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Amazon Headwaters

Gate-keepers of the Yasuní National Park & UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Gate-keepers of the Yasuní National Park & UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Jorge Rivadenyra, elder of the Añangu lowland Quichua community and chief guide for their Napo Wildlife Center ecotourism operation, paddles his dugout canoe back to the tourist lodge one evening.



Their 82 square-mile communal reserve is a critical part of the Yasuní National Park & UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Amazonian Ecuador. The area was recently found to be the most biologically diverse location in the Amazon basin for mammals, fish and birds.

Operating tourism on only a small portion of their reserve, the Añangu community are proactive conservationists. By patrolling land beyond their community, they augment the surveillance of an under-staffed National Park Service. In addition, the Añangu community is the only tourism operation working in Yasuní National Park that has regularly collected tourist entrance permit fees and transferred them to the park service.

Laguna Añangucocha, Yasuni National Park and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Napo province, Amazonian Ecuador.

Images from the documentary project promoting the conservation work of local and indigenous communities, women and youth in the upper Amazon basin. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) The Flooded Forest River conservation Theme: Interconnectedness Sustainable Contact with Indigenous Communities Local scientists documenting one of the most biologically diverse places on earth Sleeping beauty of the rainforest Ecuadorian child inspired by her local rainforest Lowland Quichua at the cutting edge Lowland Quichua home Natural smiles Hats off to rainforest conservation Plants and people Diversity in art Baby Armadillo The Añangu lowland Quichua: Conservation Role Models Comunidad Capirona: Leaders in Rainforest Management Leading by Example River conservation in the upper Amazon Looking to the future in the rainforest Gate-keepers of the Yasuní National Park & UNESCO Biosphere Reserve