SELVA-VIDA SIN FRONTERAS' AMAZON PINK DOLPHIN 26/02/2024
THE CUYABENO RAINFOREST CORRIDOR.
The corridor bordering the Cuyabeno Fauna Reserve, extending from the Cuyabeno to the Aguas Negras Rivers, represents the richest and most biodiverse tropical rainforest globally. This assertion is supported by extensive scientific research conducted by reputable academic institutions.
Several factors contribute to the exceptional biodiversity of this corridor. Firstly, its geographical location in the Amazon basin provides ideal conditions for diverse ecosystems to thrive. The combination of ample rainfall, high temperatures, and relatively fertile soils fosters unparalleled species richness and abundance.
Moreover, the complex topography of the region, characterized by diverse microhabitats such as riverbanks, floodplains, and upland forests, further enhances biodiversity. These varied
environments support a wide array of plant and animal species, each adapted to specific ecological niches.
Academic institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Field Museum, and the University of California, Berkeley, among others, have conducted extensive biodiversity surveys
in the area. Their research findings consistently highlight the extraordinary richness of species diversity and endemism within this rainforest corridor. For instance, studies have documented hundreds of species of trees, thousands of plant species, and an astonishing variety of animal life, including numerous endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. The presence of megafauna such as jaguars, giant river otters, and harpy eagles further highlights the ecological significance of this region.
In conclusion, the corridor bordering the Cuyabeno Fauna Reserve stands as a global hotspot of biodiversity, supported by robust scientific evidence from esteemed academic institutions. Its preservation is paramount for maintaining Earth's ecological integrity and ensuring the survival of countless species for future generations.
SIONA-SELVA-VIDA SIN FRONTERAS ALLIANCE TO PROTECT CUYABENO CORRIDOR
In 2010, the Siona Governor and Shaman approached Mariana Almeida, the Executive President of SVSF, seeking support to safeguard the corridor. The Siona community viewed this stretch of land as an inseparable part of their ancestral territory, considering themselves its natural guardians. Their concern stemmed from the looming threat posed by oil interests like Petroecuador and Chinese Andes Petroleum, as well as toxic waste companies such as Gpower, which aimed to exploit and devastate the corridor.
One of the basic principles upon which Selva was founded was the principle of indigenous communities as natural guardians of the rainforest. This concept is deeply rooted in the symbiotic relationship they have cultivated with their environment over centuries, especially given the fact that they possess traditional knowledge passed down through generations, enabling them to understand the intricacies of the ecosystem and live in harmony with it. Their cultural practices revolve around sustainable resource management and conservation, making them indispensable allies in preserving biodiversity.
In response to the Siona community's request for assistance, the Sionas signed a partnership agreement to collaborate on efforts to protect and preserve this critical corridor. The cooperation pact between SELVA-Vida Sin Fronteras and the Siona community represents a unified commitment to conservation, ensuring that this invaluable natural heritage remains intact.
To implement the agreement between the Siona community and Selva-Vida Sin Fronteras, our initial focus was on monitoring oil activities in and around the Cuyabeno Corridor. We placed particular emphasis on collecting water samples from numerous streams, rivers, and lakes.
With support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and under the coordination of Professor David Dunham, Vice-Rector of the Institute of Social Studies (ISS), and the US Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), specialized laboratories analyzed these samples.
The findings were alarming, to say the least.
The analysis targeted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a toxic component of crude oil. European and North American environmental
regulators recommend reducing PAH levels in ambient water to zero, as 28 nanograms per litre corresponds to a lifetime cancer risk of one in 100,000.
The water samples from the Cuyabeno area revealed PAH concentrations ranging from 33 to 2,793 nanograms per litre. Samples taken from fishing and bathing waters showed concentrations
from 40 to 1,486 nanograms per litre. Samples from wastewater pits exhibited even higher levels, ranging from 46,500 to 405,634 nanograms per litre.
