National System of Protected Areas of Ecuador (NSPA) (página 2)
Enviado por VINICIO VLADIMIR ROMERO ARCINIEGA
Precipitations: 1000mm – 2000mm
Temperatures: 3-20°C (with occasional frosts in the higher parts)
The heart of Cotopaxi National Park is the volcano that has the same name. The almost perfect cone rises from a high plateau of 3800m and reaches almost 5900m.
The park boasts of a small museum which houses some stuffed specimens like the condor.
Roads lead right through an old lava flow of larger rocks ejected from the volcano's last eruption some 130 years ago.
This shrub with their bright-orange colors is the symbol flower for the hikers and climbers in the Ecuadorian Andes. It belongs to the Aster family and is called Chuquiragua. It is also used as medicine by taking an infusion to help for kidney problems.
The park is covered with grass vegetation, called locally pajonal.
Insects as diverse as stick animals, butterflies and grasshoppers have their habitat there.
Horses live there wild and form several groups of a dozen or so with a dominant male as the head of each group. Those animals escaped the earliest Spaniards, who introduced them to the American continent.
Native mammals found in the park are the White-tailed Deer, Rabbit and Andean Fox.
Rio Pita drains the park cutting a canyon and flowing west to the Pacific Ocean. Although forbidden kids and others try their luck at trout fishing.
Limpiopungo is a small moor pond and a nesting site for Andean Gulls, which build ground nests among the grass on the tiny islets. The large Andean Gull is the only gull species found away from the Pacific coast.
A road leads up to 4600m, where you have to leave the car behind to climb up to Jose Ribas refuge, located at 4800m.
1.1.3. MACHALILLA NATIONAL PARK
Location: Province of Manabi
Area: 56 184nha
Time of Creation: July 26th of 1979
Administration: INEFAN (National Parks of Ecuador)
Borders:
North: Cayo Port
West: Tortuga
South: Ayampe River
East: Platano River, Island of the Plata, Salango
Altitudes: 0 m – 850 m
Precipitations: 100 – 250 mm in the coastal regions, 450 – 800mm in the higher regions
Temperatures: 17-24°C
Machalilla National Park is located in Manabi along the Pacific coast near Puerto Lopez. It includes beaches, forested areas, islets and two larger islands, Salango and Island de la Plata.
A dry tropical vegetation is found along the coast and on the islands where as farther island in the higher zones a more humid tropical forest established itself.
Hawks and Falcons are common along the coast and in the dry tropical forests.
Frailes beach is a beautiful sheltered bay with a pure white sand beach and surrounded by a dry tropical forest. Ideally for anyone in need of relaxation as no tourist installations are allowed there.
Apart from the beach, Frailes beach offers nature trails and viewing spots to the shoreline.
Small land birds, like the Vermillion Flycatcher, Mockingbird, Motmot color the dry tropical forest.
Island of the Plata, some 45km off the mainland, offers visitors an experience similar to Galapagos with fearless seabirds breeding and nesting there.
Frigate birds nest in the shrubs of this island. Males show off their red pouch balloons to attract the white breasted females. The white-headed frigates below are immature, which depend for more than a year from their parents.
Masked and Blue-footed boobies are other seabirds nesting in larger numbers there.
Fishing is an important source of income for the inhabitants of Puerto Lopez and other smaller fishing villages, which however creates conflict with the conservation plans of the park.
Agua Blanca is one of many archaeological sites of pre-Columbian cultures which were situated along the Pacific coast. The most important cultures were Valdivia, Machalilla, Chorrera, Bahia, Guangala and Manteña in order of their occurrences.
1.1.4. PODOCARPUS NATIONAL PARK
Location: Loja and Zamora Chinchipe Provinces
Area: 146 280 ha
Time of Creation: December 15th of 1982
Administration: INEFAN (National Parks of Ecuador)
Borders:
North: Sabanilla River and Ravine of the Consuelo
West: Mountain of Numbala
South: Mountain of Paredones
East: Nangaritza and Chumbiriaza Rivers
Altitudes: 900 m – 3800 m
Precipitations: 1000mm in the high altitude regions, 3000mm in the lower regions
Temperatures: 5-19°C in the higher regions, 20-25°C in the lower regions
Podocarpus lies in the south of Ecuador between Loja and Zamora and comprises a large region of mountainous and lowland vegetation.
Cajanuma is the main entrance from Loja to visit the high altitude section of the park which is exhibited on this page.
The park gets its name from the Podocarpus tree, widely found in the area. It is the only native coniferous tree in Ecuador with all other tree species in the country being broad-leaved ones.
The park has abundant flora with many species being endemic.
