India, Aug. 21 -- Three years after Ecuadorians voted overwhelmingly to halt oil extraction in Yasuni National Park, the referendum's implementation remains incomplete, while members of the campaign group YASunidos face financial sanctions that Amnesty International says highlight growing pressure on civic groups.
Referendum Outcome Still Unfulfilled
The August 2023 referendum was a landmark vote on protecting the Amazon rainforest from oil exploitation. Voters backed the proposal to stop extraction in the Ishpingo, Tambococha and Tiputini area of Yasuni, one of Ecuador's most biodiverse regions.
The deadline for a gradual and orderly withdrawal of oil operations expired in August 2024. However, extraction continues. A government plan su...