Mache-Chindul (Ecological Reserve)

The Mache-Chindul Ecological Reserve is located in the provinces of Esmeraldas and Manabi. Its creation date is August 9, 1996. With an area of 70000 hectares, an altitudinal range between 300 and 800 meters.

The reserve contains one of the last remnants of very wet tropical forest of the Ecuadorian coast and perhaps the world, characterized by its high biodiversity and surprising levels of endemism. Another of the salient facts of the reserve is the hydrographic system that maintains and mountainous that feeds major rivers in Manabi, as the Coaque, Cojimar, Chev, and also in Esmeraldas, among which are the Muisne, Atacames, Tiaone and Dógola, to cite only the most famous, is a wetland par excellence that even during the dry season maintains a permanent haze in their sectors higher. For these reasons, Ecuador, as part of its Basic Environmental Policy, included these remnants of forest northwest as the geographical region of highest priority for conservation in Ecuador, made significant considering that this same area keeps the largest forest reserve de la Costa and supports various pressures on the exploitation of the resource.

The Mache-Chindul Ecological Reserve is one of the more recently established protected areas; his name alludes to the lower ridges on which it is located, the last obstacle before reaching the ocean from the interior of the continent. Apparently, the western slopes, which descended to the sea, were inhabited until the seventeenth century by Chachi communities and Jama-Coaques.

The reserve has bioclimatic zones, first introduced moderate rainfall and the second heavy rainfall. Thanks to rainfall in the upper part of the Cordillera, most rivers maintained its flow throughout the year.

There is a humidity level higher than that of other similar forests, with a lot of epiphytes, climbers, Guarumo and raft. Through a study of the ecosystem, could detect the presence of frugivorous birds such as toucans, howler monkey, gloves, Guatuso, ocelot, jaguar, and parrots. You can also find birds like the gallinazo king and the big heron.

The Mache-Chindul Ecological Reserve holds a large area of forest that has traditionally been home to communities Chachi and Afro-esmeraldeñas.

There is no doubt that the main attraction in the reserve is an intangible. Despite several exotic landscapes, with waterfalls and natural pools that are formed within a framework of forest imperturbable, as in the Ene River or in the Boca de tason, the real value and more importantly the Reserve Mache-Chindul is on biodiversity A wrapper.

The communities Chachi and afroesmeraldeñas have cohabited in the area for decades exploiting the resources sustainably the forest has provided them, but the pressure of timber companies in the area of influence of the Reserve and the fronts of colonization that are being formed Threaten not only the conservation of biological resources, but also the preservation of cultural resources in Mache-Chindul.

How much research has been conducted in the area only confirms the extraordinary wealth of plants and animals waiting to be studied in this remnant of forest included in the region of Ecuador, which is regarded as one of the 10 “hot spots” of biodiversity in the world.

Near the reserves can be found beautiful beaches, as Muisne, Tabiazo of Freshwater, Atacames, Sua and Same, with all services and enjoy a climate unbeatable. In addition, there are places of accommodation in all categories, and restaurants with food esmeraldeña particularly recommended, characterized by its exquisite seafood.