Ecuador President Correa
Backs Out of Yasuni Plan

  It is very unfortunate to hear about Ecuadorian President Correa´s recent announcement to back out of the Yasuni – ITT project. This conservation project, addressing the largest Amazonian National Park in the country, sought international funding in order to not drill for oil inside the park boundaries (already illegal under Ecuadorian law).
  However, in mid January, Correa criticized his Foreign Minister’s handling of the proposal and effectively backed out, threatening to start drilling as early as July. It is disturbingly ironic that many foreign governments shied from pledging money to this plan, citing their lack of confidence in the stability of Correa´s more or less anti – western government, compounded by the volatility of Ecuadorian politics in the last half century. It seems as if Correa has only now proved their assumptions correct. We hope to see that projects such as Yasuni – ITT are not forgotten, rather that cooler heads prevail and compromises be reached between local groups, governments, and international agencies in our pursuit to protect our biodiversity and natural resources.

To read more, see this press release issued by Amazon Watch.

PLUS: A new study about the incredible biodiversity of the Yasuni region.