Chapter 2: The Ecuadorian Context
Summary:
The author explains that Ecuador is the focus of this book because of its biodiversity and resources, history with funding, and how well the country represents other countries and situations occurring around the world. Ecuador holds similar figures to the countries in this region in areas such as poverty and gross national income per capita. The Human Development Index ranks Ecuador as having high human development, a value of 0.724 out of 1, while “the average value for LAC nations was 0.741” (Lewis, p. 22). This further demonstrates its role as an indicator of other countries in Latin America and why it is being explored in this book. What separates Ecuador from these other countries, the author explains, is its reliance on oil and it’s decrease in governmental debt.
Ecuador is composed of a variety of regions including the coast, Amazon, Galápagos Islands, and the mountains (Andes). These contrasting environments being found in one country open up opportunities for research, resources, and tourism. The density of flora and fauna in the small country makes it “one of the most “biodiverse” and “megadiverse” nations in the world” (Lewis, p. 27). This unique aspect makes it a center of focus of conservation for organizations around the world. By Norman Myers’s designation, Ecuador has been deemed a biodiversity hotspot because of its richness of species and consequently the drive by governments to possess these resources, thus posing a threat to the environment. According to CEPF, biodiversity hotspots have at least 1500 endemic species of plants and has lost 70% of native vegetation although many hotspots have exceeded these values” (“Biodiversity hotspots”, n.d.). Conservationist Russell Mittermeier points out that such biodiversity is often found in regions that cannot afford to protect it. However because it is a hotspot, Ecuador has received support and funds from the global community that it would not have had it not received this title. This funding also makes Ecuador stand out as a country as it ranks high in terms of how much global aid it receives. However, the country is also petroleum-rich which threatens the biodiversity and pushes the country away from conservation efforts due to the large profit this resource can bring worldwide.
Petroleum extraction is a staple for Ecuador as it brings in the most revenue of any other export. This however, creates a reliance on the resource while threatening the environment and indigneous groups. Consequently, the country struggles to find a balance between the protection of the environment and their desperate need for revenue. Ecuador’s oil production has increased significantly, faster than other countries that export petroleum. Benefits of oil discovery and exploitation early on included growth in the country in areas such as income, education, safer living conditions and a decrease in illiteracy but as any profitable business does, a small portion of the country grew rich and created a great inequality. As time progressed the negative impacts grew and pollution and deforestation became dire issues in the country, especially the Amazon and its protected areas. Protected areas became prospective profits as laws were altered or loopholes were found to continue the oil extraction and continue harming the environment and indigneous tribes, causing legal issues.
Ecuador’s other leading exports pose threats to the environment as well. Shrimp and canned fish are profitable exports responsible for the destruction of mangroves and affecting the coastal ecosystems. Increased pesticide use on another export, cut flowers, has contributed to pollution. Increased tourism has affected the Galapagos and deforestation has grown to be a major problem in the Amazon. Each of Ecuador’s exports brings in much needed revenue and provides jobs but also contributes to environmental degradation and harms the health of its people. This further emphasizes the need for a more sustainable path or else stronger limitations placed on these industries in order to preserve these ecosystems.
Reflection:
The history of Ecuador and the challenges it faces today are great tools to acquire knowledge about other countries in similar positions and help find ways to overcome or ease the burden of common issues. Biodiversity and species richness is a beautiful yet dangerous trait to possess as it brings about economic pressure at the prospect of profit. Environmental protection can be pushed to the side in a world driven by money, especially in developing nations, which can be seen in Ecuador’s history. A balance between environment and economic security needs to be met but the means of achieving this are difficult and often unclear.
Ecuador first needs to achieve strength within its own government in order to overcome this struggle however, a large portion of its profit comes at the cost of environmental destruction. Laws should not have provisions that allow for the exploitation of protected areas in times deemed necessary. Amazon’s protected areas are important now more than ever and therefore any use of this land must be highly regulated and restricted. However, this threatens the profit and growth of the nation. How will the country make money without oil? What other areas can be utilized in order to protect the Amazon but continue bringing in revenue? These questions are at the center of my thoughts when reading of the current climate and history of Ecuador. The fate and livelihoods of indigenous tribes must also be accounted for. Their essential role is described as, “In recent years, Latin American indigenous peoples’ political and cultural organizations have played a central role in mediating processes of resource access, rural development, and political participation” (Perreault, 2002). Perhaps viable solutions to resource exploitation and living in solidarity can arise through the involvement and negotiations of indigneous groups.
Profits made from increasing tourism could be put toward protected areas but if managed improperly, these funds may not provide the help needed. In the case of the Galapagos Islands, “A decline in the quality of the visitor experience is not the only change that has followed in the wake of the growth of Galápagos tourism. Impacts on the fauna and flora have increased...because the industry lacks adequate checks and balances that are sensitive to quality” (Drumm & Andy, 2008). Tourism, which can be seen as a positive, profitable industry, has the power to push Ecuador further back in its journey of development and cause more stress on the environment. More human exposure creates more risk and a stronger need for a structured system. Negotiations with indigenous groups and limitations on protected areas must be determined in order for Ecuador to move forward in a more sustainable way.
References:
Biodiversity hotspots defined. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cepf.net/our-work/biodiversity-
hotspots/hotspots-defined
Drumm, & Andy. (2008). Threshold of Sustainability for Protected Areas. BioScience, 58(9), 782–783.
Lewis, T. L. (2016). Ecuador's environmental revolutions: Ecoimperialists, ecodependents, and
ecoresisters. MIT Press.
Perreault, T. (2002). Changing places: Transnational networks, ethnic politics, and community
development in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Political Geography, 22(1), 61-88.
