ggri_ex102.htm


EXHIBIT 10.2


 


Quito, January 1, 2012


 



	
Subject:

	
Environmental Assessment Update


	
Performed by:

	
Ms. Paúl Tufiño M. / Corporación Sociedad para la Investigación y Monitoreo de la Biodiversidad Ecuatoriana, SIMBIOE  (www.simbioe.org)


	  	  	 
	
Contact:

	
simbioe@andinanet.net /  corporación@simbioe.org


	 	 
	
1.

	
Location and description of the area












The property called “El Juval” is located in the province of Morona Santiago on the border between this province and the provinces of Azuay, Cañar and Chimborazo (Image 1)







Image 1. General location of El Juval in Ecuador


 



	
 


 


 


 


 


 







 


Source: Google-earth







In the environmental context, approximately 90% of the area of El Juval belongs to the territory of Sangay National Park, which constitutes one of the 45 protected areas that Ecuador currently has (Image 2, Image 3).







Image 2. System of Protected Areas of Ecuador


 




	
 


 


 


 


 


 














Image 3. Location of El Juval in the context of the Sangay National Park Ecuador


 




	
 


 


 


 


 


 







 




  





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2.           Flora







El Juval, as well as Sangay National Park, is located in the center of the Andean region of Ecuador. Therefore, the area of El Juval corresponds to the higher sections of the Cordillera Oriental (Eastern side of the Andes).







According to Valencia et al., Sangay National Park is the home of 586 endemic species of plants and near 45% of these corresponds to Orchids. Many of these species are present and protected within El Juval. Table 1 below mentions some of the most important.







Table 1. Listing of flora in the area, important for conservation








	
Scientific Name

	
Family

	
Threat Category


	
Stenandrium harlingii

	
Acanthaceae

	
VU


	
Ceraxylon amazonicum

	
Arecaceae

	
EN


	
Oreopanax ecuadorensis

	
Areliaceae

	
LC


	
Lepanthes condorensis

	
Orchidaceae

	
VU


	
Miconia pastazana

	
Melastomataceae

	
VU


	
Erythrodes lianganatensis

	
Orchidaceae

	
VU


	
Piper prietoi

	
Piperaceae

	
EN


	
EN: Endangered; VU: Vulnerable;

	  	  
	
LC: Lesser Concern. Source:

	  	  
	
Valencia et al. 2000

	  	  










According to the vegetation proposal of Sierra (1999) the area of El Juval includes the following formations:








	
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Herbaceous moor













	
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Evergreen forest of the mountain foothills













	
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Mountain cloud forest













	
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High evergreen mountain forest













	
3.  

	
Fauna












With respect to the fauna of the Sangay National Park, there are over 500 species of vertebrates. Among these, the most abundant are birds, with more than 343 species. With respect to amphibians and reptiles, more than 40 species have been registered.







Among the endemic mammals, we find the wild guinea pig (Cavia aperea) and the shrew of Azuay (Cryptotis montovaga). It is important to mention that in the higher areas both of the Sangal National Park and El Juval there are endangered species of mammals, such as the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) and the Mountain Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque; image 4).







Please find below (Table 2) a listing of mammals classified as endangered species of some kind, both in the area of Sangay National Park and El Juval.


 




  





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Table 2. Listing of mammals in the area, important for conservation








	
Scientific Name

	
Family

	
Threat Category


	
Mountain tapir

	
Tapirus pinchaque

	
EN


	
Spectacled bear

	
Tremarctos ornatus

	
VU


	
Brown woolly monkey

	
Lagothrix lagotricha

	
VU


	
Bush dog

	
Speothos venaticus

	
VU


	
Oncilla

	
Leopardus tigrinus

	
NT


	
Pudú

	
Pudu mephistophiles

	
LC


	  	  	
EN


	
EN: Endangered; VU: Vulnerable;

	  	  
	
LC: Lesser Concern; NT, Almost

	  	  
	
Threatened. Source: Titita 2010;

	  	  
	
UICN 2006; Gómez 1998

	  	  










Image 4. Photograph of endangered mammals present in El Juval


 



	 	 	
 


 


 


 


 


 








 



	
Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

	 	
 Mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque)









 


Source: Dario Calero







Table 3 presents a listing of birds in some category of danger that have been reristered both in Sangay National Park and in El Juval.







Table 3. Listing of birds in the area, important for conservation








	
Scientific Name

	
Family

	
Threat Category


	
Condor of the Andes

	
Vultur gryphus

	
EN


	
Military Macaw

	
Ara militaris

	
VU


	
White-breasted Parakeet

	
Pyrrhura albipectus

	
VU


	
Wattled Guan

	
Aburria aburri

	
NT


	
Masked Mountain-tanager

	
Buthraupis Wetmorei

	
VU


	
Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan

	
Andigena Hypoglauca

	
NT


	  	  	
EN


	
EN: Endangered; VU: Vulnerable;

	  	  










LC: Lesser Concern; NT, Almost Threatened. Source: Granizo et al. 2002; UICN 2006; Gómez 1998


 




  





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Among the most important birds in terms of conservation, are the Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan (Andigena Hypoglauca) and the Wattled Guan (Aburria aburri, Image 5)







Image 5. Photograph of endangered birds present in El Juval


 



	 	 	
 


 


 


 


 


 







 




	Wattled Guan (Aburria aburri)	 	
Mountain Toucan (Andigena Hypoglauca)











Source: Dario Calero


 



4.       Ecosystem remanence







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







Image 6 Vegetation remains in Ecuador (Sierra, 2000)


 




	
 


 


 


 


 


 











  





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5.       Conservation importance of 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.








	
Area of the property


	Province of Chimborazo	 
	
Alausí Canton

	
10,262 ha


	Province of Morona Santiago	 
	
Morona Canton

	
37,145 ha


	
Sucua Canton

	
19,309 ha


	
Santiago Canton

	
12,481 ha


	
Total

	
80,197 ha







 


6.       Environmental Appraisal of the Area


 


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.


 




  





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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.


 


 



	Consultant in charge
	 
	(Illegible signature)
	 
	Msc. Paul Tufiño M.
	 
	Corporación SIMBIOE





 


 


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