National Parks of Ecuador is a scientific nonfiction exploration of one of the most biologically diverse countries on Earth. From the high-altitude Andes and páramo wetlands to the Amazon rainforest, Pacific coastal ecosystems, tropical forests, and the Galápagos Islands, this book examines the protected landscapes that preserve Ecuador's extraordinary biological and ecological heritage.
Across 65 chapters, Ángel Peña explores the science behind Ecuador's national parks and protected areas, examining biodiversity, biogeography, evolution, ecosystems, wildlife, ecological processes, conservation biology, scientific research, and protected-area management. The book explains how geological history, climate, geographic isolation, and evolutionary processes have shaped Ecuador's remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems.
Rather than presenting national parks simply as scenic destinations, National Parks of Ecuador examines them as living ecological systems and essential conservation institutions. The book explores their role in protecting threatened species, maintaining watersheds and ecological processes, preserving genetic diversity, supporting scientific research, and providing the foundation for long-term conservation.
Drawing on verified scientific information from government institutions, conservation organizations, scientific literature, and recognized international sources, this work presents Ecuador's protected landscapes through an evidence-based yet accessible approach.
For students, educators, naturalists, conservationists, scientists, and serious readers of ecology and natural history, National Parks of Ecuador offers a comprehensive journey into the science, biodiversity, and conservation challenges of the country's most important protected landscapes—and into the responsibility of preserving them for future generations.
