Portrait of the Huarani leaders The tribe elders take on the crucial responsibility of safeguarding the tribe and its ancestral environment against external threats, including oil exploitation and cultural colonization. With unwavering dedication, they tirelessly work towards keeping these dangers at bay, ensuring that the tribe and its rich traditions will flourish for many years. The Yasuní Biosphere Reserve is located in the upper Amazon basin. The Yasuni Biosphere Reserve is one of the areas with the most extraordinary biodiversity per square meter on the planet. 99.73% of the biosphere reserve consists of original natural vegetation. For many years, Yasuní National Park has been undergoing radical change. Exploration of the region's oil reserves has threatened many native species and habitats, as well as the lifestyle of the Indigenous Huaorani people. On August 20th, the Ecuadorians voted in a historic referendum to halt the development of all new oil wells in the Yasuní National Park in the Amazon, bringing hope to preserving the unique culture of Huaorani and their ancestral home- Yasuní.