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E
nvironment
:
legal
and
ethical
issues
the country’s oil reserve, within the Yasuní National Park, in order
to conserve biodiversity, protect the indigenous peoples that live
in voluntary isolation, promote social development and combat
climate change. This will also avoid the emission of 407 million
tonnes of carbon dioxide. Under the principle of joint responsibil-
ity, Ecuador requests that the international community provide
compensation equivalent to at least US$3.6 billion, which repre-
sents fifty per cent of the amount the country would receive if it
were to exploit the oil.
4
Such resources will be used to carry out the follow-
ing activities:
• Change the energy matrix
• Effectively conserve protected areas
• Carry out reforestation
• Increase energy efficiency
• Improve social development in the area
• Foster research, science and technology.
This proposal is especially significant since Ecuador is
an oil-exporting country that depends highly on such
exports in its national budget.
There has also been a dramatic increase in the number
of protected areas. In 1996 there were 16 protected
areas; currently there are 46 (19.1 per cent of Ecuador’s
territory).
5
These areas are managed directly by local
and national Government, while there are also forests
managed by the private sector.
Within the protection of biodiversity and valu-
able ecosystems, it is important to highlight that the
Ecuadorean Amazon region, 45 per cent of the coun-
try’s territory, is managed under a specific constitutional
mandate that considers it a special region due to its
cultural and biological richness.
The Government has developed the Environmental
and Social Reparation Program to assist communities
affected by social and environmental damages, as well
as the Socio Bosque Program, which provides economic
incentives to 90,000 peasants and indigenous commu-
nities committed to the protection and conservation of
native forests.
6
Ecuador has also developed a National Climate
Change Strategy, which includes projects to change the
energy matrix, through hydroelectric plants that will
reduce the generation of electricity based on oil fuel.
On the economic side, Ecuador has been able to
reduce its foreign debt and manage its economy with
sovereignty. After a foreign debt audit to determine ille-
gitimate debt, as well as renegotiating its debt, Ecuador
now has more resources for social development. In
2000, the relation of debt to GNP was 89 per cent, while
in 2009 it dropped to 20 per cent.
7
In relation to poverty eradication, Ecuador has
developed programmes such as the Solidary Bonus,
which provides monthly financial support to 1.8
million people. The Government has also developed
special programmes for people of different capabili-
ties, such as the Manuela Espejo and Joaquín Gallegos
Lara programmes, whereby people are visited in their
homes, while the relatives who take care of them
receive Government financial support for the work
they carry out.
Investment in education is a high priority for the
Government, and currently 12 per cent of the state’s
budget is earmarked for education, which is free for
all citizens, including university, as a Constitutional
mandate.
8
The Government has given high priority to
education through scholarships, more investment in
public education and evaluation of colleges and univer-
Napo Galeras Reserve
Image: Francisco Caizapanta