Ecuador Delays Oil Drilling Halt in Amazon Despite Referendum

A year after voting to end oil extraction in Yasuni National Park, the government seeks a five-year extension to withdraw operations.

Ecuadorians voted to stop oil drilling in Yasuni National Park, one of the world's most biodiverse areas.
The government has not initiated the shutdown and is requesting a five-year extension to complete it.
Indigenous Waorani people and environmentalists express frustration over the lack of progress.
Oil industry revenue is crucial for Ecuador's economy, complicating the shutdown process.
Frequent oil spills in the Amazon have led to severe health issues for local communities.