Forest Cover in Ecuador WCMC provides information services on the conservation and sustainable use of the world's living resources, and helps others to develop information systems of their own. Lowland rainforest occupies much of the eastern, Amazonian region and parts of the western lowlands. Montane forest is found along both sides of the Andes and dry forests occur in the southern part of the coastal plains. Diversity is extremely high.
Regional endemism is very high, with many species shared with adjacent Colombia and Peru.
Forests in the Andes and in the western lowlands have been largely destroyed. The major causes of deforestation are land clearance for colonisation and the production of fuelwood and charcoal. Natural forests are subsets of these composed of tree species known to be indigenous to the area. Gaps in Habitat Protection and Funding Priorities.