Location: Napo and Pastaza Provinces Map
Area: 9,820 km2
Yasuní National Park (Parque Nacional Yasuní) is one of the most biodiverse protected areas on Earth, located in the Ecuadorian Amazon and spanning approximately 10,227 square kilometers (3,949 square miles) across the Orellana and Pastaza provinces. Established on July 26, 1979, it was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1989, encompassing not only the national park but also the adjacent Waorani Ethnic Reserve and untitled lands inhabited by uncontacted Indigenous groups like the Tagaeri and Taromenane. The park lies within the ancestral territory of the Waorani (Huaorani) people and is renowned for its role as a convergence point of the Amazon rainforest, the Andes, and the equator, fostering extraordinary species richness. It protects a vast expanse of primary rainforest, blackwater rivers, and wetlands, while also sitting atop significant oil reserves, leading to ongoing conflicts between conservation and extraction interests. Yasuní breaks world records for local-scale biodiversity, with one hectare containing more tree species than all of North America, and it serves as a critical carbon sink and water regulator for the Amazon basin. As of August 2025, the park remains a focal point for global conservation debates, particularly following a 2023 referendum to halt oil drilling, which the Ecuadorian government has been slow to implement.
Yasuní National Park is positioned in the western
Amazon basin at approximately 1°5′S 75°55′W, about 250 kilometers (155
miles) southeast of Quito, between the Napo and Curaray Rivers. It forms
part of the Napo moist forests ecoregion, characterized by undulating
terrain with elevations ranging from 190 to 300 meters (623 to 984 feet)
above sea level. The landscape includes slow-moving blackwater rivers
(igapós) high in tannins, oxbow lakes, flooded forests (várzea), and
upland terra firme forests. Key geographical features are the Tiputini
River, which serves as a boundary and research corridor, and the park's
integration with the larger Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, covering 16,820
square kilometers (6,494 square miles). The geology is dominated by
sedimentary deposits from the Amazon basin, with nutrient-poor soils
supporting hyper-diverse vegetation through seasonal flooding.
The
climate is tropical rainforest, with consistently high humidity (80–95%)
and temperatures averaging 24–27°C (75–81°F) year-round, with minimal
seasonal variation. Annual rainfall exceeds 3,200 millimeters (126
inches), distributed evenly but with slight peaks from April to July.
This wet, warm environment fosters rapid nutrient cycling and supports
the park's biodiversity, but it also leads to frequent flooding and
challenges for access. Climate change is altering patterns, with
projections of increased droughts potentially impacting water levels and
species distributions.
Yasuní's history is intertwined with Indigenous
peoples, particularly the Waorani, who have inhabited the region for
centuries, viewing the forest as a living entity integral to their
culture. Archaeological evidence suggests human presence dating back
thousands of years, with the Waorani maintaining semi-nomadic lifestyles
until mid-20th-century contact. European exploration began in the 16th
century, but intensive interest arose in the 20th century with oil
discoveries. The park was established in 1979 as Ecuador's largest
protected area to counter deforestation and hunting pressures. In 1989,
it was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, incorporating the Waorani
Ethnic Reserve created in 1990 to protect uncontacted groups.
The
21st century brought the Yasuní-ITT Initiative (2007–2013), proposed by
President Rafael Correa, which sought international funding to leave oil
untapped in the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini (ITT) block, aiming to
avoid 407 million tons of CO2 emissions. The initiative failed due to
insufficient pledges ($336 million of $3.6 billion goal), leading to
drilling approval in 2013. Oil extraction began in 2016 under Correa and
expanded under Lenín Moreno in 2019. A landmark 2023 referendum, with
59% approval, mandated halting operations in Block 43-ITT, a decision
upheld by the Constitutional Court but delayed by President Daniel
Noboa's administration as of August 2025. The park has also been
affected by Ecuador's armed conflict history, serving as a refuge for
groups until the 2016 peace processes.
Yasuní is globally renowned for its biodiversity,
holding world records for species richness at local scales. It boasts
over 4,000 vascular plant species per 10,000 square kilometers, with one
hectare containing up to 655 tree species—more than the entire United
States and Canada combined. Endemic plants include unique orchids and
palms, while the forest structure features emergent trees like kapok
(Ceiba pentandra) and diverse understories.
