Image 1. General location of El Juval in Ecuador Source: Google-earth

According to a study published by Roberto Sánchez (2003), during the period between the years of 1991 and 2000, approximately 17,828.32 km2 of natural forests in Ecuador disappeared, at an annual deforestation rate of 1.47%; this is the equivalent to the whole province of Sucumbíos.

The main causes are the advance of the agricultural frontier and an expansion of the urban area, followed by the deforestation phenomenon. All these activities have significantly affected the Sangay National Park, as indicated in the map of vegetation remains in Ecuador, published by Sierra (2000), however, in spite of all these problems, the best conserved area corresponds to the area of El Juval

The conclusions of the analysis carried out show that the area El Juval has significant importance as one of the few remains of forests in this area. In fact, it practically constitutes the main remnant of Sangay National Park, which has been seriously affected by anthropogenic activities.

In this context, it constitutes an important refuge for endangered species, both within the flora and the fauna. For this reason, it is required that this area is preserved in an effective and sustainable manner.

In fact, in terms of conservation importance, the Sangay National Park and therefore El Juval make part of the eco-regional complex of the Northern Andes. This was identified in the Global 2000 by the World Wildlife Fund as a conservation unit of high priority, based on criteria such as: high diversity of species, rainfall, representation of bio-geographical units, and the high degree of endemism (BirdLife International, 2005).

On the other hand, even though this area is highly valuable from a conservationist viewpoint, it is not possible to disregard, furthermore, its enormous value as a source of “ecosystem services” for the inhabitants of the surrounding areas.

The Evaluation of Ecosystems of the Millennia defines “ecosystem services” as the benefits that people derive from ecosystems. This may be direct and indirect. Direct benefits refer to the production of supplies (water and food), or the regulation of cycles such as floods, soil degradation, drying, etc. Indirect benefits are related to the functioning of processes of the ecosystem that generates direct services such as the photosynthesis process and the formation and storage of organic matter; the cycle of nutrients; the creation and assimilation of soils, etc.

In fact, ecosystem services, particularly the water that flows by multiple springs and rivers located in this area, provides direct and indirect benefits to approximately 112 thousand people, who live in the cantons of which El Juval is part of (Alausí, Santiago, Sucua and Morona) (Table 4).

Table 4. Total area of El Juval and its political distribution.

Without a doubt, a thorough economic assessment of the area, taking into account it value as a refuge for the conservation of unique natural resources of Ecuador (species of flora and fauna) as well as the ecosystem services it provides, would result in a figure beyond calculation.

 

Even more so when currently the area has enormous potential as an important area for the capture and natural drain of carbon, due to the varied and diverse ecosystems located there.

Consequently, considering all these different aspects, as well as the socioeconomic reality of Ecuador and the area in particular, we may conclude that El Juval cannot be appraised in less than USD 5,000 per hectare.