Cerro Blanco Forest, Protected tropical dry forest in Guayas Province, Ecuador.
Cerro Blanco Forest is a protected tropical dry forest in Guayas Province featuring diverse plant and animal life. The area contains more than 500 plant species, including towering ceibo trees that rise above the thick vegetation.
The forest came under protection through the work of Fundacion Pro-Bosque, which partnered with Holcim Ecuador to establish management practices. This collaboration aimed to safeguard the local wildlife and forest landscape for the future.
The forest serves as a place where local people connect with nature and learn about tropical ecosystems through guided experiences. Walking through the trees, visitors encounter the daily life of the forest and understand why this landscape matters to the region.
The forest is accessible from Guayaquil by bus or taxi, though visiting during the dry season makes trails easier to navigate. Good footwear and sun protection are helpful since the forest offers limited shade in open areas.
The forest is home to a rare population of Guayaquil macaws, tropical parrots found nowhere else in such concentration. These distinctive birds have become a symbol of the forest's conservation success and draw researchers who study their behavior.
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