Ecuadorians made a historic decision by rejecting oil extraction in Yasuni National Park, a biodiverse Amazonian region, in a referendum.
About Yasuni National Park
- Yasuni National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1989, covers 1 million hectares and is home to extraordinary biodiversity.
- It is located within the Amazon rainforest, which is a global hotspot for animal variety.
- It is located in the provinces of Napo and Pastaza in northeastern Ecuador.
- It has an area of about 9,820 square kilometres (3,791 square miles).
- The park is regarded as one of the most biologically varied locations on the planet.
Characteristics that are unique
- Yasuni is home to around 670 species of birds, over 150 species of amphibians, and several large mammals such as jaguars, pumas, and tapirs.
- Yasuni is home to various indigenous populations, including the Waorani and Kichwa peoples, who have lived in the area for generations and have a strong connection to the land.
Source: https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/lac/yasuni