PROYECTOS DE DESARROLLO Y POBLACIONES INDÍGENAS EN AISLAMIENTO VOLUNTARIO. EVALUACIÓN DEL IMPACTO SOCIOCULTURAL DEL MEGAPROYECTO YASUNI ITT

Abstract

After the failure of the "Yasuni ITT" project, the Ecuadorian government decided to exploit existing oil affecting the declared as Intangible Zone, despite the opposition of a significant percentage of the population of this country. In the Yasuní National Park indigenous groups residing in initial contact with Western culture and even uncontacted indigenous groups. This indigenous are in voluntary isolation. The presence of these groups hinders the exploitation of oil and not only because it is directly affect the natural resources of the reserve but there are also serious implications for social and cultural involvement. The current Ecuadorian government exploits the resource without a thorough and prior environmental impact study detailing the possible consequences of implementing this megaproject. This paper analyzes the social and environmental implications of its implementation. Use Sociocultural Impact Assessment (EIS) by applying a novel methodological approach, based on analysis of participation, the dynamics of power and interests, as well as the analysis of a set of indicators related to barriers and incentives for sociocultural change in contexts of implementation and evaluation of development projects.