contacted only in the last 50 years.

Unfortunately this remnant of primeval life happens to lie on top of the last exploitable oil resources of the country. Under international pressure, President Rafael Correa has pledged to preserve Yasuni from destruction holding greedy oil companies out of its territory. In exchange Ecuador asks a compensation for the missed revenue. Should this unprecedented move be met with success, it would be the first time in human history that the international community gives up a primary, lucrative resource such as oil to preserve nature.

See the pictures

by Massimiliano Clausi at 2012-07-12 08:50:15 UTC | Bookmark | | Report spam→

I sure hope it stays preserved. I would like to go down there one day and not see the jungle molested by greed driven oil barrens.

by Austin Dudley | 12 Jul 2012 20:07 | washington, United States | | Report spam→

Nice photos, Massimiliano. Who are they asking compensation from? Can this backfire? For example, can Ecuador collect compensation and then, in the future under a different political regime, decide to exploit the oil reserves?

by Barry Milyovsky | 13 Jul 2012 17:07 | Manhattan, United States | | Report spam→

Thanks Barry. A couple of years ago the Ecuadorian government sold oil exploitation licences for the Yasuni area, meeting strong opposition by ambientalists worldwide, among them big names like Greenpeace and Al Gore were in the first line to protect the park. The President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, then proposed that if the country should give up oil revenues to protect the Amazon, someone should make up for it since oil is the main stake of national GDP. The first world countries, so boastful when it comes to protecting nature, didn’t reply. This is the reason why Yasuni is today still at risk. But you’re right, there’s a high risk that future government would not keep their word once the money is collected.

by Massimiliano Clausi | 17 Jul 2012 09:07 | Genoa, Italy | | Report spam→