Environmental Problems in Ecuador's Primary Rainforest Essay

Ecuador experiences the highest rate of deforestation rate and horrible environmental pollution record in South America. The extent of Environmental pollution depends on the types of activities that are carried out on the specific surface of the earth and the kind of technology that is used in mining processes. Oil mining is the primary activity in Ecuador done mainly in Yasuni. Oil production in this region holds the country's economy. The oil was discovered in the Texaco Consortium in the vast rainforest leading t the construction of large networks of oil facilities including roads and pipelines. This has caused a full rate of ecosystem disturbance in the region. There is a great deal of environmental pollution in the vast rainforests of Yasuni in Ecuador . The companies that are involved in the mining of oil often dump their waste in the local lakes and rivers in Ecuador's Amazon region. The contamination of soil and water leads to an increase in severe diseases among the residents of the area since the oil is often deposited on the ground and the rivers. Chevron and Toxic are the major mining companies that have been accused as the ones causing environmental pollution mainly soil and water pollution and health-related complications.

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Another unethical environmental disaster in Ecuador's Amazon is deforestation as a result of settlement and agricultural practices. Illegal logging for building and farming has posed a major ecological threat in the region. The deforested land remains bare and in a short time, therefore, exposing the ground to soil erosion. The residents also have been engaged in the clearing of land for agriculture and building of housing structures. When trees are cut down, the cover that acts as a catchment area is reduced and therefore an interference of the weather and climatic patterns of the Amazon region. Soil erosion has further led to siltation of the river thus posing a threat of the river outburst. Deforestation also causes a loss of habitat for the animals that lived in the forest. Birds and other wild animals are forced to escape their natural habitats exposing these creatures to the task of adapting to the harsh climatic conditions of other places.

Water pollution in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador results of improper agricultural practices by the locals, contamination by the mining agencies and deforestation. Oil deposits on the rivers and other water sources by the two accused mining companies have also led top biodiversity loss and a risk on the public health in the region. Additionally, insecticides and herbicides used by people cultivating near rivers is another cause of water pollution. Dumping of waste in rivers is another environmental problem that possesses a significant threat on issues of health to the community that leaves around the Amazon forest. Several complaints have been raised on the long-term adverse effects of unethical practices such as wastewater dumping and oil spillage along the river. Animals suffer a more significant deal in contamination of water as it the contaminated river flows deep down into broad areas of the Amazon forest in Ecuador. Water contamination has led to both long term and short term health conditions of the people of Ecuador affecting even the ability to bear healthy children,

Residents of the Amazon Forest in Ecuador believe that pollution is the root course of healthiest problems in the area such as cancer and congenital disabilities. Consumption of oil in the water is dangerous especially to the unborn children as they are at risk of being born with deformities. Apart from human wellbeing, plant health has also been affected. Oil spills on the soil prevent oxygen from entering the ground. Therefore, the land becomes deprived of oxygen which is essential in for growth and survival. There is a comprehensive loss of vegetation in the area that the rainforest covers. The remaining existing plant near mining areas has been exposed to stresses causing wilting and vegetation death . Mass agricultural production in the forest and along the rivers has reduced the quality of soil thus reducing the profitability that is gained from the land.

In the fight for Environmental justice for Ecuador, there are a few heroes that played a significant role in the halting of the pollution process. The Ecuador president of 2015 Rafael Correa was involved actively in the war against Chevron Corporation. He accused the oil giants Chevron for deliberately causing pollution in the Amazon rainforest in Eastern Ecuador. He went ahead and exposed the company that they had lied to evade the legal responsibilities in the area. He took visits to polluted regions in the Amazon and often criticized what he witnessed there accusing Chevron of the damage. Also, the US courts became strict in the case against Chevron in 2005. This was after Chevron had proved that it could buy its way out of cases against it. Steps were taken against the company through the US courts forcing Chevron to implement human rights, the environment and the rights of the stakeholders involved. The United Nations through several environmental treaties was also involved in the protection of the Amazon forest and in fighting for the rights of the lawyers who were involved in the case for Chevron.

The women's movement took to the streets to fight for their land that was facing a lot of pollution from the industries built. The women movement has managed to meet with the current Mexican president Lenin Moreno to agree on the limiting of drilling and mining that is done within their territories. The Ecuador government has at some points worked towards advocacy against pollution caused by the foreign companies but no major step by the government took this is because they recognize the importance of oil for Ecuador's economy.

The government ought to conduct monitoring and evaluation of the environmental condition in the Oriented region. This involves implementation and reinforcement of strategies to repair the damage that is already done through pollution. The companies of oil that are operating in both eastern and northern oil regions need to change their way of operations by building partnerships with the local communities at the same time reduce environmental impacts. The operations adopted should include regular chemical sampling with frequent environmental monitoring. Development of oil production policies need to be done and assessment of these policies to find out the impact that they have on the community. Oil mining in the Amazon basin has resulted in many environmental and health issues in Ecuador, and therefore more strategic actions are being undertaken by the government to address the issue without compromising socioeconomic benefits.

Bibliography

"Ecuador: Environmental Profile." Mongabay, rainforests.mongabay.com/20ecuador.htmEcuador Drills First Oil Well Inside Yasuni Despite Promises to Protect the Amazon and Indigenous Rights

Paz, P. (2018). Ecuador Drills First Oil Well Inside Yasuni Despite Promises to Protect the Amazon and Indigenous Rights. [online] Amazon Watch. Available at: https://amazonwatch.org/news/2018/0109-ecuador-drills-first-oil-well-inside-yasuni-despite-promises [Accessed 10 Dec. 2018].

Kimerling, Judith. "Habitat as human rights: Indigenous Huaorani in the Amazon rainforest, oil, and Ome Yasuni." Vt. L. Rev. 40 (2015): 445.

Oil, and Ome Yasuni." Vermont Law Review, 23 July 2016, lawreview.vermontlaw.edu/habitat-as-human-rights/.

San Sebastian, Miguel, and Anna Karin Hurtig. "Oil exploitation in the Amazon basin of Ecuador: a public health emergency." Revista Panamericana de Salud publica 15 (2004): 205-211