Stream running through the Ecuadorian rainforest

A small stream runs through heavy vegetation while sunlight filters through the dense canopy of trees.

Ecuador is commonly divided into three regions—the coast on the west, the Andes in the middle, the Amazon rainforest to the east. In fact, the rainforest area of Ecuador is commonly referred to as el Oriente, or "The East." This region of Ecuador is sparsely populated but also a popular destination for ecotourism. A major threat to this area is deforestation caused by logging companies and the ever-increasing search for oil. The roads and facilities built by oil companies are threatening the existence of the Ecuadorian rainforest.