Biosphere Reserves in Ecuador

The Bosque Seco Biosphere Reserve is located in southwestern Ecuador. The dry forests within the reserve are the most extensive and best preserved in the country; however, their rarity makes them a conservation priority.

The Bosques de Paz Transboundary Biosphere Reserve was formed by joining two existing biosphere reserves in Ecuador and Peru. The reserve includes seasonally dry forests that form the heart of the Endemic Region of Tumbes, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots.

The Chocó Andino de Pichincha Biosphere Reserve is located in northern Ecuador, in the Pichincha province, northwest of the capital city of Quito. The region is considered a biodiversity hotspot. In addition, many archaeological sites of the Yumbo culture can be found in the area.

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.

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.