Scientists from all over the world have qualified Yasuní as the zone with the highest biodiversity of the world. Within one hectare of Yasuní, 644 different species of trees have been identified. There are as many different species in one hectare of Yasuní, as there are in the whole of North America.

Yasuní has been declared a world biosphere reserve by UNESCO.

 

This biosphere reserve is also the territory of the indigenous Huaorani people and some tribes who live in voluntary isolation. These are the last free human beings of Ecuador, true warriors who live in the so-called society of abundance, because they only produce the minimum to satisfy their own needs.

 

The foreseeable impacts of oil exploitation in the park are: contamination, deforestation, destruction of the social fabric, extinction of cultures etc. 

 

The President of the Republic of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, has indicated that the first option for the country is to leave the crude oil of Yasuní untouched underground.  The idea is to stimulate the national and international society to contribute in this expensive national decision. The government expects, through this mechanism, to recover 50% of the income it would have obtained by extracting the crude oil.

 

The State will emit certificates for the crude oil of Yasuní, and promise to keep the crude underground forever and use the funds to better protect Yasuní National Park. 

The arguments in favour of this proposal are:

1. This proposal is the only unquestioned solution to climate change
2. Conservation of biodiversity 
3. Protection of the indigenous inhabitants of Yasuní
4. Transformation of the Ecuadorian economy away from oil

Read more about this proposal...

Alberto Acosta
Eduardo Gudynas
Esperanza Martínez
Joseph Vogel

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