El Ángel Ecological
Reserve
The peculiar frailejones forests form part of the plant
life of the region and are the indicator species for the ecological
condition of the park. The region is mostly paramo and the temperature
ranges between 12°C to 0°C. Divided among the zones we can
find rivers, streams, wetlands, springs and many lakes. In this reserve
it is easy to sea condors, the national bird of Ecuador.
Cotacachi-
Cayapas Ecological Reserve
With a surface area of 204,420 hectares, it occupies territory
in the provinces of Imbabura and Esmeraldas. The altitudes vary from
300 to 4,939 meters. Here we have the inactive volcano of Yanahurco,
the mountain of Cotacachi and the volcano of Cuicocha. Cuicocha, with
its two small islands, is one of the most scenic attractions in the
region.
The Reserve contains a great diversity of plants and forest types.
The fauna of the zone has unfortunately diminished from the encroaching
human population. Among the most important and in danger of extinction
are the condor, pumas, jaguars and ocelots. The western part of the
reserve is highly coveted by the lumber companies that have exploited
the forests of the province of Esmeraldas with excessive irresponsibility.
Cayambe -Coca Ecological
Reserve
This Ecological Reserve is located in the provinces of Imbabura,
Pichincha, Napo and Sucumbios and covers an area of 403,103 hectares.
The area of the reserve has important volcanoes like Cayambe, Saraurco,
Puntas and Reventador.
The rivers in the region are spring mainly from the glaciers of Cayambe,
Antisana and Sarahurco. There are approximately eighty lakes in the
zone, the most important are: Papallacta, San Marcos, Puruhanta and
Sarahurco.
Altitudes range between 700 to 5,700 meters. The biodiversity of the
area is the highest among the protected areas of Ecuador, discovered
in the latest scientific studies. Within the reserve are found the
indigenous communities of Cofan and Oyacachis.
In the reserve there are 900 species of birds, 110 species of amphibians,
140 species of reptiles and 200 species of mammals. Among the plant
species we have orchids, balsamo, caoba, cedar, guayacan, moral, polylepis,
arrayan, pumamaqui, aliso, laurel, wild rosemary, and among the medicinal
plants are dragons blood, cat's claw, ayahuasca, chuquiragua, urcurosa,
cerote, valerian and others.
