Sep. 01. 2007. The Podocarpus – El Condor Biosphere Reserve was approved by UNESCO.
An official announcement formally establishing the reserve is expected within six months. The Podocarpus – El Condor reserve, comprising an area of 2.8 million acres (1.1 million hectares) is one of the protected areas recognized. Located in southern Ecuador, in the Provinces of Loja and Zamora Chinchipe, this unique region is well known for its huge biodiversity, distinct cultural traditions, and spectacular landscape.
This achievement is the result of three years work of a multi-institutional committee consisting of local governments, universities and NGOs. NCI played a role of technical assistance to the committee, preparing the files as well as promoting the proposal.
The site of Podocarpus-El Condor, Ecuador is located along Ecuador's border with Peru and conserves important tropical forest ecosystems as well as water resources. It is extremely rich in biodiversity, largely because it is located where the Amazon, the high Andes, and the Paramo converge. The region is famous for its over 400 bird species. Its dramatic altitudinal ranges (between 700 and 3,790 meters above sea level) create 48 distinct types of ecosystems and provide critical habitat for many endemic species. Because of recent scientific discoveries, it is one of the highest priority areas for scientific research in the Neotropics. The Podocarpus tree, for which the area is named, is a species native to the region's cloud forests. The El Condor mountain range represents Ecuador's great multiculturalism, ecological and mineral diversity. This biosphere reserve also provides opportunities for sustainable development activities such as organic agriculture and sustainable forestry.
Read more about the Podocarpus - El Condor Biosphere Reserve.
