Ecuador's Landmark Decision: Oil Drilling Banned in Protected Amazon Lands

In a historic referendum, voters in Ecuador overwhelmingly supported a ban on oil extraction in the Yasuní National Park, the largest protected area in the country and home to Indigenous communities. The referendum sets a crucial precedent for Indigenous territories in the Amazon and demonstrates Ecuador's commitment to protecting the rainforest. The state-owned oil company, Petroecuador, has one year left on its contract, and the referendum will determine whether a new contract is issued or if the contract is ended. The ban is seen as a blow to President Lasso, and the outcome will have implications for the upcoming presidential runoff election.