Ecuadorians reject oil drilling in the Amazon in a historic decision
Context
In a landmark vote, Ecuadorians decided against drilling for oil in an Amazonian protected area that is home to two uncontacted tribes and a hotspot for biodiversity Sunday.
What is the Ecuadorian Referendum and what was decided in the referendum?
- Ecuador’s inhabitants were allowed to vote on whether to permit oil drilling in Block 44, a protected area inside Yasuni National Park that is home to two uncontacted tribes and a wealth of biodiversity.
- With more than 90% of the votes collected, the majority of Ecuadorians chose not to approve the oil drilling proposal in Block 44.
Where is Yasuni National Park and what are the features of that place?
- Location: Covering an area of 9,823 square kilometres, Yasuni National Park is found in Ecuador. Ecuador’s Amazonian provinces of Napo, Pastaza, and Orellana, it is situated between the Napo and Curaray Rivers.
- Ecoregion: The Napo wet forests ecoregion, famed for its lush and diverse ecosystems, is home to the park, which is mostly made up of rainforest.
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: Yasuni National Park was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1989 as a result of its remarkable biodiversity and ecological significance.
- Distance from Quito: The park is located around 250 kilometres from Quito, the country’s capital.
- Indigenous Territory: The Huaorani indigenous people, a tribe having roots in the region’s culture, claim the park’s location as their original homeland.
- Uncontacted Tribes: Two uncontacted indigenous tribes, the Tagaeri and the Taromenane, are found in Yasuni. These tribes have little to no interaction with outsiders and live in seclusion from the rest of society.
- River Travel: The rivers that run through the park are the main means of transportation for many of the local indigenous people. These streams, which join the Amazon River, are very important for local transportation.
- Unique streams: The park has streams that flow into the Amazon River as tributaries. These include the blackwater rivers, which have differing plant compositions from the main riverways due to their increased tannin content.
- Floral Species: Species like the water plant Montrichardia linifera and the spine-covered palm Bactris riparia are frequently seen along the banks of these slowly flowing rivers. These frequently line the Igapós streams’ edges.
What do we know about the tribes present in that region?
Yasuni National Park in Ecuador is home to two uncontacted indigenous tribes, the Tagaeri and the Taromenane. These tribes live in isolation from mainstream society and have limited or no contact with the outside world. The park’s remote and densely forested environment has allowed these tribes to maintain their traditional lifestyles and cultural practices largely undisturbed. The presence of these uncontacted tribes adds to the park’s significance for both biodiversity conservation and the preservation of indigenous heritage.
What are the effects of Oil drilling in the Amazon?
- Habitat destruction: To make room for infrastructure including drilling sites, roads, pipelines, and support buildings, significant sections of land must be cleared for oil drilling. This may lead to the extinction of several plant and animal species and the degradation of critical habitats, resulting in habitat fragmentation.
- Deforestation: The clearing of land for access roads and drilling sites frequently results in deforestation, which can cause ecosystem functions to be disrupted, biodiversity to be lost, and carbon stored in trees to be released, contributing to climate change.
- Water contamination: Oil drilling may result in spills and leaks that contaminate groundwater, rivers, and streams. Communities that rely on these water sources for drinking and other critical needs may suffer from this pollution, which can also impact aquatic life.
- Air Pollution: Drilling operations cause the emission of greenhouse gases and volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. This may have an adverse effect on nearby residents and wildlife’s health as well as the state of the air.
- Climate Change: The Amazon rainforest is essential for soaking up carbon dioxide and reducing global warming. The ability of the forest to operate as a carbon sink is diminished by deforestation and oil drilling, which release carbon into the atmosphere.
- Indigenous Rights: The Amazon is home to several indigenous people who claim these lands as their ancient homelands. Their way of life may be affected by oil drilling, which may also harm their water and food sources and violate their legal rights and cultural customs.
