ECUADOR: Environmentalists condemn a decision by Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa to approve oil drilling in previously untouched parts of the Yasuni National Park in the Amazon rainforest

Record ID: 344342

  • Title: ECUADOR: Environmentalists condemn a decision by Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa to approve oil drilling in previously untouched parts of the Yasuni National Park in the Amazon rainforest
  • Date: 4th October 2013
  • Summary: YASUNI, ECUADOR (FILE) (REUTERS) VIEW OF RIVER MONKEY IN TREES ANTS CARRYING LEAVES ALLIGATOR SUNSET AS SOON THROUGH TREES
  • Embargoed: 19th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ecuador
  • Country: Ecuador
  • Topics: Environment,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAASI58F0F1BOUS1CG5GL0TR8S9
  • Story Text: Ecuador's parliament on Thursday (October 03) authorised drilling of the nation's largest oil fields in part of the Amazon rainforest after the failure of President Rafael Correa's plan to have rich nations pay to avoid its exploitation.
    The socialist leader launched the initiative in 2007 to protect the Yasuni jungle area, which boasts some of the planet's most diverse wildlife, but scrapped it after attracting only a small fraction of the $3.6 billion sought.
    The government-dominated National Assembly authorised drilling in blocks 43 and 31, but attached conditions to minimise the impact on both the environment and local tribes.
    Correa has also played down the potential impact of oil drilling in the area, saying it would affect only 0.01 percent of the entire Yasuni basin.
    Despite the government's moves to reassure critics over the decision, environmental groups spoke out against Ecuador's move.

    "Well, the truth is we expected it. It's yet one additional proof that there's no such thing as the autonomy of state institutions, all institutions are doing or preparing for the decision or request that the president will take. The assembly has discussed this quickly," said Patricio Chavez, spokesperson for environmental group "Accion Ecologica".
    About 680,000 people have signed a petition calling for a referendum, with many concerned damage to Yasuni's bio-diversity will be irreparable.

    "The problem with the Yasuni is that the site has the most bio-diversity of the planet and there is no step back with the exploration of petroleum at this site. If there is a spill, for example of 11 thousand barrels of petroleum as it happened before, perhaps this site will be completely destroyed," added Chavez.
    Though Correa says the estimated $22 billion earnings potential will be used to combat poverty in the South American nation, there have been protests from indigenous groups and green campaigners.
    The Yasuni is home to two of the world's last uncontacted tribes and also supports a huge variety of unique species of amphibians, birds and monkeys.
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