Many species of bromeliads are found in the park. In the forest they grow as epiphytes in the trees to be closer to the light but in the open treeless higher region they grow as terrestrial plants rpooted in the soil.
Other plants abound in this park are orchids. One of the most common ones in Ecuador is orchids of the Pleurothalis genus. The flower is small and seems to grow right out of the fleshy leaf.
Other species of orchids seen on the nature trails of the reserve.
In the higher parts of the park above the forest, a wild array of plants inhabitat the area, grasses, asteraceas shrubs and ferns.
Bomareas are colorful flowers growing always in bunches and winding itself up on other plants.
Flowers of the Calceolaria are mainly yellow and have the form of a lady's slipper and hence its popular English name.
1.1.5. CHIMBORAZO FAUNA RESERVE
Location: Province of Chimborazo
Area: 58 560 ha
Time of Creation: October 26th of 1987
Administration: INEFAN (National Parks of Ecuador)
Borders:
North: Pilahuin and Blanco Rivers
West: Salinas River
South: Chimborazo River
East: Urbina
Altitudes: 3800m to 6310m
Precipitations: 200mm – 1300mm
Temperatures: 7-17°C (occasional frosts in the higher regions)
Chimborazo is the highest peak in Ecuador with over 6300m and the centerpiece of this animal reserve. The southern part is very dry and only sparsely covered with vegetation.
The main animal attractions are Vicuñas, only place in Ecuador where those graceful llamas can be seen. A herd of about 200 animals were donated by Chile several years ago and are now raised in this faunistic reserve.
Melt off from the glacier provides some moisture in this dry and high environment. Birds like Seed Snipes take advantage of the little it has to offer.
A sub-species of the Ecuadorian Hillstars ((Oreotrochilus Chimborazo) inhabits the high altitude regions around the two refuges up to 5000m. To survive the cold nights high altitude hummers go into a nightly state of topor to conserve precious energy.
Other birds found up there are Cinclodes, Sierra Finches and Ground Tyrants, which search the ground foe any morsel of food.
The first refuge is located at 4800m. That is also the highest point in the country which you can reach by car.
Chimborazo is a center of mountaineering and a challenging climb for many. This group from Russia met the challenge and crowned the peak.
The mountain however took already the lives of several climbers, which are commemorated by plaques. A stone monument dedicated to Simon Bolivar, who visited this mountain.
Sunset over the Pacific Ocean admired from the second refuge located at 5000m.
1.1.6. THE ANGEL ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
Location: Province of Carchi
Area: 15 715 ha
Time of Creation: August 5th of 1992
Administration: INEFAN (National Parks of Ecuador)
Borders:
North: Arquitecto lake, Chusalango and Yanacocha Mountains, Chiles Volcano
West: Alto Mountain, Cacho de Venado
South: Chiltazon Mountain, Mal Paso River, Baños and Cariyacu Ravines
East: Voladero Lake, El Bejucal and Loma Seca
Altitudes: 2400m to 4768m
Precipitations: 1000mm – 2000mm
Temperatures: 3-18°C
The main entrance to the El Angel reserve is located at El Voladero, 20 km north of El Angel, on the old highway from Ibarra to Tulcan.
Some stay close to the ground where they already bloom.
A large tract of this region is 4000m. Only in a few other Andean regions can those plants be found growing like forests.
Frailejones, the common name for those plants, can grow up to 3 meters in height and were popularly named so as in foggy conditions they reminded people of monks in frocks.
Lakes and smaller ponds dot this high altitude region close to the Colombian border. Shown in this composite picture is El Voladero.
On nature trails through the park, little observation towers were erected to give an unobstructed view over the frailejones forests.
Espelitias begin at around 4000m and are plants used to moist and foggy conditions. Below the paramo was turned into agricultural fields.
A huge part of the region got burned killing most plants though the taller frailejones seem to have survived the fire
1.1.7. GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK
In 1959, the Ecuadorian government set aside 1,714,000 acres (693,700 ha), 90% of the Galapagos Islands as a National Park. All the lands not already included in the settlement areas were designated and incorporated into the park. In 1967 a park service was set up in the islands and 5 years later the first park superintendent arrived.
The Galapagos National Park Service works hand in hand with the Charles Darwin Research Station implementing their common goals of conservation and preservations of the natural resources with the Galapagos National Park and Galapagos Marine Reserve. The park service approves all itineraries of boats visiting the islands making sure that the tourism is distributed evenly throughout the islands. They also work as the licensing board for guides in the islands.
Park rules and regulations have been developed in an effort to protect the area resources. Rather than patrol boats for enforcement, the park utilizes certified guide who accompanies all visitors enforcing rules through education.
