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入侵原始亞馬遜上游 石油公司開採計畫通過

2007年12月07日
摘譯自2007年12月4日ENS美國,華府報導;朱以方編譯;蔡麗伶審校

亞馬遜上游盆地擁有豐富的生物多樣性;圖片來源:Save America's Forests地球上最原始、生態最豐富的雨林之一就是位於厄瓜多爾和秘魯邊境的亞馬遜上游盆地。華盛頓的一個保育組織表示,這個盆地正面臨石油開發的急迫威脅。該保育組織與南美洲的保育團體有緊密的關係。這個盆地屬於納帕潮溼森林生態系,它的隱密偏遠地區遺世獨立,是許多選擇離群索居原住民的家。

然而,厄瓜多爾和秘魯政府在這個地區才剛通過了3個新的重大石油開採計劃。

芬納(Matt Finer)博士是華盛頓特區非營利組織「拯救美洲森林」的生態學家,他指出,「有3個石油公司即將在地球上生態最豐富的熱點開始運作。」芬納曾經待在偏遠的亞馬遜鄉村好幾年,而且他的研究也還在持續進行。

亞馬遜森林中一種瀕危靈長類。圖片來源:Reserva Communal Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo, 雨林保護基金會秘魯政府剛通過了屬於美國公司巴瑞特資源(Barrett Resource)的第67區,和屬於西班牙公司瑞普索(Repsol)的第39區的環境影響評估報告。

厄瓜多爾最近則核發給巴西國有石油公司佩特巴拉(Petrobras)環境執照,允許它在位於葉蘇尼(Yasuní)國家公園第31區鑽勘石油。而葉蘇尼國家公園是一個完全沒有道路的地區,庇護著一些世界上最稀有的物種。

這3個區塊都位於納帕潮溼森林的核心地帶。除此之外,秘魯政府才又與跨國石油公司簽定了8個合約。

根據「拯救美洲森林」的分析顯示,現在位於秘魯的亞馬遜森林有50個區域已經與跨國石油公司完成簽約,而至少有另外13個區域正在洽談中。

芬納警告:「秘魯的亞馬遜森林大約有73%的面積,相當於加州與緬因州合起來的大小,這些森林已經或即將落入石油公司的手中。比起2004年的13%,已快速成長。」

除了關切這個區域另人讚嘆的生物多樣性之外,這些新的計劃也對秘魯脆弱的原住民帶來威脅。

數個月來,原住民、環保和人權團體已持續抗議,在67和39區的這些計畫,佔據了數個自願離群獨居原住民族群的土地。

Oil Developers Permitted to Penetrate Pristine Upper Amazon
WASHINGTON, DC, December 4, 2007 (ENS)

One of the most intact and biodiverse rainforest regions on Earth, located in the Upper Amazon Basin on the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border, is now threatened by imminent oil development, warns a conservation organization based in Washington with close ties to its counterpart groups in South America. Known as the Napo Moist Forest ecosystem, this remote region is home to uncontacted indigenous groups living in voluntary isolation.

Yet the governments of Ecuador and Peru have just given the green light for three major new oil projects in the area.

"Three different oil companies are set to begin operations in what is arguably the most biodiverse spot on Earth," said Dr. Matt Finer, an ecologist with the DC-based nonprofit organization Save America's Forests. Finer has spent years in the remote Amazon back country, and his research is ongoing.

The Peruvian government just approved the environmental impact studies for Block 67 belonging to the U.S. company Barrett Resources and Block 39, which belongs to the Spanish corporation Repsol.

The Ecuadorian government recently granted an environmental license for the Brazilian state oil company Petrobras to drill for oil in Block 31 located in Yasuní National Park, a roadless area sheltering some of the world's rarest species.

All three blocks are located within the core of the Napo Moist Forest. In addition, the Peruvian government has just signed eight more contracts with multinational oil companies.

Analysis by Save America's Forests shows there are now 50 active blocks under contract with multinational companies in the Peruvian Amazon, and at least 13 more are on the way.

"Around 73 percent of the Peruvian Amazon, an area the size of the states of California and Maine combined, is now or soon will be in the hands of oil companies," warns Finer. "That's up from just 13 percent in 2004."

In addition to concerns about the region's extraordinary biodiversity, these new projects pose a major threat to Peru's vulnerable uncontacted peoples.

Indigenous, environmental and human rights groups have been protesting for months that the projects in Blocks 67 and 39 overlap territories of several groups in voluntary isolation.

全文及圖片詳見:ENS

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.