Reserva ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas
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Reserva ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas
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| location | Imbabura province , province of Esmeraldas ; Ecuador | |
| surface | 2044.2 | |
| WDPA ID | 184 | |
| Geographical location | 0 ° 35 ′ N , 78 ° 41 ′ W | |
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| Setup date | 1968 | |
Reserva ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas ( English Cotacachi Cayapas Reserve ) is a protected area in the Imbabura and Esmeraldas provinces of Ecuador, 140 km from Quito . The reserve includes various vegetation zones of around 300 m in height in the east of the Cotacachi volcano , which reaches an altitude of 4944 m in the southwest . A part of the nature reserve is rainforest, there are Andean zones (average temperature 15 ° C) and subtropical zones (average 25 ° C). The symbol of the reserve is the condor .
geography
The reserve is part of the Ecuadorian system of protected areas. It extends from the mountains of the Sierra to the western edges of the coastal rainforests in the Esmeraldas region at altitudes between 300 m and 4990 m . This region had not yet been cultivated extensively and was not afforested with eucalyptus or pine trees like many other interandinavia highlands , so that the protection of the native plant species is of particular importance here. The native plants have developed numerous adaptations to altitude.
Important rivers are Río Barbudo , Río Lacha , Río Hoja Blanca , Río Bravo Grande . They all drain west, to the Pacific Ocean .
Attractions
The reserve has several volcanic lakes and waterfalls and white water. A tribe of the Cayapa Indians live in the area. Guided tours lasting several days are offered.
Cuicocha Lake
The Cotacachi is part of the reserve in its crater is a lake that reaches a depth of 200 m. Three volcanic domes rise from the lake and there are several hot springs.
Flora and fauna
The reserve is considered a global biodiversity hotspot. At an altitude of 3000 m form Polylepis TYPES the determining tree species. There are a large number of animal species, including 500 species of birds. Particularly noteworthy are harpies ( Harpia harpyja , águila harpía) Tuberkelhokko ( Crax rubra , Pavón norteño), Buffon's Macaw ( Ara ambiguus , guacamayo verde), five-color Barbet ( Capito quinticolor , torito multicolor), Dacnis berlepschi (Mielero pechirrojo) and the Bigotuda Tangare ( Tangara johannae , tángara bigotuda). At altitudes of sightings was of Yellow-eared Parakeet ( Ognorhynchus icterotis Periquito orejiamarillos) reported. Other birds are lead-Falke ( Micrastur plumbeus , halcón montés plomizo), Banded Ground Cuckoo ( neomorphus radiolosus , cuco terrestre escamado) and the jewelery bird ( Cephalopterus penduliger , pájaro toro).
Mammals are by anteaters , sloths , ocelots , Andean jackals , Derby woolly rat ( Caluromys derbianus , zarigüeya lanuda), Mazama rufina , (venado de páramo), forest dog ( Speothos venaticus , perro de monte), South American otter (Lontra longudica deí ris) ), Northern Tiger cat ( Leopardus tigrinus , tigrillo), Jaguar (Panthera onca), spectacled bear ( Tremarctos ornatus , oso de anteojos), Central America Makibär ( Bassaricyon gabbii , Olingo de cola tupida) Northern naked-tailed armadillo ( Cabassous centralis , armadillo cola de trapo ), black-headed spider monkey ( Ateles fusciceps , mono araña bracilargo) Pacarana (Dinomys branickii), mountain rat ( agouti taczanowskii , paca de montaña) and the water rat Ichthyomys hydro bates (rata Cangrejera), and the bat species choeroniscus periosus , (murciélago de cola larga) Large spit-leaf nose ( Vampyrum spectrum , murciélago espectral), Rhinophylla alethina ( murciélago frutero pequeño ), Platyrrhinu s chocoensis (murciélago de nariz ancha) represented.
There are many aquatic animals and amphibians in the rivers and bodies of water .
Over 2000 different plant species have been counted.
threat
Despite the protection status and the international recognition of the ecological importance, the reserve is exposed to various threats. Responsibility for protecting the reserve rests with a small team of park rangers who patrol along the reserve's boundaries to prevent illegal logging, poaching and settlement. In recent years, population growth and over-exploitation have increased the pressure in the area. The Park Rangers are unfortunately too few and poorly equipped for conflicts that arise.
During the 1990s, the reserve and its buffer zones were included in a mineral surveying program (PRODEMINCA ), which was partially funded by the World Bank with the aim of supporting the expansion of mining in Ecuador. The program met protests from local communities who were concerned that a release of maps of ore deposits could attract Mineere to the area. So far the protests have been successful and international involvement of mining companies in the Intag area, a cloud forest area in the southeast of the reserve, has been withdrawn. In response to a request from the grassroots movement DECOIN from the Intag, the World Bank found that the project had broken several of the environmental assessment guidelines.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Reserva Ecologica Cotacachi Caypas. 7th July 2017.
- ↑ , Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas IBA Fact Sheet. BirdLife International.