Oil in the Soil: The Politics of Paying to Preserve the Amazon

by Pamela L. Martin

Overview

Paradise may have been found in the Western Amazon, but it is on the brink of destruction. Oil in the Soil analyzes the campaign to save the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini (ITT) block of Yasuní National Park in Ecuador's Amazon and the global networks that have resulted in one of the world's most innovative plans to save the Amazon and other biodiverse places on our planet. Pamela L. Martin examines the path-breaking global environmental governance mechanisms that have resulted from the transnational networks of the Yasuní-ITT campaign and their implications for replication around the world. The analysis of these networks reveals new dynamics of mobilization from the South, which may impact the future of global environmental negotiations. Martin also examines the alternative norms behind the initiative in the words of governmental and non-governmental actors. Such normative changes demonstrate the global struggles of the resource-dependent poor and provide insights toward new pathways of sustainable development for the planet.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442211308
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/16/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	168
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Pamela L. Martin is associate professor of politics and international relations at Coastal Carolina University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Saving Yasuní and the Planet: Toward a Global Politics of the Good Life
Chapter 2: Global Politics from the Canopy
Chapter 3: History in Black, Green, and Red
Chapter 4: Pay to Preserve: The Yasuní-ITT Trust Fund
Chapter 5: Behind the Scenes: Agents, Norms, and Structure in the Quest to Save Yasuní
Chapter 6: The Future of Global Governance in the Amazon: The Yasuní Effect
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

Martin describes the recent decision of Ecuador to give up some underground oil riches to preserve the biodiversity of the Amazonian environment and protect indigenous populations. The plan was promptly executed to set a pathbreaking example. One block of oil reserves among several, the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini oil field within the Yasuní National Park, would be sealed. Contributions from states and nongovernmental organizations were to compensate for the lost revenue from the oil field and would be used to finance other development projects in Ecuador. A pivotal force in the story is Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. But there is a problem: the compensation money is not coming in, and the Ecuadorian government is not sure that it wants to go through with the sacrifice. This is a rich report, especially revealing the vast NGO activity. It is well backed by the literature on normative economics. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels.

Choice Reviews

This book presents a fascinating case study, expertly described and analyzed. Martin situates her discussion of an entirely new phenomenon in an understanding of the academic literature to help explain the emergence of a daring proposal to compensate Ecuador for leaving its 'oil in the soil.' She has conducted careful and extensive research among all relevant actors in the region, and has a deep appreciation of the culture, economy, and ecosystems that interact on this issue. Martin tells a story that is fascinating, dramatic, and important for those trying to envision a new way forward in preventing climate change and conserving biodiversity.

Elizabeth R. DeSombre

Importantly, this work is the first early assessment of an original global effort; it captures the personalities, the politics, and the ethical and environmental commitments that launched this effort in 2007 and that have maintained it until now. Other nations with high biodiversity and the paradox of being both low-income and oil-rich may consider it as a guide. Martin also documents the pitfalls to leading this effort from the South, while reminding the reader that the 'proposal is meant as a catalyst toward action with Ecuador in the lead' p. 99). Many points, made subtle by such a composed writer, are powerful in their implications.

Global Environmental Politics

Martin describes the recent decision of Ecuador to give up some underground oil riches to preserve the biodiversity of the Amazonian environment and protect indigenous populations. The plan was promptly executed to set a pathbreaking example. One block of oil reserves among several, the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini oil field within the Yasuní National Park, would be sealed. Contributions from states and nongovernmental organizations were to compensate for the lost revenue from the oil field and would be used to finance other development projects in Ecuador. A pivotal force in the story is Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. But there is a problem: the compensation money is not coming in, and the Ecuadorian government is not sure that it wants to go through with the sacrifice. This is a rich report, especially revealing the vast NGO activity. It is well backed by the literature on normative economics. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels.

Choice