Cerro Blanco Woodland Reserve. See a larger image here.

Project Partner Organisation:
Fundación Pro-Bosque
www.bosquecerroblanco.com

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Cerro Blanco Protected Forest

The Cerro Blanco Protected Forest consists of 15,019 acres (6,078 hectares) of dry tropical forest on the outskirts of Guayaquil. This is one of the last remaining Ecuadorian dry forests which are considered to be in critical danger of extinction.

Due to the close proximity to the city the forest is threatened by expanding squatter settlements, illegal hunting for commercial and subsistence use, tree cutting of secondary hardwood trees and forest fires caused mainly by hunters.

Biodiversity at Cerro Blanco

• 54 mammal species characteristic of Ecuadorian dry tropical forest (including mantled howler monkey, white fronted capuchin monkey and South American coati and 21 bat species).
• 219 bird species, including 8 globally threatened species In 1998, Cerro Blanco was declared Ecuador's second important Bird Area.
• Over 500 vascular plant species have been registered including 100 endemic species to the dry tropical region of Ecuador.

WLT Partners, Fundación Pro-Bosque, are safe-guarding the high biodiversity of Cerro Blanco by implementing the following measures:

• Protection: 3 permanent guard stations and weekly patrols.
• Environmental education & ecotourism: Approximately 6,000 visitors come to Cerro Blanco every year.
• Restoration: 200 hectares of abandoned pasture has been restored through the planting of over 30 native tree species.

World Land Trust Involvement

The World Land Trust are supporting the work of Fundación Pro-Bosque through funding long term habitat restoration activities, re-creating important habitat for wildlife, assisting with the foundation's conservation objectives and supporting the tree nursery programme. Our Carbon Balanced website has more information on the Trust's tree planting work at Cerro Blanco.

More information on Cerro Blanco Protected Forest

External link: Fundación Pro-Bosque

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More Information on the Tropical Forest Project

To learn more about the Ecuador project visit the main project page: Help Save the Rainforests.