Although the dry forest region of Ecuador has been reduced to a despairing 1% of its original coverage, the area that is left is beautiful and effervescent. It ranges from the Esmeraldas province of Northern Ecuador to the Golfo de Guayaquil and is speckled along the outside of these areas for a total of 8,200 square miles. While that may sound like a lot, it is indeed very little. With a yearly rainfall averages ranging from 300-1500mm, the flora and fauna here have several unique adaptations allowing them to live in regions of such great variation.
The dry forests of Ecuador boast flora such as laurel, cedar, barbasco and many more, 19% of which are endemic. It is known for its unique avifauna, 30% of which are endemic and include the Pale-headed brush Finch, the Rufous-headed Chachalaca, and the Violet-bellied Hummingbird. Its primary threats are deforestation, primarily for agriculture, and excessive grazing. Below on the left is a picture of a healthy dry forest (Figure 1), on the right is one that has been deforested (Figure 2).
The dry forests of Ecuador boast flora such as laurel, cedar, barbasco and many more, 19% of which are endemic. It is known for its unique avifauna, 30% of which are endemic and include the Pale-headed brush Finch, the Rufous-headed Chachalaca, and the Violet-bellied Hummingbird. Its primary threats are deforestation, primarily for agriculture, and excessive grazing. Below on the left is a picture of a healthy dry forest (Figure 1), on the right is one that has been deforested (Figure 2).
Sources:
- http://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/nt0214
- Fig. 1 Zapater, Valenti. Ecuadorian Dry Forest in Machalilla National Park (Manabi, Ecuador). N.d. 2010. Shan Valenti Zapater. Web. 1 Dec. 2016.
- Fig. 2 http://tmalliance.org/projects/reforestation/