Tensions flare as Ecuador’s environment consultation process is put to the test

Tensions flare as Ecuador’s environment consultation process is put to the test

LAS NAVES, Ecuador — The small farming community of Las Naves in the center of Ecuador is surrounded by a rich variety of crops crawling up hillsides next to large patches of rainforest. Everything grows in this tropical climate, from sweet pitahayas to at least five varieties of oranges. Locals proudly talk about nine waterfalls in the region that are little explored by tourists, making the place seem like a well-kept secret. But Las Naves isn’…