Biosphere Reserves in Ecuador

The Bosque Seco Biosphere Reserve is a biodiverse haven with diverse landscapes, from mountains to plains, providing vital climate regulation and water services. Home to Ecuador's best-preserved dry forests, the reserve boasts rich flora and fauna. Collaborating with Peru, it became part of the Bosques de Paz Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, showcasing the nexus of nature and culture.

Nestled in Ecuador's northern region, just northwest of Quito, lies a pristine wilderness teeming with biodiversity and cultural heritage—the Chocó Andino de Pichincha Biosphere Reserve. Spanning from the outer foothills to the inner reaches of the western cordillera of the Ecuadorian Andes, this reserve is a haven for unique flora, fauna, and archaeological treasures. The Biosphere Reserve presents a tapestry of landscapes, each contributing to the region's remarkable biodiversity.

The Macizo del Cajas Biosphere Reserve in southern Ecuador contains many ecosystems, ranging from high mountains to coastal and marine areas along the Pacific. It includes El Cajas National Park, which features tundra vegetation on a spectacular jagged landscape.

The Podocarpus-El Condor Biosphere Reserve covers an area of over 1,050,000 ha (2,600,000 acres) in southern Ecuador. This area, including Podocarpus and Yacurí National Parks, is considered one of the world's most important sites for biodiversity.

Situated in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles from the South American continent, the protected areas of the Galápagos Islands include the Galápagos National Park, the Galápagos Marine Reserve, and the Galápagos Biosphere Reserve.

Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park is a protected area and Biosphere Reserve in northeastern Ecuador. It is situated in the provinces of Napo, Orellana, and Sucumbíos in two sectors: the Sumaco volcano and its adjacent areas and the Cordillera de Galeras.

The Bosques de Paz Transboundary Biosphere Reserve straddles the border of Ecuador and Peru. It is a natural treasure and showcases the collaborative efforts of these two nations to protect a globally significant ecosystem. The reserve spans four regions in the two countries. It was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2018, following the countries' commitment to strengthening their ties and cooperation after a long-standing border dispute that ended in 1998.

Yasuní National Park and Biosphere Reserve are situated within the Amazonian region of northern Ecuador. Arguably the most biologically diverse spot on earth, it occupies an area within the claimed ancestral territory of the Huaorani indigenous people.