Specifically, in areas adjacent to Petro-Ecuador's main well, concentrations reached 370,000 nanograms per litre. The production pool of Petro-Amazonas registered 4,400 nanograms
per litre, while Andes Petroleum's Mariann 4 well recorded 398,430 nanograms per litre. The toxic pool in Mariann 4 discharged 5,284 US gallons of production waters into a key tributary of the Aguas Negras every 24 hours. Furthermore, Andes Petroleum's Mariann 6 field had concentrations of 378,500 nanograms per litre, with its corresponding production pool releasing 210,000 US gallons of production waters per month into the Aguas Negras River.
DEFORESTATION.
The relationship between oil companies and deforestation around the Cuyabeno corridor is deeply intertwined with economic interests and environmental degradation. As oil exploration and extraction operations expand in the region, they often encroach upon pristine rainforest ecosystems, leading to significant deforestation. Clearing land for infrastructure development, such as access roads, drilling sites, and pipelines, disrupts delicate habitats and fragments wildlife corridors. Moreover, the influx of workers and associated activities further exacerbates environmental pressures, including illegal logging and hunting. The cumulative impact of these activities poses a grave threat to the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the Cuyabeno corridor, jeopardizing the livelihoods of indigenous communities and the health of the entire ecosystem.
PRODUCTION POOLS: Analyzing Toxic Waste Disposal in the Cuyabeno Corridor
In a shocking revelation, SELVA-Vida Sin Fronteras brought to light that Halliburton and Andes Petroleum employ an exceedingly primitive and egregiously irresponsible method of disposing of toxic waste in the pristine Amazon rainforest. This method demonstrates a complete disregard for environmental preservation and human well-being.
The Ministry of Environment, swayed by bribery and underhanded dealings, shamefully acquiesced to the interests of these oil corporations. Carving out a section within
the Cuyabeno Fauna Reserve, the Ministry callously ignored the ecological importance of the area. Dividing it into twelve plots of land, each spanning approximately 55-70 hectares, they sold off these parcels to Andes Petroleum and select individuals within their ranks.
What makes this exploitation particularly appalling is the selection of these parcels based not on ecological suitability but on their convenience for toxic waste disposal. The chosen
properties, comprising mostly flooded rainforest with only small portions of solid ground, were ideal for concealing the nefarious activities of these corporations. Andes Petroleum and Halliburton wasted no time in constructing crude open-air pools on the limited areas of solid ground, where they callously dumped hundreds of barrels of toxic waste.
Employing an aluminium chloride compound to mask the appearance of the oil-tainted production waters, they attempted to disguise their environmentally devastating actions. This blatant
disregard for the delicate balance of the rainforest ecosystem demonstrates a shocking lack of foresight and responsibility. Furthermore, the intentional contamination of water sources, which are vital for the survival of indigenous communities and countless species of flora and fauna, underscores the profound ethical bankruptcy of these corporations.
The repercussions of such irresponsible actions extend far beyond immediate environmental degradation. Aluminium chloride, a highly toxic and non-biodegradable substance, poses grave risks to human health and well-being. The deliberate release of this hazardous chemical into the environment demonstrates a total disregard for the lives and livelihoods of local indigenous communities .
In summary, the method employed by Andes Petroleum, Halliburton, G-power and Sinopec for disposing of toxic waste in the Amazon rainforest is not only primitive and irresponsible but also morally reprehensible. It stands as a stark testament to the urgent need for greater oversight and regulation of industrial activities in ecologically sensitive areas.
SELVA-VIDA SIN FRONTERAS TAKES LEGAL ACTION TO PROTECT & PRESERVE THE CUYABENO CORRIDOR
In 2013, SVSF initiated legal proceedings against Andes Petroleum, the Chinese oil company most responsible for encroacing upon the Cuyabeno corridor, resulting in a $5,000 fine intended for reforestation costs, which unfortunately never materialized.
However, a pivotal outcome emerged from the court's ruling: it affirmed SVSF's contention that oil companies were legally barred from owning properties across all regions of the Amazon. Consequently, lands previously held by Andes Petroleum, including those
bordering the Cuyabeno Reserve, were returned to state ownership in 2018, nullifying Andes Petroleum's property titles.