Fauna is equally
extraordinary: 596 bird species (one-third of Amazonian avifauna),
including harpy eagles (Harpia harpyja) and macaws; 204 mammal species,
such as jaguars (Panthera onca), giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis),
and 10 primate species like woolly monkeys; 150 amphibian and 121
reptile species, with high cryptic diversity; and an estimated 100,000
insect species per hectare. Fish diversity reaches 500 species in
blackwater rivers. The park hosts 43 endemic vertebrates and 220–720
endemic plants, with exceptional amphibian (150 species) and bat
diversity. This hyper-diversity arises from its equatorial location,
stable climate, and habitat mosaic, making it a "biodiversity refugium"
during past climatic shifts.
As an IUCN Category II national park and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Yasuní is managed by Ecuador's Ministry of Environment (MAE) under SNAP, focusing on biodiversity protection and sustainable use. Conservation efforts include the Yasuní-ITT Initiative's legacy, ongoing monitoring of uncontacted peoples, and collaborations with NGOs like WWF and WCS for anti-poaching and habitat restoration. The 2023 referendum victory led to plans for progressive oil well closure, with Petroecuador beginning dismantling in August 2024, though delays persist. Indigenous-led patrols and biological corridors, like the Cuyabeno-Yasuní Connectivity Corridor recognized in May 2025, enhance connectivity. Community programs involve Waorani in ecotourism and research, while rewilding projects, such as Wilder Yasuní by Mossy Earth, restore deforested edges. The park's status is "milestone" for global conservation, but enforcement gaps remain a challenge.
Yasuní's primary threat is oil extraction, with the ITT block holding 1.7 billion barrels (40% of Ecuador's reserves). Despite the 2023 referendum banning drilling in Block 43, the government has delayed closure, continuing operations as of August 2025, defying the Constitutional Court's one-year deadline. This risks deforestation, pollution, and cultural disruption for uncontacted groups. Other challenges include illegal logging, mining, colonization, and overhunting, fragmenting habitats. Climate change amplifies droughts and fires, while armed conflicts historically limited access. Socioeconomic issues, like poverty among Waorani, drive unsustainable practices. A proposed 2025 privatization bill threatens protected status, potentially violating Indigenous rights.
Tourism in Yasuní focuses on low-impact ecotourism, attracting visitors for wildlife viewing, birdwatching, and cultural experiences. Popular activities include guided canoe trips on blackwater rivers, hikes in terra firme forests, and visits to Waorani communities for ethnobotanical tours. Lodges like Napo Wildlife Center offer luxury stays with canopy towers for spotting monkeys and birds. The park is accessible via flights to Coca (Francisco de Orellana), followed by boat transfers (2–3 hours) to entry points. Permits are required (~USD 10–20), with guided tours mandatory for safety. Whale watching is absent, but river dolphin sightings are common. Best visited in the dry season (December–March) for easier navigation; costs range from USD 300–600 per day for all-inclusive packages. Community-led tourism supports Waorani economies while promoting conservation awareness.
Yasuní is a global research powerhouse, hosting stations like the Yasuní Research Station (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador) and the Tiputini Biodiversity Station (Universidad San Francisco de Quito). The 50-hectare Forest Dynamics Plot, established in 1995, monitors tree diversity and dynamics, contributing to Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute data. Studies reveal cryptic species and endemism, informing global biodiversity metrics. Research on oil impacts, such as a 2020 study on ecological legacies, highlights deforestation effects. The park's role in climate science includes carbon sequestration analyses, with rewilding projects testing scalable interventions. Collaborations with Aarhus University and others produce publications on amphibians, bats, and Indigenous knowledge, aiding policy for Amazon conservation.
As of August 2025, Yasuní remains embroiled in oil controversies. On August 20, 2024—one year after the 2023 referendum mandating a halt to drilling in Block 43—the government began symbolic well closures, but Human Rights Watch reported on August 20, 2025, that officials are ignoring the mandate, with ~240 wells still operating. Indigenous Waorani leaders protested in Quito on August 21, 2025, demanding compliance, while UN experts urged enforcement to protect biodiversity. In May 2025, the Cuyabeno-Yasuní Connectivity Corridor was recognized, enhancing protection through provincial collaboration. A July 2025 bill proposing protected area privatization sparked outrage, potentially violating rights. No major environmental disasters occurred in 2024–2025, but studies emphasized Yasuní's role in climate victories amid delays.