Introduction
In 1995, Professor Norman Meyers said...I have identified eighteen such areas [Biodiversity hotspots], and it turns out they contain at least 20% of the earth's species facing terminal threat in just 0.5% of Earth's land surface. Of the eighteen areas, three are in a league of their own: Madagascar, the Atlantic coast forest of Brazil, and the Pacific coast forest of Ecuador...
There are estimated to be 55 bird and 1,260 plant species that
are endemic to western Ecuador and Peru. Forest destruction there,
however, is exceptionally intense. 98% of the original forests
of western Ecuador have been felled, with the majority of this
loss happening in the last 20 years. The remaining forests, therefore,
are of exceptional conservation value and must be preserved within
the near future, if they are not to be completely destroyed.
Reserva Ecologica San Fernando
The Sozoranga Forest Project has already purchased 250 acres of walnut tree cloud forest. This unique forest lies on the western slopes of the Andes in the southwest of Ecuador. The walnut trees are regularly shrouded in mist and draped in mosses, orchids and brmeliads. This lush habitat shelters a huge diversity of birds and insects.The reserve, Reserva Ecologica San Fernando, is owned and managed by the Ecuadorian conservatopn organization, Fundacion Arcoiris.
Project Sozoranga is based at University College London, and is raising funds to purchase the remaining 500 acres of the forest remnant, and to mount a scientific expedition to investigate the wildlife of the region.
