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The Ecuadorian Chocó is part of the Chocó-Darién ecoregion that covers roughly 7,500,000 hectares along the western edge of Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Made up of rainforests, coastal areas, and mountains, it is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. At least 9,000 species of vascular plants have been identified and an exceptional diversity of insects and birds. The
Chocó is also one of the world’s most threatened forests. Only about 2 percent remains as a result of resource extraction and conversion of forests for agricultural uses, such as banana and palm plantation and cattle ranching. Hope of saving what remains of the forest has given rise to many community enterprises and initiatives that cities have an opportunity to support. Forest-positive activities include conservation research and efforts to expand protected areas, eco-tourism, development of shade-grown crops like cacao, and sustainable forestry.
This is map of the Chocó forest and its surrounding corridors is viewable by clicking here.
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Jocotoco – Establishing protected areas
Learn more about the Chocó forest
Read about the Rain Forest Trust and how they are trying to stop the destruction of the Chocó by visiting their site here.
Learn more about WholeForests and how they got their start in the village of Cristobal Colón by reading the article here.
Read about the rich biodiversity of the Chocó and how the significance of the landscape for conservation by reading this UCLA article.
Learn about how local NGO Jocotoco is helping against fauna and flora loss in a bid to save Ecuadors bird species by visiting their site here.
