Yasuní
National Park in eastern Ecuador appears to be one of the most
biologically diverse sites in the Amazon Basin. The Pontificia
Universidad Católica de Ecuador, the University of Aarhus in Denmark,
and CTFS/STRI initiated a Forest Dynamics Plot along the Rio Tiputini
in Yasuní, Napo Province in non-seasonal, old-growth lowland moist
forest in 1996. Within one hectare at the Yasuní FDP, there are 644
species. Comparing this number with species counts in one hectare at
other plots -- Panamanian plot has 168 species and plot on peninsular
Malaysia has 497 species -- the richness of this area becomes even more
apparent. When the 50-ha plot is censused, we expect that there will be
about 1,300 species in the plot. A socio-economic study on the local
Waotani community was conducted near the site, and found that distance
from large markets is inversely related to non-timber forest product
use.
Year Initiated |
Plot Size |
Latitude-Longitude
& Altitude |
Rainfall & Dry Season |
Species & Trees |
1995 |
50 ha |
-0.6859, -76.3953
215-245 M |
3081 mm
0 mos |
1114 spp
151,300 trees (25 ha) |
|