Oil and gas leases cover quarter of ecuador’s territory, threatening amazon indigenous communities

A shocking new analysis reveals the extent of Ecuador’s oil and gas industry footprint across one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. According to data from the Stockholm Environment Institute, 65 active oil and gas lease blocks blanket an astounding 7 million hectares—equivalent to one-fourth of Ecuador’s entire territory. Most alarming is that 88% of these blocks are located within the Amazon rainforest, directly threatening Indigenous communities and critical ecosystems.

The data exposes a troubling pattern of overlap between extractive industries and protected lands. Researchers estimate that roughly 61% of oil and gas leases encroach upon Indigenous territories, affecting communities from the Secoya, Siona, Cofán, Kichwa, and Shuar nations. Even more concerning, 21% of these leases overlap with officially protected areas, including the renowned Yasuní National Park, where over 5.2 million Ecuadorians voted in a historic 2023 referendum to ban all oil drilling operations.

The environmental stakes couldn’t be higher. These lease blocks extend into wildlife reserves that serve as sanctuaries for endangered species like pink river dolphins and jaguars. The Cuyabeno-Imuya Intangible Zone, designated specifically to protect 11 Indigenous communities, faces particular pressure from oil operations. Environmental advocates warn that the toxic chemicals used in oil extraction pose severe risks to both human health and delicate Amazon ecosystems, creating a crisis that extends far beyond Ecuador’s borders to impact global climate and biodiversity conservation efforts.