ECU061
ECUADOR / Mindo / Mindo Nambillo Cloudforest Reserve.
Local residents and indigenous groups begin to build platforms and camps in the trees of this protected cloud forest reserve in an attempt to stop a multinational consortium (OCP) from building a pipeline for crude oil directly through this fragile ecosystem. The cloud forest is a watershed for local communities and has 365 species of animals and wildlife.
The OCP (Oleoducto de Crudos Pesados or heavy crude pipeline) is a consortium of 6 international companies from USA, Canada, Spain and Italy. The project is financed by the German West LB Bank.
(Westdeutsche Landesbank). The demonstrators have said they are prepared to occupy the forest for 2 years if necessary.
© Clive Shirley