Much of the oil exploration to date has occurred in the region of Costa Rica known as Talamanca. Talamanca is recognized as being one of the richest marine ecosystems on the planet, and its mountainous terrain and tropical vegetation are considered to be equally rich. Due to its biological significance, Talamanca is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Talamanca is also home to three indigenous community reserves, the Cahuita National Park, and a UN-designated wetlands site at the Jairo Mora Sandoval Gandoca-Manzanillo Mixed Wildlife Refuge. In total, 88% of the Talamanca region has some level of environmental protection.