ENVL-4500 NW Field Experience Prep

Angelique Wanek
Professor Tait
10/24/2017
Chapter 4: Origins 1978-1987

To begin, Ecuador's past has been a complex one. It has gone from militaristic rule in
1978, to a democratic rule. Its state has gone through cycles of strength and weakness
throughout the years. Ecuador has gone through political instability with different groups as well
as numerous different presidents (Lewis,2016, p.55). Ecuadorian people have also gone
through cycles of peace & prosperity and of poverty & civil unrest (civil movements, citizens
revolution). With all this instability one thing-the presence of Ecuador's flora and fauna- has
always been present. This biodiversity, especially in the Galapagos, as well as Ecuador's future
development has caught the interest of many international environmental groups (WWF) as well
as different transnational funders (Conservation International).
During the beginning of Ecuadors environmental movement (1978-1987), environmental
concerns were evident; however, not really addressed. The same could be said for research of
Ecuadors flora and fauna, the situation of these endemic/endangered species was highly
unknown. Before Fundacin Natura was present, there were already other organizations who
had their foot in the door for environmental protection/conservation of Ecuador. An example of
this would be the Charles Darwin Research Foundation (1964) (Lewis,2016, p.56).
Fundacin Natura was an organization that was set up by graduate students in 1978
(Lewis,2016, p.56). Their mission statement was to educate and reform the system from
within, and throughout 1980-1987, they were given several grants to do so (Lewis,2016, p.57).
This money really helped this relatively small organization grow significantly. Through their
work, most people classify Fundacin Natura as an environmental NGO (Lewis,2016, p.56 ).
With all this in mind, Fundacin Natural, who received its funding from transnational funders,
marked it as an eco-dependent organization.
Next, around the same time, Fundacin Natura was started, Accion Ecologica (AE) was
formed. This organization was started by a group of female biologists (Lewis,2016, p.58). While
Fundacin Natura was more focused on education/fixing existing companies as well as working
to help protect biological systems (ecosystems). In comparison, Accion Ecologica (AE) was
more concerned with debunking the corporate/governmental system altogether. AE really had
no interest in working within the system. Their main concern was more with water regulation, as
well as people's rights for nature and indigenous lands as well as helping them be self-
sustainable, rather than working with corporate organizations. For this reason, Accion Ecologica
had been considered "radical" (Lewis,2016, p.58). Another difference between these two
organizations was that Fundacin received funding from the United States; whereas, Accion
Ecologica had not. At first, Accion Ecologia started as a more activist environmental group yet
turned to "more social" issues (Lewis,2016,p.58). For this reason and the fact that it received
little to no outside funding, AE was deemed to be an eco-register group.
Also, it was because of their major differences and perhaps petty issues that these two
organizations were often found at odds with one another. Several quotes from within this book
prove this to be true. For instance, a Fundacin Natura representative was quoted saying, "...All
of us could be ugly and all of us could be good if we acted irresponsibly or responsibly. So that
defined us as a different model that was not liked by many-The radical NGOs started by
attacking Natura. That was their main goal-to demonstrate that we were not legitimate in our
approach" (Lewis,2016, p.60). Statements like this did not help the long strife between these
two organizations but have further separated the two.
As Fundacin Natura and Accin Ecolgica were establishing themselves Ecuador at
the same time was experiencing its own social and environmental issues. Due to its last
militaristic rule (the 1970's), Ecuador- like many other developing nations- found itself in a world
of debt. The state was weak and had little to no money, meaning it had, little to no power.
Groups such as Fundacin Natura had to receive funding from transnational funders to stay
open, hence the term dependent'. Other Eco-resistant and eco-entrepreneur groups were self-
sustained.
Then, in 1987, as an attempt to combat Ecuador's debt and to protect its biodiversity,
Ecuador had received its first "debt -for- nature swap"(Lewis,2016, p.65). What is a debt-for-
nature swap? A debt-for-nature swap basically takes places in a developing nation -such as
Ecuador- that has a ton of unpreserved unprotected biodiversity and a ton of debt. Basically, a
funder from the "global north" buys a country's debt at a smaller cost, and sets up a trust fund
for the country, in exchange for this money to be used by the country to complete environmental
projects (Lewis,2016, p.65). As this country repays it debt, it goes into the trust fund
(Lewis,2016, p.65). Environmentalist really liked this idea for it was one of the only ways to
protect the lands and biodiversity of Ecuador at the time. However, there seemed to be some
issue with this for some people. For instance, the fact that this money often went to the biggest
NGOs in the nation and not others, or to the people of Ecuador who desperately needed it, did
not establish good terms with the public. These reasonings and more are often while there is a
love/hate relationship with this debt-for nature-swaps.
Following these debt-for-nature swaps, Ecuador's economic crises got worst. Now,
Ecuador was unable to repay its national debt, so it had to make compromises with its funders.
This basically meant the Ecuador could put a hold on paying back its debt if it did what its
funders wanted, such as increasing extraction and not moving forward with environmental
development. Also, another event that created hardship for Ecuador was the earthquake that
took place in 1987 (Lewis,2016, p.69) This major earthquake killed numerous people and
"destroyed the primary pipeline" (Lewis,2016, p.69). This major event both put Ecuador even
more in debt and without a way to pay its existing debt back. Ecuador's weak state, as well as
its economic crises, would later influence Ecuador's political stance, as well as the track of it, 's
environmental movement that would continue to change during Ecuadors neoliberal boom
throughout the years that would come to follow.

Reflection

Regarding the Fundacion Natura v.s. Accion Ecologica (AE) debt I think I would have
supported Fundacion Natura over Accion Ecologica if I was living in Ecuador at that time. I am
aware that one cannot get an accurate depiction of a situation by only reading a single book, for
I was not there; however, I believe Lewis does a great job presenting both organizations.
Although, I do believe that it is wrong that Fundacion Natura received more funding than most
other organizations, which contributed to their power during this time that is how the world
works.The world is not fair, especially when it comes to finances. I believe that Fundacion
Natura did the best they could to secure the funds they needed to stay open (while they were
still operating) and actually created change.Through Fundacion Natura other NGOs were able
to stay open and they were able to help preserve Ecuadorian lands through corporate
comprises.
Also, I think that Accion Ecologica only started going against Fundacion Natura, one
because they were against everything they believed in and two because they were receiving
significantly less funding. AE could not accomplish its goals, for it was unable to raise the
money it needed. That is not to say that Accion Ecologica wouldn't have had great ideas to help
Ecuador's people/environment but in the end money and power run everything. Accion
Ecologica was just lacking in too many elements to actually establish much. This organization
seemed to waste time bringing down other organizations than working with them or trying to
establish an economic backing.

References
Lewis, Tammy. L. (2016) Ecuador's Environmental Revolutions: Ecoimperialists,
Ecodependents, and Ecoresisters. MIT Press, 2016.