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 The Dry Forest Reserve, Lalo Loor, is a leading example along the coast of Manabi province both in terms of transitional dry forest protection/reforestation as well as environmental education for the local communities and visiting tourists.
This will be accomplished through the continued efforts of volunteers, research groups, local environmental associations, and the opening of our newly developed Environmental Interpretation Center located at the Lalo Loor reserve entrance.
The importance of these forests is well documented. Less than 1% of the dry forests in Ecuador remain standing. The biggest threats to the region's wildlife and forests are deforestation, hunting, and the contamination of river water. If left as is, most of the remaining forests will be lost during the coming decade.
There are a number of flora and fauna species, endemic to the area, that are endangered or likely to be endangered in the near future if the area's forests are not protected.
Objectives:
• Transitional dry forest Conservation and reforestation.
• Environmental Education oriented to local communities and tourists.
Projects and activities:
• Development and maintenance of an Environmental Center, generating
projects focused on environmental education, sustainable tourism, and
new opportunities for local communities’ development.
• Biodiversity studies (190 bird species, deer, armadillos, squirrels and monkeys, among others).
• Several studies to get Bachelor degrees in Engineering, students mainly from the Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro.
• Postgraduates’ studies sponsored by the Herbario Nacional del Ecuador (QCNE) and the Missouri Botanical Garden (USA).
• Reforestation, greenhouse/nursery for native plants and orchids.
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