After the international community failed to come through on a plan to pay Ecuador to preserve an unblemished stretch of Amazon rainforest, lawmakers have authorized plans to drill for oil in Yasuni National Park.

After a 10-hour debate, congress on Thursday approved the motion backed by President Rafael Correa to drill in Yasuni, by a 108 to 25 margin, with four legislators absent.

Like most developing nations, Ecuador wants to use its natural resources to build its economy.  But in 2007, President Correa thought he had a better plan in which Ecuador and the world come out ahead:  The world’s wealthy nations would pay Ecuador to maintain and protect Yasuni.  Environmentalists at the time hailed the initiative as setting a precedent in the fight against global warming by helping poor countries to preserve the environment.

Correa had sought US$3.6 Billion in contributions to maintain a moratorium on Yasuni drilling.  But by this year, Ecuador managed to raise just US$13 Million, and Correa pulled the plug.

Debt is another factor:  Ecuador has borrowed more than A$9 Billion from China, and China wants oil to power its manufacturing sector.