Despite this legal victory, Andes Petroleum and Halliburton persisted in their toxic waste disposal practices, unabated by SVSF's limited resources for continued monitoring. This
changed in January 2023 when SVSF launched an extensive surveillance effort, employing drones, aerial photographs, and water sampling to document the ongoing environmental damage caused by toxic waste dumping into the Cuyabeno reserve. Presented to state authorities
in February 2023 by SVSF lawyer Dr. Gustavo Paez, this evidence forced the state into a difficult position: take responsibility for environmental contamination or shut down the operations entirely.
Ultimately, in April 2023, the state chose to cease operations.
However, the vacated land was soon occupied by landless farmers from Loja and Manabí in May 2023. Andes Petroleum incorrectly attributed SVSF's involvement in encouraging the occupation, although SVSF merely advised caution to the farmers, urging them to avoid agriculture or housing near the waste burial grounds.
The closure of toxic production activities marked a significant milestone in preserving the Cuyabeno Fauna Reserve, as noted by military authorities in Sucumbíos, who suggested that this achievement signaled a major victory in combating environmental degradation by eliminating a significant source of contamination in the Cuyabeno reserve.
SELVA- VIDA SIN FRONTERAS: POLICY REORIENTATION: THE URGENT NEED TO PURCHASE TRACTS OF AMAZON RAIN FOREST.
When analysing the described events that unfolded between 2009-2013, , SVSF decided to modify a hypothesis we upheld since 1997; namely that the Amazon Indigenous communities are the natural guardians of the Rainforest. While this remains a desired aspiration and SVSF will continue to empower and support these communities, however the tactics extractive industries are increasingly willing to adopt is concerning, to say the least. SVSF can confirm beyond any reasonable doubt, that oil companies are investing increasingly larger sums of money to bribe state officials and indigenous leaders to allow illegal mining and oil activities to take place on ancestral and protected territories. We can not expect Amazon communities to confront and neutralize this menacing reality by themselves.
To counteract this tendency, and to ensure that tracts of Amazon Rainforest will be saved and restored SVSF is encouraging and prioritizing the purchase of tracts of rainforest and their transformation into flora and fauna reserves where the presence of humans will not be a priorit and all extractive activity prohibited. The ownership of these tracts of Rainforest with registered property titles in inalienable, protected and guaranteed under the constitution.
With the agreement and consensus of Siona Governor Delio Payaguaje, the reserves will be protected indefinitely and reforested; property titles are to include clauses prohibiting both the sale and commercial exploitation of these properties, and be kept in safe-keeping by SELVA-NL in the Netherlands. The indigenous communities will be incorporated as Park Guards.
Very significantly the verdict of the law suit greatly enables SELVA's Rainforest acquisition proposal as it clearly stipulates that the only organizations with the legal right to purchase the lands with property titles in the Cuyabeno Corridor, are those recognized by the Ministry of Environment. Of the very few that exist and work in the Amazon, SELVA-Vida Sin Fronteras is one.
There are 11 plots adjacent to SELVA's Aguas Negras Reserve and all proprietors are more than willing to sell.
Although the corridor may be physically small, “ a drop in the ocean”, its significance is immense as it constitutes a crucial buffer zone and grants us direct control over the second main entry point to the park, the Aguas Negras River. In other words the SELVA’s Cuyabeno Rainforest corridor is a gateway to the Cuyabeno or, if we wish to dramatize “A Gateway to a Rainforest Paradise.” Or to quote an important supporter of Selva "a reforested and protected area of roughly 5x4 km will provide an excellent showcase to inspire others.”
During the next few months of 2024, investors will be invited to help acquire the ten remaining tracts of rainforest bordering the SVSF Amazon Reserve for Peace -Aguas Negras and the Cuyabeno national park; this would serve to consolidate one of the world’s most biodiverse eco-systems.
The donation button on our website iamselva.org is active. If you would like to purchase a tract of Rainforest in the Cuyabeno Corridor, or if you wish to acquire shares, for further information please contact Iamselva.org NL. In particular Alexandra van Maasdijk Alex@iamaselva.org and/or Frank Pon Frank@iamselva.org and/or Kathy Reinerie kathey@iamselva.org Given the significance of the project, we are presently working with our legal team to ensure that all the legal stipulations under Dutch and Ecuadorian law are met and that all the financial safeguards and transparency for investors are guaranteed.
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