The Campaign to Save Yasuní and the Native Waorani - Yasuní Is Part of the Napo Moist Forest Region of the Amazon in Ecuador and Peru   ·   Save The World's Forests
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        YASUNÍ RAINFOREST CAMPAIGN

Yasuni - The Most Biodiverse Forest on Earth

Yasuni Rainforest Campaign works with the Waorani people, scientists, non-profit environmental and human rights groups in Ecuador, the U.S. and around the world, and lawyers, in order to protect the biodiversity of Yasuní and the rights and culture of the indigneous people who live there.

We have scored major victories against the oil companies, and are leading the fight to turn the tide of history for ecologically sustainable future for this region and its people. Working with the world's leading scientists, including Jane Goodall and E.O. Wilson, local and international NGO's and the native Waorani, Save America's Forests stopped the giant Brazilian oil company Petrobras from building an oil road into Yasuní. Working in 2006 with the Waorani, we also got the Ecuadorian government to draw the boundary of the "no extraction zone" (Zona Intangible) to include major oil deposits in the southern portion of Yasuní. This prevents these oil deposits from being developed, and will protect the forest and the indigenous people in this area of Yasuní. Now we are working to stop illegal logging and new oil projects by Petrobras, Sinopec, Andes Petroleum, and other threats to Yasuni and the Waorani.

BIODIVERSITY: The most biologically diverse forest in the world, which means the most species of plants and animals, including insects, birds, trees, plants, amphibians, mammals, and more. Look at our slide shows and the sections on biodiversity and science to learn more about this extraordinary rainforest region of the western Amazon.

WAORANI: The Waorani are hunter-gatherers who have lived in harmony with the natural Amazon habitat for at least five centuries. They are famed throughout the world for their use of spears and poison blowguns in their successful defense of Yasuní Rainforest, which is their ancestral territory. Using their skills as hunters and warriors, they lived richly in the world's most biologically diverse forest without harming it. Until oil and missionaries penetrated Yasuní 30 years ago, they kept the destructive and exploitive industrial world out, and the extraordinary biodiversity of Yasuní remained intact. Then, 40 years ago, the Waorani were moved aside and the oil companie's destruction and pollution of Yasuní began.

Read how the Waorani are now once again fighting successfully to reclaim their rights and rid their region of oil companies and other exploiters and destroyers of the Yasuní rainforest.

LOCATION: Yasuní is in the eastern-most area of Ecuador, on the equator, where the Andes mountains ends, and the western-most portion of the Amazon where the Amazon begins. About the size of Massachusetts, the Yasuní region includes Yasuní National Park, the Waorani Territory, and are that was deforested and polluted Texaco decades ago. See our maps and slide shows. Directly to the east of Yasuní, across the border with Peru. the forest continues, but is known as the Napo Tigre. It is virutally the same forest type, with the same record breaking biodiversity. Together, Yasuni and the Napo Tigre comprise the Napo Moist Forest Region. Save America's Forests is working to with indigenous people, NGOs, and scientists to protect all of the Napo Moist Forest Region.

OIL: Blessed with the greatest biodiversity in the world, the western Amazon, where Yasuní is found, is also cursed with vast deposits of oil and gas underground. Oil extraction from Yasuní started a few decades ago by Texaco, followed by many other foreign oil companies. It has caused massive pollution of the land and rivers, deforestation, and disease and deaths in thousands of inhabitants poisoned by the toxic water seeping into the Amazon rivers, and by the polluted fish and animals which they eat.

SCIENCE: Working with the world's leading scientists, Save America's Forests has delivered scientific reports and letters to the Ecuadorian Government and the press describing the extraordinary ecology of Yasuní. Our efforts have helped create major media coverage in Ecuador and the United States, and brought worldwide attention and support for protecting Yasuní and the Waorani and other indigenous people of the region

ADVOCACY: Save America's Forests has arranged meetings with Waorani leaders and the International Monetary Fund, the U.S. Congress, and the United Nations. We have help arrange and attended many meetings between the Waorani and the various departments of the government of Ecuador. Working with the world's leading scientists, Save America's Forests has delivered scientific reports and letters to the Ecuadorian Government and the press describing the extraordinary ecology of Yasuní. Our efforts have helped create major media coverage in Ecuador and the United States.



Dr. Jane Goodall

JANE GOODALL LECTURE!
ONLINE STREAMING VIDEO            
Hear Audio, Play Video >>

Dr. Jane Goodall

Forests, chimpanzees and wild ecosystems.


R
ead a transcript, see photos
of
Dr. Goodall's lecture and others
speaking at the Senate press conference.

