Bosque Seco Biosphere Reserve

The Bosque Seco Biosphere Reserve is located in southwestern Ecuador in Loja and El Oro provinces. Designated in 2014, it covers 501,040 ha (1,238,000 acres). Approximately 317,600 ha (784,800 acres) comprise dry forests and scrub.

In 2017, the Bosque Seco Biosphere Reserve joined Noroeste Amotapes-Manglares Biosphere Reserve in Peru to form the new Bosques de Paz Transboundary Biosphere Reserve.

The region covered by the Biosphere Reserve is highly diverse in terms of relief. The higher lands, such as the Paltas and Celica cantons, are characterized by a marked mountainous structure. At the same time, the western parts include the hills of the Pindal and Las Lajas cantons and plains for agricultural production in Puyango, Zapotillo and Macara, among others.

The Bosque Seco Biosphere Reserve has three main bioclimatic zones: semi-arid, which is present mainly in the areas bordering Peru; dry sub-humid in the middle and lower parts of the Loja province; and humid to sub-humid in the higher lands.

In terms of temperature, the zones that lie above 1,200 m (3,937 ft) AMSL (above mean sea level), such as the Paltas, Celica and Sozorang cantons, have a subtropical climate. In contrast, a tropical climate characterizes those below this level.

Due to these and other characteristics, climate regulation and water provision are among the most important ecosystem services present in the biosphere reserve. In particular, the reserve ensures water regulation for the Catamayo-Chira and Puyango Tumbes binational basins.

The dry forests within the reserve are the most extensive and best preserved in the country; however, their rarity makes them a conservation priority: 97% of dry forest ecosystems are on the verge of extinction.

Regarding the flora, the Tumbes-Piura ecoregion, which encompasses the Biosphere Reserve, has been defined as an exceptional phytogeographic region known as the Equatorial Pacific and has high rates of endemism. Within the biosphere reserve area, 219 species of shrubs and trees have been found, of which 15 are endemic.

The Bosque Seco Biosphere Reserve is also home to one of South America's highest concentrations of endemic birds. Fifty-one species have been identified, in addition to 15 endemic species of trees and shrubs and three endemic species of mammals.

The area has been classified as the Tumbesino Endemism Center and forms part of the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena biodiversity hotspot. It also includes significant flagship species populations, such as Crocodylus acutus (the American crocodile) and Alouatta palliata (the mantled howler).

The Bosque Seco Biosphere Reserve area covers eight Loja and El Oro counties. The area of the reserve is inhabited by approximately 106,000 people, distributed relatively evenly across the territory. The population within the biosphere reserve is predominantly rural, and the main economic activities are livestock rearing and agriculture (coffee, corn, rice, fruit and corn).

The local flora plays an important socio-economic role since more than 90 vegetal species are used by local communities, providing them with food and income and medicinal plants.

The area also encompasses more than 100 heritage sites, including the Puyango Petrified Forest – the largest of its kind in the world – and the city of Catacocha, an Ecuadorian national heritage site.

Cultural attractions and unique ecosystems are key elements for tourism development, which is becoming an essential source of employment and economic resources in the area. Overall, around 25,000 visitors come to the dry forests annually for tourism or business purposes.

Ecological, sportive, religious, scientific, recreational and archaeological forms of tourism attract local and foreign visitors to the biosphere reserve. However, tourists are mainly drawn by festivals in honor of the founding of the cantons, the visit to La Ceiba reserve (Zapotillo) and the Puyango Petrified Forest, and the Guayacán flowering festival.