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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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SUMACO |
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| General Description | The Sumaco Biosphere Reserve is located 100 km south-east of Quito in western Napo province. There are numerous watercourses in the area, such as the Suno, Coca, Pitayacu and Pusuno Rivers. The Sumaco Volcano (3,900 meters above sea level) is a rather isolated peak lying to the east of the main Andean Mountain Range. It covers a large variety of ecosystems from the tropical highlands-Andean paramour to the tropical Amazon plains. Moist broadleaf forest with an abundance of palms is the major vegetation type. The area includes well-preserved corridors of habitats from the lowlands to above the tree line. There is a highly diverse fauna. Mammals include spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), Jaguar (Panthera onca) and several species of bats. Birds include torrent duck (Merganetta armata) and Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana). There are about 100,000 (2001) people living in the area, including indigenous communities. The potential for economic and human sustainable development in the biosphere reserve is based on three different aspects: traditional uses, sustainable use of natural resources, and the use of the biosphere reserve as a place where socio-economic conflicts and other problems can be addressed. The rich socio-cultural diversity in the region is believed to promote the economy of people living there. The main economic activities are coffee plantations, agriculture, fisheries, and production of naranjilla, use of natural resources in forest, agro-forestry and tourism. | |||
| Major ecosystem type | Humid tropical forest | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Natural forest including Alnus acuminata, Jacaranda copaia, Phragmotheca ecuadorienses etc.; natural bush vegetation characterized by Blechnum loxense, Cortaderia nitida, Chusquea scandes etc.; natural grass vegetation on high altitude characterized by Azorella sp., Werneria sp., Hipochoeris sp., Senecio canescens etc.; cultivated grasslands with Axonopus scoparius, A. micay, Setaria splendida etc.; cultivated land including Coffea robusta, C. arabica, Theobroma cacao, Musa paradisiaca etc.; agroforestry systems; residential areas | |||
| Location | 00°32'S; 77°28'W (central point) | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 931,215 | |||
| Core area(s) | 205,249 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 178,629 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 547,337 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +400 to +3,732 | |||
| Year designated | 2000, extension 2002 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Provisional managament committee including the most relevant institutions and organizations of the Napo Province | |||
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| Brief description |
Monitoring of precipitation and temperature Water volume measurements in the main rivers with potential to generate electricity Interpretation of the advancement of the agricultural "front" based on satellite images Basic mapping Study on freshwater shrimp Analysis of succession in secondary forest in the basins of small rivers Study of edible mushrooms with a view to seek markets and artisanal alternatives on the national and international levels Study of hydroelectric potential in rivers Identification of sanitary problems related to pigs and fishes |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Air temperature, hydrology, meteorology, monitoring/methodologies. | |||
| Biodiversity | Forest systems, fungi, invertebrates/insects/spiders, phytosociology/succession. | |||
| Socio-economic | Agriculture/Production systems, economically important species, energy production systems/alternative energy, human health, quality economies. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Geographic Information System/GIS, mapping. | |||
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| Contact address |
José Onofa Ministério del Ambiente Calle Madrid y Andalucía Quito Ecuador |
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| Telephone | (593.2) 3987600 ext. 1420 098316916 (celular) |
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| Fax | ||||
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jonofa@ambiente.gob.ec |
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| Web site | http://www.ambiente.gob.ec | |||
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n.a. | |||
| Last updated: 3/8/2011 |
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