Alicia Cahuilla's Waorani tribe has lived on the edge of Ecuador's Yasuni National Park for thousands of years. But they're worried about new oil exploration in the area.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Alicia Cahuilla's Waorani tribe has lived on the edge of Ecuador's Yasuni National Park for thousands of years. But they're worried about new oil exploration in the area.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
The United Nations declared the Yasuni a World Biosphere Reserve in 1989. Within the park lies the Ishpingo, Tambococha, and Tiputini (ITT) area, home to one of the most intact sections remaining in the Amazon River Basin.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
The United Nations declared the Yasuni a World Biosphere Reserve in 1989. Within the park lies the Ishpingo, Tambococha, and Tiputini (ITT) area, home to one of the most intact sections remaining in the Amazon River Basin.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Since 2007 the Yasuni-ITT Initiative prevented oil companies from drilling in the ITT. But the government scrapped the deal last year amid fierce criticism from environment groups. Oil firms insist they are abiding by Ecuador's environmental laws.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Since 2007 the Yasuni-ITT Initiative prevented oil companies from drilling in the ITT. But the government scrapped the deal last year amid fierce criticism from environment groups. Oil firms insist they are abiding by Ecuador's environmental laws.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Noneno, the village Cahuilla's people call home, is wedged between two oil fields where the government is is trying to expand oil production.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Noneno, the village Cahuilla's people call home, is wedged between two oil fields where the government is is trying to expand oil production.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Cahuilla says: "We have the richness of the forest and the river. With this oil development, what kind of life is the government actually hoping to give its people?"
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Cahuilla says: "We have the richness of the forest and the river. With this oil development, what kind of life is the government actually hoping to give its people?"
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Llanchama is a tribal community of roughly 150 people spread out across land extending between the ITT and the adjacent oil Block 31 on the banks of the Tiputini river.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Llanchama is a tribal community of roughly 150 people spread out across land extending between the ITT and the adjacent oil Block 31 on the banks of the Tiputini river.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Like villages elsewhere, the majority of Llanchama's needs are still met directly from the land and water and are largely non-cash-based.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Like villages elsewhere, the majority of Llanchama's needs are still met directly from the land and water and are largely non-cash-based.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
While clearly impacted by the modern world -- there are the occasional televisions and radios -- the lifestyles of many native tribal communities who call the Yasuni home are not far removed from the traditions followed by their ancestors.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
While clearly impacted by the modern world -- there are the occasional televisions and radios -- the lifestyles of many native tribal communities who call the Yasuni home are not far removed from the traditions followed by their ancestors.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Villagers say the introduction of oil operations in the area the last few years has caused many changes, including the forced migration of animals.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Villagers say the introduction of oil operations in the area the last few years has caused many changes, including the forced migration of animals.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Oil analyst Antonia Juhasz says villagers' ways of life will change with greater frequency as oil activities intensify in Yasuni.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Oil analyst Antonia Juhasz says villagers' ways of life will change with greater frequency as oil activities intensify in Yasuni.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
In the forest behind the village of Yanu Yacu, not far beyond the small gathering of homes, a school, and small plots of farmland, stands an abandoned wellhead -- the skeletal remains of a previous era of oil exploration in Yasuni.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
In the forest behind the village of Yanu Yacu, not far beyond the small gathering of homes, a school, and small plots of farmland, stands an abandoned wellhead -- the skeletal remains of a previous era of oil exploration in Yasuni.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Llanchama, as seen from the waterway running through it. The waterways wending their way through Yasuni are a vital lifeline for villagers here.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Llanchama, as seen from the waterway running through it. The waterways wending their way through Yasuni are a vital lifeline for villagers here.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
The land provides for villagers throughout Yasuni -- but Yasuni is also perched atop Ecuador's largest deposits of untapped oil.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
The land provides for villagers throughout Yasuni -- but Yasuni is also perched atop Ecuador's largest deposits of untapped oil.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Ecuador's Napo region, including the Yasuni, is now one of the 14 major deforested areas in the world. Ecuador has the highest deforestation rate of any Latin American country, in part because oil is located so deep within the forest that extensive systems of roads must be built to reach it.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Ecuador's Napo region, including the Yasuni, is now one of the 14 major deforested areas in the world. Ecuador has the highest deforestation rate of any Latin American country, in part because oil is located so deep within the forest that extensive systems of roads must be built to reach it.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
The Napo River, which marks the entire northern edge of the Yasuni, is now a major industrial highway with a constant flow of giant barges carrying equipment to support oil operations into the forest.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
The Napo River, which marks the entire northern edge of the Yasuni, is now a major industrial highway with a constant flow of giant barges carrying equipment to support oil operations into the forest.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
In November Ecuador's highest court ruled that Chevron owes locally-impacted communities $9.51 billion for decades of substandard practices that severely polluted land and waterways, which villagers rely on for drinking water. Chevron has appealed the court judgment, saying it was the result of fraud and corruption and calling it "a manifest denial of justice."
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
In November Ecuador's highest court ruled that Chevron owes locally-impacted communities $9.51 billion for decades of substandard practices that severely polluted land and waterways, which villagers rely on for drinking water. Chevron has appealed the court judgment, saying it was the result of fraud and corruption and calling it "a manifest denial of justice."
ANTONIA JUHASZ
The teacher at this school in the village of Sani Isla says he believes oil exploration is to blame for what he says is an unusually high rate of children with special needs, mental and physical disorders.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
The teacher at this school in the village of Sani Isla says he believes oil exploration is to blame for what he says is an unusually high rate of children with special needs, mental and physical disorders.
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Dr. Matt Filner, a research biologist with the Amazon Conservation Association, says Yasuni "is about the only spot on earth where you get this maximum diversity for everything."
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Dr. Matt Filner, a research biologist with the Amazon Conservation Association, says Yasuni "is about the only spot on earth where you get this maximum diversity for everything."
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Waorani leader Alicia Cahuilla argues that regardless of how they're perceived, her people are not poor: "We have the richness of the forest and the river. We need for nothing."
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Waorani leader Alicia Cahuilla argues that regardless of how they're perceived, her people are not poor: "We have the richness of the forest and the river. We need for nothing."
ANTONIA JUHASZ
Ecuador currently gets about half its national revenue from oil. The president hopes to increase this figure in the next few years.
Yasuni villagers fear for way of life —
Ecuador currently gets about half its national revenue from oil. The president hopes to increase this figure in the next few years.
ANTONIA JUHASZ