Ecuadorian Dry Forests

The Ecuadorian dry forests is an ecoregion near the Pacific coast of the Ecuador. The habitat has been occupied by people for centuries and has been severely damaged by deforestation, overgrazing and hillside erosion due to unsustainable agriculture. Only 1% of the original forest remains. The patches of forest, mostly secondary growth, are fragmented. They are home to many endemic species at risk of extinction.

Area: 21,238 km2
Countries: Ecuador
Continent: South Africa
Coordinates: 1.349°S 80.333°W
Climate type: Aw: equatorial, dry winter

Location

The Ecuadorian dry forests have an area of 2,123,790 hectares (5,248,000 acres). The ecoregion is mainly along the Pacific coast of central Ecuador to the north and west of Guayaquil, with a section to the east of Guayaquil. The western area is in the Cordillera de la Costa mountains. The western portion is bounded to the east by Western Ecuador moist forests. It adjoins South American Pacific mangroves along sections of the coast. The eastern portion is also bounded to the east by Western Ecuador moist forests, but to the west is bounded by Guayaquil flooded grasslands. Further south the similar Tumbes-Piura dry forests extend across the border with Peru.

Major Land Features

Some major land features of the forest include the Machalilla National Park, Cerro Blanco Protective Forest, Molleturo Protective Forest and Arenillas Military Reserve. The privately owned 200 hectares (490 acres) Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve in Manabí Province lies in the transition from the very wet northern forests and the very dry southern forests and has very diverse flora. As of 2017, it was being developed for ecotourism. The Machalilla National Park is the main conservation unit in the west of Ecuador, protecting remnants of dry and moist forests with many endemic plants and animals. 234 birds species have been found in the park, and 81 mammal species including the endemic fraternal fruit-eating bat (Artibeus fraterculus).

Must-Visit: Beach and Fishing

Machalilla National Park is a preserve in the Ecuadorian Manabí Province near Puerto López and the rural parish of Machalilla, a small fishing village in the vicinity of the park.
Established in 1979, Machalilla National Park near Puerto Lopéz rests along the Pacific coast. It incorporates beaches, fog forest, dry forest, small islands and two larger islands, Salango and Isla de la Plata, the latter named for a legendary hoard of silver left by Sir Francis Drake.