In a historic national vote Sunday, August 20, 2023, a vast majority of Ecuadorians voted to halt its largest oil project underneath Yasuní National Park and permanently keep an estimated 1 billion barrels of oil in the ground. They also chose to protect the rights of the Tagaeri, Taromenane, and Dugakaeri Indigenous peoples, living in voluntary isolation. 

The Ishpingo, Tiputini, and Tambococha (ITT) fields lie beneath Yasuní National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and widely considered one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.  Its unique position along the equator also allows it an outstanding level of biodiversity, containing more than 120 reptile species, 596 species of birds, 200 mammal species, and nearly 500 species of fish. One single hectare of Yasuní forest contains at least 100,000 insect species.

The ballot initiative won with almost 60% of the population voting in favor. There are an estimated 1.67 billion barrels of crude in the ITT fields, where 225 active wells currently produce 54,800 bpd. More than 500 total wells were planned. But Sunday’s popular vote prohibits the opening of all new wells and requires state oil company Petroecuador to close wells currently in production and dismantle and remove all oil infrastructure within a year. Another ballot measure seeking to prohibit new mining activity in the province of the nation’s capital city of Quito (“Quito Sin Minería”) also won. 

Kevin Koenig, Amazon Watch Climate and Energy Director, said:

“Ecuadorians have sent a definitive message to the world: the Amazon, Indigenous rights, biodiversity, and our climate are more important than oil. This is a major victory for our planet and a strong step in protecting the last Indigenous peoples in Ecuador living in voluntary isolation. With this decision, Ecuador is positioning itself as a leader in the global movement to phase out fossil fuels to avert climate catastrophe.

“The vote also serves as a clear warning to investors, including major U.S. banks and asset managers, that the era of unchecked resource extraction is at an end, highlighting that further exploitation of the Amazon’s oil and mineral resources is incompatible with maintaining a livable climate. The world must follow Ecuador’s example, recognizing that toxic commodities must remain untouched and that a just transition is imperative.”

The government now has the mandate to stop oil activities and remove infrastructure within one year as ordered by the Constitutional Court. 

Voters request that presidential runoff candidates, Luisa Gonzalez and Daniel Noboa, publicly detail their plans to implement the mandate of the voters. This includes complying with the concrete measures issued by the Constitutional Court to end oil activities and remove infrastructure in Block 43. Additionally, voters expect both candidates to embrace the will of the people to protect Yasuni National Park and commit to a just transition away from dependency on oil extraction in Ecuador.