Yasuní National Park

Located in eastern Ecuador, the park spans approximately 980,000 to 1,000,000 hectares and was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1989. It sits at the intersection of the Andes mountains, the Amazon basin, and the equator, a unique geographic position that contributes to its extraordinary species richness. Scientists suggest that the area's high biodiversity may be linked to its role as a refuge that remained forested during past climate fluctuations, such as ice ages, allowing species to persist and evolve in isolation. The park holds numerous world records for species density at local scales. It is home to thousands of vascular plant species, hundreds of bird and fish species, and over 100,000 insect species per hectare. It also provides critical habitat for many globally threatened animals, including the giant otter and the white-bellied spider monkey. Beyond its ecological value, the park is the ancestral territory of Indigenous peoples, including the Waorani and Kichwa, and serves as a home for groups living in voluntary isolation, such as the Tagaeri and Taromenane. Oil extraction has been a significant point of conflict within the park for decades. In August 2023, nearly 60 percent of Ecuadorian voters supported a national referendum to halt oil drilling in the Ishpingo, Tambococha, and Tiputini (ITT) oil block, also known as Block 43. The Constitutional Court of Ecuador subsequently ordered the government to shut down operations and remove infrastructure. As of mid-2025, the status of this mandate remains a subject of intense debate and legal action. While the government has initiated some well closures, reports indicate that oil extraction has continued in the ITT block. International human rights organizations and local groups have called for the government to fully respect the referendum results and expedite the complete closure of all oil wells within the protected area.