During the early 1990s, areas of the reserve and its buffer zone were included in a mineral surveying program called PRODEMINCA which was partially funded by the World Bank and aimed to support the development of extractive industries in Ecuador. This program has resulted in protests from communities living in the surveyed areas who are concerned that the publication of maps of mineral deposits will attract independent miners to the area.
During the early 1990s, portions of the reserve and buffer zone were incorporated into a mineral exploration initiative named PRODEMINCA, which was partially supported by the World Bank and intended to promote extractive industries in Ecuador. This project has led to objections from local communities who fear that the release of maps detailing mineral deposits will attract independent miners to the region.