The Indigenous Quichua community in Yasuní celebrates the referendum result but faces internal conflict over the economic impact.
President Noboa has proposed a moratorium on the referendum result, citing severe economic repercussions.
Oil remains crucial to Ecuador's economy, accounting for nearly one-third of the GDP, and its cessation could exacerbate the fiscal crisis.
Key quote:
“The government has forgotten about these people. And it is the oil and service companies that take on this responsibility.”
— Ramiro Páez Rivera, executive with Petrolia Ecuador
Why this matters:
Yasuní National Park is home to countless species and indigenous communities who have lived there for centuries. Ending oil drilling in the park is a significant step toward protecting these invaluable natural and cultural resources.
After Ecuadorians overwhelmingly voted to ban new oil wells in a prized national park, the government challenged the legitimacy of the referendum and said it would continue drilling.
Record dryness has restored an ecosystem under Lake Powell, the country’s second-largest reservoir. Is it time to see it as ‘a national park rather than a storage tank’?
The dramatic flooding in Yellowstone National Park could permanently damage one of the nation's oldest, most treasured landmarks, according to experts.
There are calls for the Queensland government to stop approving large, foreign-owned wind farm developments in the state's north, amid fears the area's flora and fauna could be devastated by land clearing.
