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The Permanent Forum welcomes the measures undertaken by several countries that aim, inter alia, to explore and develop alternative sources of income, significantly reduce the exploitation of natural resources, enhance conservation of biological diversity and establish measures in favour of indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation, such as the national initiative undertaken by Ecuador entitled “Yasuni-ITT initiative”. The Permanent Forum recommends that such measures respect the right to free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples concerned.
Responses
Ecuador reports (E/C.19/2010/12/Add.11): With regard to recommendation 9 on the Yasuní-ITT initiative, the Government of the Republic of Ecuador, led by economist Rafael Correa Delgado, undertook to keep a significant proportion of its proven oil reserves, amounting to 850 million barrels of crude oil, in the ground. The initiative is expected to yield three very significant benefits: (a) protecting the home of indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation, namely, the Tagaeri-Taromenane and indigenous Huaorani peoples who live in Yasuní National Park;
(b) preventing pollution by halting the emission of 410 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere; and
(c) conserving biodiversity. In order to strengthen the national operational infrastructure needed to carry out the Yasuní-ITT initiative, a technical committee has been established, in addition to a political committee and a negotiation team chaired by the Minister of Coordination for National and Cultural Heritage, Maria Fernanda Espinosa.
Spain reports (E/C.19/2010/12/Add.9) it has pledged $4,000,000 through the UNDP-Spain Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of the Cultural and Natural Heritage of the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve. Of this amount, the sum of $200,000 is intended for the Yasuní-ITT initiative.
Final Report of UNPFII Session 8 (2009)
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