It’s a “historic decision” welcome the defenders of the Amazon: a majority of Ecuadorians voted to stop oil production in an emblematic deposit of the Amazonian reserve of Yasuni, in the east of the Ecuador.
In a referendum held on Sunday, alongside a snap general election, Ecuadorians voted 59% yes to halting production of “Block 43”, according to results released Monday.
Called for by an environmental group for ten years, this national consultation was finally authorized last May by the highest court in the country.
It was to decide the future of the Ishpingo, Tambococha and Tiputini (ITT) block, known as “block 43”, from which 12% of the 466,000 barrels / day produced in Ecuador are extracted.
Although other oil fields are still in operation in Yasuni Park, Block 43 has become a symbol of climate democracy and has caught the attention of global celebrities and activists who followed the referendum closely.
Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, who campaigned for the “yes” vote hailed the referendum as “an example of the democratization of climate policy”. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, also involved in the referendum, wrote on Instagram: “This is climate action.”
The national oil company Petroecuador, so far authorized to operate on some 300 hectares of Yasuni but saying it has barely exploited 80 hectares, said in a statement on Monday that it would comply with the “sovereign decision” of the Ecuadorians.
The government, which opposed this consultation, estimated losses at $16.47 billion over 20 years if the bloc were revoked.
A unique biodiversity reserve, the Yasuni extends over nearly a million hectares of humid and primary forest.
It is also an indigenous land: historic territory of the Waorani, it is also home to the Kichwa, as well as the Tagaeri, the Taromenane and the Dugakaeri, the last communities living in voluntary isolation in Ecuador and fleeing modern civilization.
“Today, Ecuador has taken a giant step to protect life, biodiversity and indigenous peoples!” celebrated on the X network (ex-Twitter) the two main indigenous organizations in the country, Confeniae and Conaie.
The environmental group Yasunidos, behind the referendum, welcomed “a historic victory for Ecuador and for the planet”. “This is the first time that a country has decided to defend life and leave oil in the ground.”
“Ecuador becomes the first country in the world to stop oil drilling thanks to direct climate democracy”, also celebrated a collective of NGOs, including Amazon Frontlines, Yasunidos and Alianza Ceibo.
“The referendum result permanently protects one of the wealthiest places on earth, marking a major victory for indigenous peoples’ rights, rainforest conservation and the fight against climate change,” a statement said. joint statement.
Oil exploitation has been one of the pillars of Ecuador’s -dollarized- economy since the 1970s. Crude oil, the country’s leading export product, generated revenues of $10 billion in 2022, or about of GDP.
Nearly 500,000 barrels are produced per day throughout the Amazonian part of the country (northeast). This crude is transported by pipeline to the Pacific coast and over millions of hectares there are only wells, pipelines, tankers, tankers, treatment stations and flaming flares…
This industry has proven to be a blessing for the state coffers and the “development” of the country, according to the authorities. But a curse synonymous with debt, poverty and large-scale pollution, accuse pro-environment activists.
Outgoing Conservative President Guillermo Lasso (in power since 2021) intended to double national production. He will leave power in October 2023, at the end of the second round of the early presidential election which will see a socialist candidate and the son of a billionaire banana magnate compete on October 15.
On Sunday, in another local consultation, residents of the metropolitan district of Quito voted 68% to stop mining in six small towns on the outskirts of the capital, in the Choco Andino territory. , 287,000 hectares of forest, declared a biosphere reserve by Unesco. The area is often described as the lungs of Quito and is notably home to the Andean bear.
08/22/2023 08:29:47 – Quito (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
