Witnessing the Devastation of the Lago Agrio Oil Field

Part of an extended tour of the devastation of Texaco's Lago Agrio Oil Field in Equador's Northern Amazon. It was heartbreaking to see the physical damage to the natural world, as well as, four large pipes flaring gas about 100 meters from an Indigenous village. These pictures were taken at the flaring gas pipes.

Joining hands with my friend, Charles McNeill, Senior Advisor, Forests & Climate, UN Environment.

A smiling white-haired elder in a patterned shirt crouches beside a pit of black oil sludge cordoned off with yellow PELIGRO tape in the jungle.

A small group, including the white-haired elder, stands on muddy ground near large oil pipelines in the forest while others inspect the site and take photos.

Phil Lane Jr. and Charles McNeill hold hands and smile in front of an oil pit surrounded by yellow PELIGRO danger tape.

Tall flames burn from gas flaring pipes against a forested hillside, behind a fence near a dirt road and a parked motorcycle.