ENVL 4500- NW Field Experience Prep

Angelique Wanek
Professor Tait
10/28/2017

Chapter 6: Organizational bust, 2000-2006: Opportunities for eco-resistors and Eco-

alternatives

To begin, the organizational bust (2000-2006) of Ecuador immediately followed it's Neoliberal
boom (1987-2000). Facing the downfall of the neoliberal boom, the organizational bust took
place as a result. At this time (2000 & onward) Ecuador was in a state of economic crises.
Budget cuts were taken nationwide, especially in the environmental field. Also, at this time the
state was still in an extremely weak. The result of these conditions was as followed: the
downfall of eco-dependent organizations and NGO's, their reaction to their downfall, the rise of
eco-resistors & eco-alternatives and other all attitudes towards Ecuador's environmental
movement (Lewis, 2016, p. 118).
The height of the economic crises really was the downfall of eco-dependant NGO's. During a
portion of Ecuador's past ( Neoliberal Boom) eco-dependants were not only numerous but very
powerful. However, the overwhelming feelings towards this group were hatred. Eco-dependants
were hated by the general public and by organizations such as Accion Ecologica for several;
reasons, the main reasoning being the amount of funding they were receiving from Eco-
imperialist. For this reason, many environmentalists believed that these eco-dependent
organization's entire job consisted of being the mouthpiece of larger organizations (Lewis, 2016,
p. 118). The main eco-imperialist- the eco-dependent relationship known at this time was the
relationship between Fundacion Natural (dependant) and the World Wide Fund for Nature
(imperialist).
Although hated, during their time of power' in the Neoliberal Boom, eco-dependants at
least had their funding. For example in the late 1990's, there were hundreds, perhaps 300
groups' (Lewis,2016,p.118). However, with the economic crises taking place in 1978, the
number of eco-dependant organizations would dwindle down dramatically.The main reasons for
lack of funding in 2000-2001 included reasons such as; the dollarization of the Ecuadorian
currency, the lack of funding from the US due to Bush's war' and the ending of several large
eco-imperialist projects (Lewis, 2016, p. 118-119). Due to the lack of funds available to eco-
dependant organizations, many organizations had to compete with each other for funds,
downsize, switch their agenda or shut down for good.
In addition to losing their funds, eco-dependant organizations often had to change their
organizations together as a whole to receive transnational funding. During this time,
transnational founders similar to USAID's SUBIR project ended, and once it ended USAID
pulled out of Ecuador. A witness to these events made the comment on this event that " ... when
USAID left, everything disappeared. ... You work to develop trust in the field and (you want to )
stay there, not just for a project. " ( Lewis, 2016, p.119). The disappearance of projects and
transnational organizations such as USAID only worsen Ecuador's economy and put a stand-
still on eco-dependents influence in the Environmental Movement. In response to these events,
the existing eco-dependant organizations would do anything they needed to do- accounting,
filing, projects, etc.- anything to look more attractive to existing funders. These had caused
increased competition amongst eco-dependent NGOs for funding.
Then, when eco-dependant NGO's could not compete with other groups for funding they
had to adapt. Most eco-dependant organizations immediately shut down in response to the lack
of funding in Ecuador. On the other hand, members of eco-dependant organizations just left the
organization to join and work for the government. There were several cases of different eco-
dependant environmentalist doing this in order to generate their own income (Lewis, 2016,
p.134-135). Other eco-dependant organizations survived by on a project to project basis
(Lewis,2016, p.132). Meaning they completed any environmental project put up by transnational
funders in order to buy more time for their organization. Lastly, when all else failed members of
the eco-dependant organizations turned to generating their own income by doing tasks such as
water regulation for the state or ecotourism. Ecotourism is and always have been a major
contributor to Ecuador's economy. This, as well as the many endemic species in Ecuador, is
why it's lands and resources should be preserved, not destroyed or extracted.
Despite all these organizations downsizing and closing their doors, eco-resistors and
ecoenterprises were taking advantage of eco-depants downfall. Lewis defines eco-resistors as
"... largely independent of international funding, and thus, relatively autonomous in their agenda
setting." (Lewis,2016,p.117). Unlike eco-dependants, eco-resistors tend to work against the
system and this has contributed to their reputation as radical' in the past ( same source). Eco-
resistors and eco-dependant organizations have never truly gotten along.They focus more on
sustainable development, protecting Ecuadors natural lands as well as the rights of indigenous
people -mainly helping them be self-sustaining. Although some argue that eco-resistors have
had a slower less successful start than eco-dependants, they are mainly fueled by social
movements. So when Ecuadors public was outraged by the multitude of brown projects
(Lewis, 2016, p. 91) as well as the eco-dependants/eco-imperialist, eco-resistors used this as
fuel to its fire.
In addition to eco-resistors, eco-entrepreneurs were on the rise in the response to the
downfall of eco-dependants in Ecuador. Lewis describes eco-entrepreneurs income as "...
through taxes, user fees and payments for ecosystem services." (Lewis, 2016, p.118). Both of
these organizations are self-sustained in just different manner and both of these organizations
aim to offer environmental development alternatives but in just different ways. Eco-Resisters are
an environmental activist whereas eco-entrepreneur offer advice and services to the public.
Both were able to explain their work during the downfall of eco-dependents for they were not
dependant on other force than themselves. This resulted in both types of environmentalism
being able to influence Ecuador's environmental movement with new ideas, without having to
further compete with outside influencers.
Lastly, during the Organizational Bust, the public had mixed opinions surrounding
Ecuador's environmental movement. It seems as if some of the public believed that there was a
movement but it seemed to be "stagnant" (Lewis, 2016, p.161). On the other hand, a local was
questioned if there was a movement at all. This overall opinion would prove to change over
time, for the 2006 election of President would prove to be revolutionary.

Reflection
 To summarize chapter six's main points, the organizational bust was a bust. Ecuador's
state was just as weak as ever and the same could be said for its political instability. Throughout
this time period (2000's-2006) USAID, as well as other major transnational funders, pulled their
projects out of Ecuador. This action just added to the economic disaster that was Ecuador. This
would eventually lead to the downfall of most eco-dependant organizations, such as Fundacion
Natura. However, the downfall of these organizations would allow the other actors who had
opinions about the eco-alternatives rise ( eco-resistors and entrepreneurs). Although Ecuador's
environmental movement was almost at a standstill at this point in time, all would change with
the election of President Correa in 2007 and his Citizens Revolution.

References
Lewis, Tammy. L. (2016) Ecuador's Environmental Revolutions: Ecoimperialists,
Ecodependents, and Ecoresisters. MIT Press, 2016.