LAUSR

Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park and Biosphere Reserve is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world; it is home to numerous species of wildlife, indigenous communities, and approximately $7.6 billion of crude oil. Oil extraction has led to patterns of environmental and social damage, situating the government of Ecuador between their responsibilities to uphold indigenous rights and preserve the environment while advancing the nation’s economy. The field of conflict resolution offers applicable strategies to the issues facing this dilemma. However, these strategies have been sparsely used thus far. We suggest that the implementation of forums, workshops, and grievance mechanisms will improve communication between stakeholders and build trust that could alleviate the conflicts in the Yasuni.