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Estado actual y perspectivas de conservación de los bosques secos del sur-occidente ecuatoriano

Abstract:

Cabrera C., O., Z. Aguirre M., W. Quizhpe C. & R. Alvarado. 2002. Estado actual y perspectivas de conservación de los bosques secos del sur-occidente ecuatoriano, pp. 65–78 in Z. Aguirre M., JE Madsen, E. Cotton & H. Balslev (eds.), Botánica Austroecuatoriana Estudios sobre los recursos vegetales en las provincias de El Oro, Loja y Zamora-Chinchipe. Ediciones Abya Yala, Quito.–Dry forests of south-eastern Ecuador were studied in order to determine their floristic composition and their state of conservation. The study sites were located in the western part of the Loja province (Macará and Zapotillo), as they had the high coverage of dry forests. Using aerial photographs several different types of forest were determined. Field work was used to corroborate the observations; 500 m² transects were established and the data analysed using Twinspan. Seven plant communities were found, which proves that dry forests are not homogenous. Due to a number of factors, which are discussed, several types of forest are found in south-western Ecuador.