Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Western Slopes
History - A Banana Republic
The forests that once covered the western slopes of the An-
des in this region of Ecuador were unlike any on earth. The
region's fertile soils, however, eventually attracted mas-
sive agricultural development, and soon there were ba-
nana plantations, African oil palm farms, and cacao farms. As with
the coastal region around Guayaquil, bananas and similar crops of-
fered a new source of income and caused a shift in political power.
Road development and the colonization that followed also led to farm-
ing smaller subsistence crops throughout the area.
By the 1970s bananas had become Ecuador's leading export and that
remains true today. Now, enormous plantations cover the land, and
only a few small remnant cloud forests exist in private reserves.
The African oil palm farms continue to produce crops and desecrate
the land, leaving behind the barren remnants of a booming industry.
Fortunately, the steep slopes, tourism revenue, and the insight of in-
dividuals interested in conservation have protected the few remain-
ing natural areas in this region.
Flora & Fauna
Tropical wet forest dominates the steeper western slopes
of the Andes. Although much of this area has been defor-
ested and converted into agricultural land, a few remain-
ing stands of cloud forest provide habitat for unique
species that are usually found in higher elevations. These include the
jaguar, the giant anteater, and the mantled howler monkey, which
still exist at places such as Bilsa Reserve. Endemic plants and birds
are also prolific in these reserves.
Getting Here &
Getting Around
The paved
Puerto-Quito Highway
, which passes
through the Mitad del Mundo (Equatorial Monument)
north of Quito, is the fastest way through the western low-
lands and to the coast. It provides access to destinations
such asMindo, Maquipucuna, and Bellavista reserves. Another high-
way joins it and also connects the NorthernHighlands with the coast.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search