Ecuadorians voted overwhelmingly in a popular consultation in favor of closing an oil field in an area of high biodiversity in the Amazon region and banning mining at all levels in the Choco Andino tropical forest surrounding the capital.
The Economista noted that a total of 13.45 million voters had been called, with 6 out of 10 Ecuadorians (58.99%) voting in favour when asked: “Do you agree that the Ecuadorian Government will retain ITT, known as block 43 indefinitely in the subsoil.
In a year’s time, the Ecuadorian Government must dismantle the oil infrastructure that has been extracting crude oil for 10 years in the area of the Yasuni National Park, declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1989.
Outgoing President Guillermo Lasso’s government estimated a loss of $16 billion over the next 20 years, should drilling cease.
This field is located in a specific area of the Ecuadorian Amazon forest known as Yasuní ITT, which scientists consider to be one of the most biodiversity regions in the world and vital for environmental and animal conservation, water generation and climate regulation.
It is home to 610 bird species, 139 amphibian species and 121 reptile species. There are at least three types of settlement in the area. Yasuni National Park is also home to two self-isolated indigenous communities, Tagayri and Tarumenani.
From there, 57,466 barrels of crude oil are extracted per day, leaving, according to official calculations, a net profit of $1200 million last year for the treasury, Ecuador producing nearly half a million barrels of oil per day. To dismantle these facilities, technicians from the State-run Petroecuador estimate that $467 million is needed.
In another popular consultation on the ban on small, medium and large-scale mining in the Chukwu Andino area, 68% of the capital’s voters and surrounding areas — to whom the referendum was directed — spoke out against mining activity in the Chukwu Andino area. Andean forests around Quito.