Dr. Goodall has worked with Save America's Forests for over 10 years, recently signing letters on behalf of protecting Yasuni.

Here she attended a press conference in the U.S. Senate on behalf of Save America's Forests national forest legislation. In this online streaming video, Dr. Goodall speaks briefly first about our national forests, then she speaks for over 1/2 hour about her experiences with chimpanzees in Gombe, worldwide deforestation, and the Jane Goodall Institute programs to help restore forests and educate humans.

New
Edward O. Wilson
Section


• E.O. Wilson Biography


E.O. Wilson gives Biodiversity Slide Show in U.S. Senate

E.O. Wilson radio interview, streaming audio, transcript

Read Letters to Protect U.S., International Forests signed by E.O. Wilson, Jane Goodall, others



Please Help Us so we can continue our work with the Waorani to protect their rights, their culture, the unique biodiversity of their ancestral lands
s. Donate to the Yasuni Rainforest Campaign Here.

 


WAORANI HANDICRAFTS


Waorani Woven Bag
Handmade Waorani Bag


Waorani Woven Bag
Handmade Waorani Bag


               

         Save America's Forests
is supporting the Waorani women of the Ecuadorian Amazon in YASUNÍ (AMWAE).

We are helping them to achieve ecologically sustainable incomes by donating money for handicraft education and by purchasing the handicrafts from the women. Below are samples of their work. You can obtain these Waorani handcrafts. Contact Save America's Forests to find out how.


Save America's Forests former intern Emily models beautiful hand-made Waorani artisanry - a woven necklace and one made from nut shells, two woven and beaded bracelets, and a shoulder bag.


You can obtain these Waorani handicrafts, and in doing so, support their goal to become economically independent and enable them to protect Yasuni from the oil companies and loggers. Learn more >>>>

Waorani Women Weaving Handicrafts
Waorani Women artisans create unique hand-made crafts, including bags, necklaces, and bracelets. Learn more about Waorani handicrafts in our new Waorani Handicraft section. >>>>

Waorani Women Weaving Handicrafts.
Save America's Forests funded an AMWAE workshop for Waorani Women artisans to learn to use their weaving skills to create hand-made, unique handicraft for an international market. Read about the Waorani craftmakers and their work>>>>>>>

Waorani Women Weaving
Waorani Women artisans create hand-made, unique handicrafts.

 


 

         Save America's Forests
        
is supporting the Waorani women of the Ecuadorian Amazon in YASUNÍ achieve ecologically sustainable incomes by donating money for handicraft education and by purchasing the handicrafts from the women. Below are samples of their work. You can obtain these Waorani handcrafts. Contact Save America's Forests to find out how.

Waorani Women Weaving LEARN HOW YOU CAN OBTAIN HANDICRAFTS
made by these Waorani Women artisans, help the Waorani build an ecologically sustainablea economy, and help them to protect their ancestral territory from destruction by oil companies, loggers and threats to Yasuni. Read more >>>>

Waorani Bag
Waorani Hand Woven Small Bag


Waorani Woven Belt
Waorani Hand Woven Belt


Waorani Woven Bracelet
Waorani Hand Woven Bracelet


Waorani Woven Bracelet
Waorani Hand Woven Bracelet


Waorani Woven Necklace
Waorani Hand Woven Necklace


Waorani Woven Necklace
Waorani Hand Woven Necklace


Waorani Woven Necklace
Waorani Hand Woven Necklace


Waorani Woven Necklace
Waorani Hand Woven Necklace



Yasuni Indigenous Waorani

Save America's Forests works with the Indigenous peoples, NGOs and scientists to protect the biodiversity of Yasuni and other forests in the Napo Moist Forest Region, the rights of the Waorani and other indigenous peoples, and to prevent harm to the uncontacted Taromenane and Tagaeri tribes who live within the borders of the Yasuní region of the Amazon. Here is a picture of one the most famous Waorani leaders, Moi Enomenga, center, featured in "Savages", with his mom and dad.



Yasuni Indigenous Waorani
                                                      Photo ©Save America's Forests
Moi with his father holding a Waorani spear. Moi's father led half of the Waorani to escape from confinement on a controlled reservation and to live a more traditional hunting and gathering life many years ago, as chronicled in the book "Savages".


Yasuni Indigenous Waorani

                                                      Photo ©Save America's Forests
Mother of Moi Enomenga, wearing traditional Waorani ear decoration.


Yasuni Waorani Territory
                                                     Photo ©Save America's Forests
Save America's Forests Staff Scientist Dr. Matt Finer enters designated Waorani Territory for the first time in 2005 with Waorani guide and famous sign in background (Territorio Huaorani).