Park authorities collect an entrance fee from all park visitors, allowing access into the park and marine reserve. Unfortunately this money does not benefit the park itself, but instead goes to the general fund of the Ecuadorian Government.
The Darwin Station is working with Galapagos based branch of the international, non-profit Charles Darwin Foundation. Established in 1959, the Darwin Station works closely with the Galapagos National Park Service protecting the Galapagos Islands and Galapagos Marine Reserve.
Charles Darwin Research Station
The Darwin Station primarily a scientific operation, conducts research and assists other researches within the Galapagos National Park and Galapagos Marine Reserve. The information from this research is given to the Galapagos National Park Service and the Ecuadorian Government to better protect and maintain this precious area. The information is also published in scientific journals, reports, and interpretive displays for visitors and becomes part of the environmental education process. The Darwin Station also works providing environmental education to communities and schools within the islands, and to tourists visiting the Galapagos Islands. The Darwin Station has developed the curriculum for Galapagos Guides including the study of the Island's natural history, conservation and preservation of the islands.
Located just outside of Puerto Ayora on the Island of Santa Cruz, a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station is included in all cruises of the islands. Visitors learn about natural history, issues concerning the islands, and see the Tortoise breeding and rearing project at work.
Found at the confluence of warm and cold surface currents and deep cold upwelling waters, the waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands are home to a fascinating ecological system. These waters were unprotected until recently and became vulnerable to the pressures of increased human presence, fishing and tourism.
Galapagos Marine Reserve
Marine life in the Galapagos waters is closely related to the life on the islands. Island animals depend on the ocean. Birds and animals existing near the water have a variety of distinctive habitats and endemic species including the world's only sea-going lizard, the Marine Iguana. Other notable wildlife includes the Sea Lion, Fur Seal, Galapagos Penguin, Flightless Cormorant, Waved Albatross, Lava Gull and Swallow-Tailed Gull.
The waters surrounding the Galapagos are home to 3000 species of marine plants and animals. Diving in the Galapagos is quickly expanding; divers seek the experience of spectacular marine life including Whale Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Hammerheads, Manta Rays and Leopard Rays.
In the past few years fishing in the Galapagos has boomed. Fishermen come with lines and nets hunting for tuna. Divers seek lobsters and sea cucumbers. During the 1990's fishing for sea cucumber to supply the Asian market greatly depleted that resource. Now even though illegal the fishing continues. Another lucrative and controversial practice is fishing for shark fins. These fishermen hunt the sharks merely for their fins, leaving the rest of the animal. This depletes the area of this important predator and the attraction of divers.
In 1992 a management plan was created for the Galapagos Marine Reserve, but due to lack of organization and involvement it went basically ignored. In 1997 renewed effort have brought about dramatic changes to the preserving the marine environment. All of the local sectors (fishing, tourism and conservation) have been brought together to negotiate protecting these resources. Finally in 1998 The Galapagos Marine Reserve was created. Designed to protect the waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands and the resources they contain.
CONCLUTIONS
The National System of Protected Areas of Ecuador has natural parks, ecological reserves, and marine reserves where we can find the most beautiful flore and fauna of the planet.
The NSPA of Ecuador is administrated by organizations not governmental and the presidency here they have to treat of help to those areas because the animals are in extinction danger.
The principal protected area is Galapagos because here be find the best diversity of the world and the presidency should promote the tourism in this area.
RECOMMENDATION
To care all the protected areas of the country because those are conservancy the most varied flore and fauna of the world.
We shouldn"t contaminate the rivers and the oceans because the pollution is the principal problem of the world and we shouldn"t help to this because some people have been killed for this reason in the Amazon Region.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Diccionario Enciclopédico Aula. Cultural S.A. 1989.
Enciclopedia de Ciencias Naturales. Bruguera S.A. 1986.
Biología II Enciclopedia del conocimiento. Espasa S.A. 2003
http://www.ecuador-travel.net/biodiversity.parks.elcajas.htm
http://www.ambiente.gov.ec/sag_snap/sag_que_es.htm
http://www.galapagosonline.com/Galapagos_Natural_History/National_Park/Marine_Reserve.html
DEDICATION
This text is dedicated to my daddy Gustavo, my mothers Ines and Dolores with all my love, because they have always been guiding my road through their support unconditional during all my studies. Also to my sister Gabby, my brother Joel and Renato, my uncles, my sister"s husband Niko, my niece Anahi and cousins to who I love.
GRATITUDE
I thank to God because he has given me forces to follow forward. I"m grateful with my parents for their affection and comprehension. Also at Santa Fe English Center and teachers that showed me their knowledge, to my friends and everybody that of any way supported me.
Autor:
Romero Vinicio
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