The Upper Amazon Basin - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 339

is available throughout the park but requires a heavy investment and
arrangements with local guides.
Oil Development & Conservation
Oil exploration itself is not always what harms places like
Yasuní National Park. Although dozens of oil spills inEcua-
dor's Oriente have poisoned enough rainforest and indige-
nous communities to make the Exxon Valdez spill look like
a drop in the bucket, there are other forces at work. Most of-
ten, it is the deluge of colonization accompanying oil indus-
try roads that hurts most. Where there is colonization, the
rainforest and native communities suffer.
Yasuní, fortunately, has managed to avoid this seemingly
inevitable end (though several international oil companies
are nowexploiting the reserve). The reason? The roads have
not been built - yet. Although petroleum exploration and
extraction are occurring in Yasuní, alternative forms of de-
velopment that minimize the use of roads are in progress as
well. This is largely the result of hard work and pressure
from international science, conservation and cultural orga-
nizations, as well as native resistence.
The lack of roads makes it much more difficult for travelers
to visit the park. Yasuní is one of the most natural areas in
the world. Whether it remains this way depends on the ac-
tions of energetic special-interest groups and perhaps a bit
on you. To find out more about visiting and how to help, con-
tact representatives from the Tiputini Biodiversity Re-
searchStation , [e-mail] or [e-mail].
Supporting international organizations fromhome, such as
Rainforest Action Network or The Nature Conservancy,
can help as well. These groups voice your opinion and can
pressure oil companies and governments to act responsibly.
The other way to exert a positive influence is by being con-
scientious consumers. As automobile drivers, we encourage
the force that has destroyed the rainforest and many lives.
We need to realize the effects of our actions. Simple options
may be to drive a more fuel-efficient car, support responsi-
ble transportation policies and infrastructure, or to use
public transport where possible. All of these are very small
steps. By changing our habits and creating an example, as
well as researching the companies affecting these areas,
and voicing our opinion, we can have a positive impact.