Chapter 3 of Ecuador’s Environmental Revolutions discusses how the author classifies the four ideal types of environmentalism. Ecoimperialists, ecodependents, ecoresisters, and ecoentrepreneur organizations are the four ideal types identified by Lewis. To better explain these types in more detail she focuses on environmental organizations that may fit into these types and their typical characteristics.
Ecoimperialisits are identified as environmental groups that provide foreign funding to Ecuador. These groups consist of professional conservationists and operate at an international level. Typically, ecoimperialist groups emerge with the goal of biodiversity conservation for the country but they also help with sustainable economic development as well.
Ecoimpirialists are often viewed from two different perspectives. In any country, especially developing countries, funding is necessary for social activist groups to attain substantial power. Ecoempirialsits can provide significant funding which is greatly needed in developing countries like Ecuador that are in debt yet have numerous social issues. Funding gives these environmental groups the power to positively impact Ecuador by protecting biodiversity and encouraging sustainable development practices. Although the funding they provide allows Ecoimperialists to make a wide-spread positive impact, this group of environmentalists is criticized for abusing the power they have. Many citizens in Ecuador feel that these foreign groups “impose their own agenda” instead of trying to balance their goals with the needs of the people/country. Looking at recent media that discuss the topic ecoimperialism, it is clear that ecoimperialists are scrutinized more than they are praised. Paul Driessen is a name often connected with the term ecoimperialism, Driessen wrote a book titled Eco-Imperialism: Green Power - Black Death. According to Driessesn, by imposing their agenda ecoimperialists while trying to help the environment actually may “engender poverty and death in the process”. This can be due to the unforeseen consequences a new policy meant to help the environment may have. For example, designating an area as protected land has many benefits but it may endanger the humans who utilized the land for a living to make a profit. Ecuadorians want to improve the environment but do not necessarily want to prioritize the environment above their own well being. In addition to this, these groups used to work alongside Ecuador based groups, but they have shifted to operating more independently as well as purchasing land to protect biodiversity. Operating more independently and purchasing land gives these organizations the potential to have a lot of impacts, whether it be positive or negative.
Ecodependents are organizations that operate on a national level that consist of professional environmentalists. These organizations, like the ecoimperialist organizations that provide them funding, also work for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. These organizations work with the state to help carry out the goals of ecoimperialists. Working with the state and utilizing funding from ecoimperialists makes them fairly effective at producing change. However, Ecodependents are criticized for carrying out the goals of ecoimperialists and not being able to help with environmental goals that do not directly relate to conservation or sustainable development. This is why they are called eco “dependents”, they depend on the ecoimperialsits and other groups for funding which makes them dependent on them. This ties into another major reason ecodependents are looked down on, their funding is not guaranteed. Individual ecodependent groups have to convince an ecoimperialist group to fund them. Having to vie for funding reduces the large scale impact ecodependents could potentially have because it splits the groups up.
Ecoresistors are environmental movement activists. Ecoresisters are classified as either individuals or groups composed mainly of volunteers and some paid workers. Unlike ecodependents, ecoresisters are not reliant on ecoimperialists for funding. This allows ecoresisters to have more independence in their projects and goals. Typically, the main goal of ecoresisters is to combat resource extraction and they work mainly on a local level. However, even though they have more independence, ecoresisters are not as effective as ecodependents. Working against the state's agenda and at a smaller level reduces their impact.
Ecoentepreneurs are identified as organizations that “ensure sustainable funding”. Like ecoresisters they work on a local level. They receive funding to protect resources in a community. Typically ecoentepreneurs help more with human-focused environmental issues in contrast to other organizations that focus more on conservation. Since they focus on issues that more closely relate to humans they help bring more awareness to environmental issues. Also, the community has a more positive perspective on ecoentrprenerus as opposed to their views on ecoimperialsits. So, while ecoentreprenurs may not be as effective in conserving natural resources/biodiversity they help increase public awareness which is very valuable.
Since Ecuador is such a small country, foreign organizations with a substantial amount of money and power, ecoimperialists, have the potential to unintentionally leave a large negative impact. A strong state could prevent environmental progress but it is needed to protect its citizens from being controlled by external organizations such as ecoimperialists. A weak state may experience more progress on social and environmental issues but it will not be balanced. Sustainability is dependent on balance and cooperation between both the state and NGOs. I feel that ecodependents are the most effective at achieving their goals because they uphold a balance between the state and have a decent amount of funding from ecoimperialists.
Works cited: Article, Crosswalk. “Environmentalists Accused of Promoting 'Eco-Imperialism'.” Crosswalk.com, Salem Web Network, 23 Apr. 2004, www.crosswalk.com/1259000. Chambers, Andrew. “The Fight against Eco-Imperialism.” The Guardian, Apr. 2010, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cif-green/2010/apr/11/eco-imperialism-climate-change-carbon. “What Is Eco-Imperialism? - Eco-Imperialism.” Eco, www.eco-imperialism.com/what-is-eco-imperialism/.