 


TAKE THE ADVENTURE TRIP OF YOUR LIFE
Help the Waorani build a new era of
ecologically sustainable development.
TRAVEL TO YASUNI- Visit a Waorani Village!!
See Yasuni the way the indigneous people who live there see it!
The Waorani will be your ECO-TOUR travel guides
! f
CONTACT SAVE AMERICA'S FORESTS for more information.

e...

Mous rests! Read the story behind the picture!



Harpy Eagle Yasuni AmazonABO
HARPY EAGLE
the largest bird of prey in the world.




Blue and Yellow Macaw Amazon
BLUE AND YELLOW MACAW \


 

Bush Dog Yasuni Amazon
BUSH DOG


BIODIVERSITY MAP SECTION
Amazing New Biodiversity Maps

Scientific organizations are mapping diversity for species all over the world - Yasuni is in the heart of the most biodiverse portion of the Amazon, the
NAPO MOIST FOREST REGION, located in the Western Amazon . Below is a map of Amphibian Diversity, from a recent report "Disappearing Jewels: The Status of New World Amphibians", courtesy of Natureserve.

Yasuni Diversity Map Amphibian
DIVERSITY MAP OF AMPHIBIANS IN SOUTH AMERICA
Click here to see this map enlarged with an explanation, & maps of other
species diversity, all showing Yasuní, as part of the
NAPO MOIST FOREST REGION, with the world's peak biodiversity
.

 



 1 - INTRODUCTION TO YASUNÍ


 2 - WAORANI-INDIGENOUS        HUNTER/GATHERERS OF YASUNI

 4 - THE "UNTOUCHABLE ZONE" - ZONA        INTANGIBLE - CREATED IN THE        SOUTHERN PORTION OF YASUNÍ TO        PROTECT ECUADOR'S LAST        UNCONTACTED INDIGENOUS GROUPS, THE        TAROMENANE AND TAGAERI, (Relatives of        the Waorani)

 


 

"ITT" Area of Yasuni

ITT Yasuni

                      Photo by Matt Finer ©Save America's Forests
"ITT", acronym for the Ishpingo, Tiputini and Tambococha rivers, is one of the last remaining largely pristine regions of Yasuni, the most biologically diverse place on Earth. The Ecuadorian government has estimated there are nearly a billion barrels of oil underground in ITT, but drilling the oil will destroy this area as other areas of Yasuni have previously been destroyed. The government has offered not to drill here in ITT and to leave the area untouched if the developed world will give financial compensation to Ecuador for keeping the oil undeveloped. "Uncontacted" relatives of the Waorani, the Taromenane and Tagaeiri, are known to live in this region. Therefore, drilling for oil here would not only destroy the biodiversity but would be a threat to the survival - genocide - of some of the last free, independent indigenous peoples in the world. Read more about Ecuador's "ITT" offer here.

WHERE IS YASUNÍ?Map of Yasuni, Waorani Territory, Oil Blocks

UP TO DATE MAPS OF YASUNÍ, INCLUDING
OIL BLOCKS AND WAORANI TERRITORY


OIL POLLUTION HARMS YASUNÍ AND
THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO LIVE THERE

Oil Pipelines Along Roads Yasuni Amazon
                     Photo by Carl Ross ©Save America's Forests
Oil wells pockmark the Amazon jungle throughout Yasuní. Each well has a small road and a pipeline that carries the oil to a major road. The pipelines then snake along the major roads until spaghetti-like, they pile into a major oil processing facility that treats the oil for export. This road is the "via Auca", the road from Coca to Tiguino


Oil Collection Facility Yasuni Amazon
                     Photo by Carl Ross ©Save America's Forests
Massive oil facilities scar the Amazon in the Waorani territory and Yasuní National Park. Oil pipelines from oil wells scattered throughout this area of Yasuní converge into the oil collectino falicity which is located on the "via Auca", halfway between Coca, the Amazon oil services city, and Tiguino, the small Waorani community in the deep in the forest, right across the river from a Petrobell oil facility. The Waorani community of Tiguino gets its name from the Tiguino river, which funnels oil pollution downstream to the Amazon River.


Oil Facility Fire Pollution Yasuni Amazon
                     Photo by Carl Ross ©Save America's Forests
Deforestation, and air and water pollution in Yasuní are the result of oil exploration and development in the Amazon. This facility is on the "Via Auca", the road from Coca to Tiguino.


