BIODIVERSIDAD DEL ECUADOR

Ecuador's Biodiversity

This section provides an overview of Ecuador's biodiversity, highlighting its diverse ecosystems and rich wildlife.

Ecuador's Four Worlds

• Ecuador is the most compact megadiverse country in the world.

• It encompasses four distinct regions: the coastal region, the Andean highlands, the Amazon rainforest, and the Galapagos Islands.

• Each region is home to unique flora and fauna.

Flora and Fauna

• Ecuador has over 17,000 species of vascular plants with flowers.

• It is home to approximately 1,600 bird species, 350 reptile species, and 400 amphibian species.

• The Amazon basin alone has over 800 fish species and up to 70,000 insect species.

Manabí Province

• Manabí Province is located on the western coast of Ecuador.

• Its main activities include trade, livestock farming, industry, and fishing.

• The province is home to various endangered animals such as howler monkeys, guatusas (agoutis), guacharacas (chachalacas), sardines, mantas (mantas rays), armadillos, deer, parrots, and woodpeckers.

Protected Areas in Manabí

• The Machalilla National Park is a protected area that includes beaches and coastal areas like Salango and Isla de la Plata. It offers diverse flora and fauna including yellowwood trees and birds like pavas de monte (guans) and tucans.

• The Maché-Chindul Ecological Reserve protects humid forests in the Maché-Chindul mountain range. It features orchids, mahogany trees (caoba), palms like family las agua palm trees. Wildlife includes capuchin monkeys, jaguars (jaguars de kart), and white-tailed deer.

Coastal Wildlife Refuge

• The Coastal Marine Wildlife Refuge is named after the Pacoche Hills located in the Cape of San Lorenzo, south of Manta.

• It protects 5,045 hectares of terrestrial ecosystems and 8,500 hectares of coastal marine environments.

• The refuge is characterized by dry forests and semi-dry ecosystems. It is home to monkeys (aviador and capuchin), tigrillos (ocelots), armadillos, white-tailed deer, sloths, anteaters, and various bird species.

Marine Coastal Wildlife Refuge

• The Marine Coastal Wildlife Refuge includes Isla Corazón and Fragatas near the Tejón River estuary.

• It serves as a resting and breeding site for seabirds. Notable species include frigatebirds.

• The refuge features mangroves with diverse microorganisms, larger invertebrates like shells, crabs, shrimps, fish species such as corvina (croaker), pargo (snapper), robalo (bass), lista (mullet), and more than 100 bird species.

Maché-Chindul Ecological Reserve

• The Maché-Chindul Ecological Reserve protects humid forests surrounding the Maché-Chindul mountain range on Ecuador's coast.

• It encompasses the Cube Lagoon, which was declared an internationally important wetland in 2001.

• The reserve boasts a variety of orchids and trees such as chanul trees. Wildlife includes monkeys (aviador and capuchin) as well as tigrillos (ocelots).

Cojimíes Wildlife Refuge

This section focuses on the Cojimíes Wildlife Refuge located near Bahía de Caráquez and San Vicente in Manabí Province.

Cojimíes Wildlife Refuge

• The Cojimíes Wildlife Refuge is named after the Cojimíes Hills, situated near the mouth of the Tejón River.

• It covers an area of 5,045 hectares of terrestrial ecosystems and 8,500 hectares of coastal marine environments.

• The refuge features dry forests and semi-dry ecosystems dominated by trees like charla portillo, molinillo, para los santos, and various animal species including monkeys (aviador and capuchin), tigrillos (ocelots), armadillos, white-tailed deer, squirrels, sloths, and anteaters.

Marine Coastal Environments

• The refuge's coastal marine environments are home to a diverse range of fish species such as corvina de roca (rock croaker), camotillo (grouper), perla (pearl mullet), serna (sergeant major fish), tierra (grunt fish).

• Other inhabitants include invertebrates like shells, snails, shrimps, crabs as well as over 100 bird species.

Isla Corazón and Fragatas

This section highlights Isla Corazón and Fragatas located near Bahía de Caráquez and San Vicente in Manabí Province.

Isla Corazón

• Isla Corazón is situated near the mouth of the Tejón River.

• It is part of the Marine Coastal Wildlife Refuge.

• The island protects the remaining mangrove forests in this estuary.

• It serves as a resting and breeding site for seabirds.

Fragatas

• Fragatas refers to a colony of frigatebirds that inhabit Isla Corazón.

• Due to its proximity and accessibility, it has become a popular recreational site.

• The refuge is home to various mangrove tree species, including white, black, and red mangroves.

• The area supports a diverse range of fauna, including microscopic organisms, larger invertebrates like shells, snails, shrimps, crabs, as well as a variety of fish species such as sierra (mackerel), corvina (croaker), pargo (snapper), robalo (bass), and lista (mullet).

Machalilla National Park

This section focuses on the Machalilla National Park located in Manabí Province.

Machalilla National Park

• Machalilla National Park is one of the protected areas in Manabí Province.

• It includes coastal areas like Salango and Isla de la Plata.

• The park offers diverse flora and fauna with trees like amarillo palo de ajo and hipertensa nos pilló blanco.

• Bird species

New Section

This section discusses the different cultures in Manabí, Ecuador, including the Montubios and Cholo Pescador.

Montubios Culture

• The Montubios are known for their unique way of speaking and their love for cockfighting, horse taming, music, and magical oral traditions like amorfinos.

• They are skilled guitar players and engage in activities such as agriculture, livestock farming, crafting straw hats from paja toquilla, furniture making, and leatherwork. Their main agricultural exports include cocoa, coffee, rice, and bananas.

Cholo Pescador Culture

• The Cholo Pescador culture is the legitimate heir of indigenous settlements along the coast of Santa Elena Peninsula and Manabí province.

• Their main economic activities include artisanal fishing, hat making, cattle breeding, salt production, and agriculture.

Manta Huancavilca Pugnan Culture

• The Manta Huancavilca Pugnan culture is undergoing a process of reconstitution and identity reaffirmation. Within this culture exist micro identities such as the Chonos in Manabí and the Cuna on Puná Island.

• They engage in various occupations including fishing, agriculture, mining (both traditional and modern), and livestock farming. Some communities also focus on ecotourism activities like in Comuna Loma Altas or manage archaeological sites like Comuna Agua Blanca within Machalilla National Park.