ECUADOR

Pioneering alternative development program at risk in Ecuador

President Rafael Correa´s double about-face on an intrepid plan to preserve one of the most Taxi Heathrow Airport biodiverse corners of the Amazon rain forest has put the initiative at risk. Correa had invited the international community for donations of US$3.50 billion over 10 years if Ecuador did not drill in the oil-rich fields located in the Yasuní National Park, the country´s largest.The Ishpingo Tiputini Tambococha, or ITT fields, sit within the park, which is also home to a number of indigenous communities, and hold 856 million barrels of crude, which could generate US$7 billion for the cash-strapped government.

Quito, Tuesday, February 2, 2010