Oil Waste Pond Yasuni Amazon
                                                 Photo ©Elizabeth Saul
What you are looking at is NOT a pool of water - it is a pool of WASTE OIL dumped in the forest - in the middle of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Yasuni is covered with hundreds of these poisonous oil "lakes". These oil dumps are by-producets of drilling and refining practices that have polluted vast areas of land and water in Yasuni and are causing diseases and fatalities amongst the indigenous people and poor settlers who live nearby. The forest dwellers drink the polluted water and swim in the polluted rivers. The animals and plants they eat are poisoned by it, and now there is an epidemic of cancer and other diseases in the polluted areas of Yasuní.


Tiguino River Oil Pollution in the Amazon
                     Photo by Carl Ross ©Save America's Forests

Waorani swim in the Tiguino River, next to the Waorani village of Tiguino and near a Petrobell oil facility. It is within sight of the polluted waste oil field pictured above that leaches pollution into the river.

st Fire In es

 

NEWS - ISSUES
and ARCHIVES

 

BELOW are selected major issues
and news events, both current and past.

Our
NEWS AND ARCHIVE PAGE lists Yasuní news articles since 2004, listed in chronological order.

MAJOR TOPICS

PETROBRAS

Our fight to stop the Petrobras Road was the beginning of our work to protect Yasuni in 2004. WE SUCCEEDED. The Petrobras Road WILL NOT BE BUILT into Yasuní National Park. Read the latest news on Petrobras' (Brazil's state oil company) new efforts to construct oil drilling and production facilities in Yasuní National Park (but without the road), and our fight to stop them.


"ITT" PROPOSAL
The Ecuadorian Government's historic proposal to leave the eastern-most portion of Yasuni, the "ITT" area, untouched, which would leave 1 Billion Barrels of Oil Underground and that area of Yasuni undisturbed

ILLEGAL LOGGING
Save America's Forests has taken unprecendented steps to END ILLEGAL LOGGING in YASUNI! WE ARE SUCCEEDING - MOST LOGGING CAMPS ARE GONE! Read the latest news about our work with the Waorani, the government of Ecuador, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

UNTOUCHABLE ZONE
"ZONA INTANGIBLE" Uncontacted, Isolated Tribes
The government of Ecuador created a huge zone in the southern portion of Yasuni to protect some of the last uncontacted tribes in the Amazon, the Taromenane and Tagaeri. These are relatives of the Waorani who never were "settled", never learned Spanish, and continue to live as hunter-gatherers, wihtout any modern technology, as they have since time immemorial! Save America's Forests was instrumental in helping enlarge this area, the "Zona Intangible", and protecting the Taromenane and Tagaeri from illegal loggers and oil companies.

WAORANI WOMEN'S HANDICRAFTS
Save America's Forests is helping the Waorani distribute and earn income from selling their beautiful necklaces, bracelets and handbags. You can obtain one or more of these items, and help the Waorani gain economic independence from the oil companies. See pictures of the Waorani handicrafts, and read more about them.


JANUARY 2006
NEW MOVIE ABOUT WAORANI AND YASUNI
A new movie about the first contact of Waorani (Huaorani, Waodani) with Americans in Yasuní, "End of the Spear", has nationwide commercial release. It is a dramatized version of historical events. >>> Read important information and reviews of this movie.


JULY 2005
WAORANI ROCK ECUADOR -
REJECT PETROBRAS PROJECT
Protest and March in Quito, Capital of Ecuador, by hundreds of Waorani and supporters. Waorani meet with and present demands to Government
WAORANI DEMAND OIL MORATORIUM
Ecuador Appoints Commission to Weigh Future of Yasuni and Petrobras Project >>>Read More





 

 Savages Moi Enomenga Joe Kane

A Picture of MOI ENOMENGA, the world-famous Waorani leader on the cover of the 1990s New York Times bestselling book "Savages" by Joe Kane. Moi is the main protagonist and all-around anti-oil super-hero in Kane's book. Moi led the Waorani efforts to stop the Maxus oil company from building a new oil road and oil facilities in a pristine area of Yasuní. Unfortunately, his efforts were not able to stop Maxus from constructing the Maxus Road, and oil facilities are now polluting Yasuní. Save America's Forests is working with Moi and other Waorani leaders to protect Yasuní from Petrobras or any other new oil projects being constructed in Yasuní


Moi Enomenga Ceiba tree Yasuni AmazonMOI ENOMENGA, leading the Save America's Forests expedition in Yasuní in 2006, poses in front of a giant Ceiba tree in the forest along the Tiguino River.


Carl Ross, Moi Enomenga, Waorani Women, Yasuni

MOI with Save America's Forests Director Carl Ross in Yasuni.


 

Yasuni Rainforest Campaign - Save America's Forests Save America's Forests Night Monkey Waorani

 

 

YASUNÍ
RAINFOREST CAMPAIGN

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