One Last Stand? Forests and Change on Ecuador's Eastern Cordillera

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Tropical montane forests are known for their ecological importance. Most mon- tane forests in Ecuador have been converted to agriculture, and those that remain are con- centrated on the eastern cordillera. Understanding of land-use-land-cover change in this ecological zone is inadequate. Using remote sensing (Landsat TM, SPOT) and fieldwork, we document land-use-land-cover change in two watersheds on Ecuador's eastern cordillera (Cafiar Province). During the 199os the region experienced a 0.58 percent annual rate of deforestation, but two areas within it show active signs of re/afforestation. Although conver- sion of forest to pasture for cattle grazing continues, human migration to the United States is likely to affect the trajectory of future land-use-land-cover change. Keywords: Andes Moun- tains, Ecuador, land-use-land-cover change, migration, tropical montane forests.