Chapter 5: Neoliberal Boom, 1987 to 2000: The Rise of Ecodependence

Summary:

At the start of the “boom years”, ecodependent organizations were severely lacking in

dependence, ironically. Since ecoimperialist organizations had already been established, they

used their transnational funding to help the ecodependent organizations. This eventually

caused the ecodependent organizations to structure themselves as more professional, and they

were able to conserve important habitats. Unfortunately, ecoimperialist funding meant that the

local ecodependent organizations’ agendas would be controlled by an outside group. Also, this

created competition for funding which consequently weakened solidarity within the national

movement. Despite the negative outcomes, these groups were important to withhold a ground

while the nation was in a very weak state. Because of the weak economic state the country was

in, they opened their borders to investments from abroad, including extraction. Obviously, this

became the most detrimental practices out of any other National decision in Ecuadorian

history. The ecoimperialist groups and the ecodependent groups are most important at this

time because of the role they played in questioning the logic of the State’s development plans

and fighting against it. Luckily, the state established a ministry of the environment (El Ministerio

del Medio Ambiente del Ecuador). Through past ministry history, there was a plan for

sustainable petroleum development, as well as the development for the Ecuadorian

Environmental Plan which sought to bring Ecuador to sustainable development. Through the

new organizations and groups held by the government and otherwise, several laws and policies

were put into place in order to protect the environment of the hotspots of the world. For

example, in 1998 the Ley Especial de Galapagos (Special Law of Galapagos) was passed. This law
was designed to improve the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. Several government

officials have stated how the international recognition from this law has set Ecuador in the right

mindset.

During the “Ecodependent Boom”, more and more environmental groups were brought

to Ecuador from international organizations. By 1993 there were over one hundred

environmental organizations present in Ecuador. The biggest point of this growth is how there

was ample enough funding from the ecoimperialists. The organizations that thrived off of this

funding were able to become more independent and focus on their own agendas. Other

important changes were made within the environmental groups as they grew and became

more independent. For one, they became more professionalized which evidently led to more of

their own successes. Ecoresisters also played a big role in mainly working against the damage

that had already been done or had already began. Nonetheless, these groups were just as

important as any others, especially since they worked in a very different way. The ecoresisters

created a lot of important change locally, but they are not recognized as much in the public eye

due for a few reasons. For one, they were not always registered for a non-profit with the

government. Secondly, they received no funding from ecoimperialist groups which left them

out from both economic stability and agenda plans. Also, they did not definite their work as

environmental. The most important improvement made by environmental groups in Ecuador,

specifically the ecodependent groups, was made after the state made a lot of poor decisions

about exploiting the land for exports, specifically for extractions. Even civilians were able to

understand how the extraction process was negatively affecting the state. Through this overall

concern for the well-being of the environment of their nation, it was easy for environmental
groups to receive support from civilians. Ecoimperialists and ecodependents aided the people

of the nation into a much more sounds environmental point, giving the people a better way of

life or “buen vivir”.

Review:

This was obviously a crucial point in the development of the state’s environmental

policies. It’s so interesting how the civilians involvement in the reactions to the actions of the

state became one of the key components to pushing Ecuador back onto a more sustainable

track. It’s unfortunate how companies and governments will hold the economic standing of

their state at a higher priority than anything else. With the state’s decision to extract crude oil

in protected areas, consequently affecting all the other citizens and providing them with a

much less than quality of life. In that sense, I believe that much of the state’s efforts to build a

better economic standing was made in vain. Although it may have lifted the state a bit out of

debt and into the international view, it still negatively affected the citizens and the beauty of

the country which is Ecuador’s most redeeming quality. To add on, not only were citizens

affected, but indigenous people received it worse. When drilling started on the edge of Yasuni

national park, a pristine rainforest, there was already a great amount of controversy. Not to

mention, two of the last tribes in the world were living in voluntary isolation in the area of

drilling. According to the article Ecuador drill for oil on edge of pristine rainforest in Yasuni the

failure of the “Yasuni Initiative” in 2013 resulted in demonstrations, and a political movement

know as Yasunidos (Vidal, 2016). A petition was also spread around, but it failed to “reach the

threshold to trigger a national referendum” (Vidal, 2016). This decision to continue drilling is a

ginormous setback in the international view of Ecuador as one of the most environmentally-
progressive countries. Aware of this, President Correa promised only 1/1000 th of the area of the

Yasuni park would be exploited, and the best technology would be used.

Source:

Vidal, John. (2016). Ecuador drills for oil on edge of pristine rainforest in Yasuni. The Guardian.

Retrieved from:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/04/ecuador-drills-for-oil-on-edge-of-pristine-

rainforest-in-yasuni