Summary:
The author explains that Ecuador is the focus of this book because of its biodiversity and resources, history with funding, and how well the country represents other countries and situations occurring around the world. Ecuador holds similar figures to the countries in this region in areas such as poverty and gross national income per capita. The Human Development Index ranks Ecuador as having high human development, a value of 0.724 out of 1, while “the average value for LAC nations was 0.741” (Lewis, p. 22). This further demonstrates its role as an indicator of other countries in Latin America and why it is being explored in this book. What separates Ecuador from these other countries, the author explains, is its reliance on oil and it’s decrease in governmental debt.
Ecuador is composed of a variety of regions including the coast, Amazon, Galápagos Islands, and the mountains (Andes). These contrasting environments being found in one country open up opportunities for research, resources, and tourism. The density of flora and fauna in the small country makes it “one of the most “biodiverse” and “megadiverse” nations in the world” (Lewis, p. 27). This unique aspect makes it a center of focus of conservation for organizations around the world. By Norman Myers’s designation, Ecuador has been deemed a biodiversity hotspot because of its richness of species and consequently the drive by governments to possess these resources, thus posing a threat to the environment. According to CEPF, biodiversity hotspots have at least 1500 endemic species of plants and has lost 70% of native vegetation although many hotspots have exceeded these values” (“Biodiversity hotspots”, n.d.). Conservationist Russell Mittermeier points out that such biodiversity is often found in regions that cannot afford to protect it. However because it is a hotspot, Ecuador has received support and funds from the global community that it would not have had it not received this title. This funding also makes Ecuador stand out as a country as it ranks high in terms of how much global aid it receives. However, the country is also petroleum-rich which threatens the biodiversity and pushes the country away from conservation efforts due to the large profit this resource can bring worldwide.
Petroleum extraction is a staple for Ecuador as it brings in the most revenue of any other export. This however, creates a reliance on the resource while threatening the environment and indigneous groups. Consequently, the country struggles to find a balance between the protection of the environment and their desperate need for revenue. Ecuador’s oil production has increased significantly, faster than other countries that export petroleum. Benefits of oil discovery and exploitation early on included growth in the country in areas such as income, education, safer living conditions and a decrease in illiteracy but as any profitable business does, a small portion of the country grew rich and created a great inequality. As time progressed the negative impacts grew and pollution and deforestation became dire issues in the country, especially the Amazon and its protected areas. Protected areas became prospective profits as laws were altered or loopholes were found to continue the oil extraction and continue harming the environment and indigneous tribes, causing legal issues.
Ecuador’s other leading exports pose threats to the environment as well. Shrimp and canned fish are profitable exports responsible for the destruction of mangroves and affecting the coastal ecosystems. Increased pesticide use on another export, cut flowers, has contributed to pollution. Increased tourism has affected the Galapagos and deforestation has grown to be a major problem in the Amazon. Each of Ecuador’s exports brings in much needed revenue and provides jobs but also contributes to environmental degradation and harms the health of its people. This further emphasizes the need for a more sustainable path or else stronger limitations placed on these industries in order to preserve these ecosystems.
Reflection:
The history of Ecuador and the challenges it faces today are great tools to acquire knowledge about other countries in similar positions and help find ways to overcome or ease the burden of common issues. Biodiversity and species richness is a beautiful yet dangerous trait to possess as it brings about economic pressure at the prospect of profit. Environmental protection can be pushed to the side in a world driven by money, especially in developing nations, which can be seen in Ecuador’s history. A balance between environment and economic security needs to be met but the means of achieving this are difficult and often unclear.
Ecuador first needs to achieve strength within its own government in order to overcome this struggle however, a large portion of its profit comes at the cost of environmental destruction. Laws should not have provisions that allow for the exploitation of protected areas in times deemed necessary. Amazon’s protected areas are important now more than ever and therefore any use of this land must be highly regulated and restricted. However, this threatens the profit and growth of the nation. How will the country make money without oil? What other areas can be utilized in order to protect the Amazon but continue bringing in revenue? These questions are at the center of my thoughts when reading of the current climate and history of Ecuador. The fate and livelihoods of indigenous tribes must also be accounted for. Their essential role is described as, “In recent years, Latin American indigenous peoples’ political and cultural organizations have played a central role in mediating processes of resource access, rural development, and political participation” (Perreault, 2002). Perhaps viable solutions to resource exploitation and living in solidarity can arise through the involvement and negotiations of indigneous groups.
Profits made from increasing tourism could be put toward protected areas but if managed improperly, these funds may not provide the help needed. In the case of the Galapagos Islands, “A decline in the quality of the visitor experience is not the only change that has followed in the wake of the growth of Galápagos tourism. Impacts on the fauna and flora have increased...because the industry lacks adequate checks and balances that are sensitive to quality” (Drumm & Andy, 2008). Tourism, which can be seen as a positive, profitable industry, has the power to push Ecuador further back in its journey of development and cause more stress on the environment. More human exposure creates more risk and a stronger need for a structured system. Negotiations with indigenous groups and limitations on protected areas must be determined in order for Ecuador to move forward in a more sustainable way.
References:
Biodiversity hotspots defined. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cepf.net/our-work/biodiversity-
hotspots/hotspots-defined
Drumm, & Andy. (2008). Threshold of Sustainability for Protected Areas. BioScience, 58(9), 782–783.
Lewis, T. L. (2016). Ecuador's environmental revolutions: Ecoimperialists, ecodependents, and
ecoresisters. MIT Press.
Perreault, T. (2002). Changing places: Transnational networks, ethnic politics, and community
development in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Political Geography, 22(1), 61-88.