CURSED WITH OIL

An incredible, beautiful, and precious land is in deeper danger than ever before.

Yasuni National Park, located in eastern Ecuador, is perhaps the most bio-diverse area on the planet. Its incredible abundance of varying species of amphibians, insects, birds, and plants has been understood for a long time: the lush tropical park was in 1989 designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Recent scientific findings only seal the deal: a team of scientists have documented 596 bird species and 150 amphibian species. There are some 655 tree species per hectare (2.47 acres), which is greater than all the tree species in the US and Canada combined.

Yasuni does not just stump other world records for diversity: it obliterates them.

Yasuni was inhabited by the indigenous Waorani, in addition to its multitude of animals and plants. The problems began roughly forty years ago, with the discovery of another unforeseen treasure hidden in Yasuni: oil. Turns out this beautiful land covers what could translate into a fortune's worth of oil.

And so a desperate struggle began: despite all the effort to keep this beautiful land alive, the Ecuadorian government has for all these years had its eyes glued to the spot. The construction of oil roads and drilling would endanger all these plants and creatures and open the door for hunters, colonization, and deforestation. It would also perpetuate the burning of fossil fuels, which at least is unhelpful in a world where oil is doomed for obscurity, and at worst is another nail in the burning coffin of global warming and climate change: we're talking about 410 million tons of additional carbon dioxide pumped into the air. It will, however, put a fair profit into the pockets of the Ecuadorian government and the oil companies.

The Waorani, who lived in peace with the Yasuni, were virtually kicked out. The land is capable of maintaining itself indefinitely if untouched. If touched, it may be doomed.

FIGHTING BACK

The struggle to keep the drills away from Yasuni has been hard and not without support. Famous scientists Jane Goodall and E. O. Wilson both have protested loudly, and many countries and peoples have fought back. The fact that Yasuni still remains untouched is testament to the extraordinary efforts of those swayed by more than quick cash.

The greatest milestone was with the Yasuni-ITT Initiative, supported by the Ecuadorian government in June 2007, under which Yasuni will remain untouched so long as monetary compensation is granted from the international community for the wages lost. Yasuni has been kept afloat, feeble but safe, by the very taste of money that endangers it.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS:

I was drawn into this situation because of several pieces of news. First, as mentioned, a team of scientists have recently deeply documented the place and found it record-breaking in its diversity. This puts more weight behind its incredible importance: there are numbers to back it now.

A single hectare of the park contains, it is projected, 100,000 different insect species.

At the Tiputini Biodiversity Station alone, within Yasuni park's northern edge, there are roughly 200 mammal species, 550 bird species, and 247 amphibians and reptile species.

It is projected that the park will maintain its bio-diversity even with predicted changes in climate in the eastern Amazon, making it increasingly precious.

Yet these powerful findings are anchored by what looks to be a dismal future. President Rafael Correa has denounced foreign donors and recently threatened to drill in the ITT section in June, though this would violate the ITT Initiative. In so doing he undermined his own team and termed their efforts "shameful," declaring that northern countries can "keep their money."

The truth is, the enemy is no longer purely rational. He is fixed on extracting oil and now finds reason to deflect any attempt to prevent that. Funds are running dry and Rafael Correa is not keen on rekindling them. The sad reality is, Yasuni is in terrible danger.

All we can do is raise our voices and hope.

For more information, see: http://www.sosyasuni.org/en/index.php
And for more on the recent scientific findings: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100119133510.htm