XVI International Botanical Congess

We conducted a botanical survey of the northwestern Ecuador coastal range during 1994-1998, including quantitative studies of primary forest composition and structure in 3 1-ha plots. The range extends up to 800 m, the central portion is very wet with frequent fog. Epiphytes and hemi-epiphytes are abundant and diverse, especially Araceae, Gesneriaceae, and ferns. In the southern portion the climate is drier, lowland moist and dry forest prevails. Numerous locally endemic species occur, some with very small populations. The forest plots document up to 120 tree species per hectare. Deforestation is occurring, but protection is afforded by the Mache-Chindul Ecological Reserve, Bilsa Biological Station, and Cerro Pata de Pájaro Protection Forest.