The Yasuni National Park in Ecuador is considered by many to be the most biodiverse habitat in the world. It is home to at least 169 species of mammal, 20 of which are endangered, 150 species of amphibian, 121 types of reptiles, 382 fish species, 596 different kinds of bird, 100,000 types of insect and more types of tree per hectare than anywhere else on the planet. Some of this wonderful flora and fauna is captured in the remote camera footage above. However, the future conservation of this pristine Amazonian wilderness is endangered, as the Ecuadorian government has now reluctantly signed permits allowing oil drilling to begin below its rainforest from 2016.

This decision was not taken lightly, with two uncontacted tribes also residing in the biosphere reserve, and much public opposition to the plans. There had been a moratorium on any drilling in the reserve since June 2007, imposed by President Rafael Correa, who sought to protect his country’s rainforest for future generations. In return for keeping the oil in the ground, which amounted to over 20% of his country’s entire reserves, he expected the international community to compensate his ecological wisdom with $3.6 billion of donations over a twelve-year period. But of the $336 million pledged, only $13.3 million had been delivered according to the Ecuadorian government. Apathy towards the initiative grew out of an insistence from the government that only they were allowed to decide how this money would be spent.

Just before the permits were issued, in May of this year, a petition containing 850,000 signatures was submitted in a bid to prevent a green light being given for petrochemical work to begin, however, it was not ratified for referendum, after less than half the signatures were found to be genuine. The future now looks a lot bleaker for the Yasuni’s vast array of wildlife and the ancient indigenous tribes who inhabit the forests and rivers.