It was a revolutionary idea to save one of the Earth’s most vital ecosystems

In 2007, Ecuador, a South American oil-rich country, launched a bold initiative to leave some of its Amazonian oil reserves in the ground in exchange for financial compensation from the international community. It was a revolutionary idea to save one of the Earth’s most vital ecosystems and two uncontacted indigenous tribes. The proposal centered on the Yasuni National Park, which contains a third of Ecuador’s oil reserves. It was also a revolutionary idea to address climate change, but it turned out to be ahead of its time and struggled to take off.

The proposal was ahead of its time

In late 2017 the government of Ecuador started a new phase of drilling in the most pristine part of Yasuni, triggering new waves of protest. For the first time “The Curse of Abundance” reveals the full drama of the failed Yasuni initiative, which has far-reaching global as well as regional repercussions.

The film uncovers Ecuador’s battle to reconcile its green ambitions with harsh economic realities – a dilemma which resonates with the entire world. Yasuni has also become a microcosm of some of the most pressing environmental issues on the planet. In the heart of the Ecuadorian rainforest, the stage has been set for an urgent global debate about economic development, sustainability, and climate change.

The film asks critical questions: should we leave the oil below the ground? Are we ready and willing to make a fundamental shift, mindful of all the implications if we carry on extracting oil? The film tells the story of Yasuni through the dramas of individual people, directly affected by the failure of the Yasuni Initiative and ongoing oil exploatation.

In August 2023, Ecuadorians, following a Supreme Court decision, voted in a historic referendum to halt oil extraction activities throughout Yasuni Park. “The Curse of Abundance” five years after its release, became part of the three-month campaign leading up to the referendum and was screened repeatedly throughout the country.