Economic Data Ecuador currently produces 370,000 barrels of oil a day. It plans to increase production to 400,000 barrels a day in 1995. Half of the Ecuadorean gross national product comes from oil exploration. More than 40 percent of Ecuador's exports in 1990 were oil and derivatives. The cost of increased environmental protection would severely limit the revenue Ecuador earns from its oil exports, especially with over 30 percent of employment in this sector.
Some exports also go to Europe and Asia.
The exploration for oil has created numerous environmental problems of all types in the Amazon region. The Amazon basin in Ecuador has the greatest number of plant species of any South American country. The Sierra highlands have been almost completely deforested. Also, the Oriente is a species rich jungle with numerous mammals in danger of extinction. Oil that was placed on roads to cut dust has flowed into rivers.