The expansion of oil extraction in the Ecuadorian Amazon could threaten the survival of more than 745 unique ecosystems and species, according to a study of Ecology and Evolution that warns of the high vulnerability of the area. Research, international level, with the participation of the researcher Elisa Bonaccorso, Indoamérica Technological University of Ecuador; Spanish Jesús Muñoz and Javier Fajardo Royal Botanic Gardens; and Janeth Lessmann, of the Catholic University of Chile.
The article draws attention to that 30 percent of the Ecuadorian Amazon is currently in the hands of oil companies for exploitation, a figure that could be extended up to 70 percent if the Ecuadorian government extended the granting of operating licenses Petroleum.
Jesus Muñoz, director of the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid, said that the new scheme proposed oil exploration in the southern Amazon, 25 ecosystems and 745 unique and irreplaceable species are endangered. In this context, he said the Ecuadorian Amazon is a region particularly “vulnerable to loss of biodiversity” with insufficient coverage to meet new oil extraction protection.
To remedy this situation, the study aims to explore conservation alternatives for this area and suggests an increase in the level of protection of certain key areas for its biological composition. Also emphasizes the need to use cutting-edge technology in oil extraction to reduce the environmental impact. The report also notes a future perspective based on the increase in oil extraction not only affect Ecuador, but also other countries such as Colombia, Peru or Bolivia.
