Biodiversity: Ecuador Deters Protection Efforts

Abstract

In their Policy Forums, both S. Le Saout et al. (“Protected areas and effective biodiversity conservation,” 15 November 2013, p. [803][1]) and N. Butt et al. (“Biodiversity risks from fossil fuel extraction,” 25 October 2013, p. [425][2]) identified protected areas in the Ecuadorian Amazon that need further protections and management. Because Ecuador has irreplaceable areas that overlap with fossil fuel reserves, an initiative launched by the Ecuadorian government in 2007 to keep its oil underground was considered historic and attracted worldwide support ([ 1 ][3]). Its recent cancellation by the Ecuadorian government on 16 August 2013 was followed by unexpectedly few bids from international corporations to extract oil ([ 2 ][4]). Amid great public opposition, government officials are moving forward with the selection of the best offer. Unfortunately, in the process, the Ecuadorian government is disregarding, and even dismantling, environmental organizations that have voiced their opposition ([ 3 ][5]). The environmental and indigenous rights group Fundacion Pachamama was shut down on 4 December 2013 after their alleged involvement in the physical harassment of oil executives during protests against the government-sponsored XI Oil Round. President Rafael Correa's administration characterized the protests as “threatening the security of the state” ([ 4 ][6]). The group rejected violent demonstrations and vowed to dispute the government's decision and to continue their efforts to defend the collective rights of indigenous people and the rights of nature as enacted in the Ecuadorian Constitution ([ 5 ][7]). The history of environmental damage and displacement of indigenous groups associated with oil extraction in Ecuador demands that the international community keep a watchful eye on these events as they continue to unfold. 1. [↵][8] United Nations Development Group, Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office ( ). 2. [↵][9] Iniciativa Yasuni-ITT ( ). 3. [↵][10] “Presidenta de ONG disuelta apelara accion del Ministerio del Ambiente,” El Comercio (2013) [in Spanish]. 4. [↵][11] “ONG disuelta tras 16 anos de activismos,” El Universo (2013); [www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2013/12/22/nota/1945116/ong-disuelta-tras-16-anos-activismo][12] [in Spanish]. 5. [↵][13] “Fundacion Pachamama releases statement on shutdown of their offices” ([www.pachamama.org/news/fundacion-pachamama-on-international-and-public-opinion][14]). [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1239268 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1237261 [3]: #ref-1 [4]: #ref-2 [5]: #ref-3 [6]: #ref-4 [7]: #ref-5 [8]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [9]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [10]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text [11]: #xref-ref-4-1 View reference 4 in text [12]: http://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2013/12/22/nota/1945116/ong-disuelta-tras-16-anos-activismo [13]: #xref-ref-5-1 View reference 5 in text [14]: http://www.pachamama.org/news/fundacion-pachamama-on-international-and-public-opinion