Yasuni National Forest turns to tourism to develop an economy away from oil
Last updated 10/1/2008 12:25:35 PM
Yasuni National Forest turns to tourism to develop an economy away from oil
In an effort to protect a national park rich with oil, the Ecuadorian government is turning to tourism and international aids for income.
The Yasuni National Forest is recognised by scientists as the zone with the highest biodiversity of the world.
Within one hectare of Yasuni, 644 different species of trees have been identified. There are as many different species in one hectare of Yasuni as there are in the whole of North America. The area has been declared a world biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
The park lies in the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini area. It is estimated that there are 900 million barrels of oil reserves in this area, which could potentially give the Ecuadorian government a net income of US$20 billion.
This biosphere reserve is also the territory of the indigenous Huaorani people and some tribes who live in voluntary isolation, described as "the last free human beings of Ecuador, true warriors who live in the so-called society of abundance, because they only produce the minimum to satisfy their own needs".