The
natural
vegetation
mainly
consists
of
grassland,
adapted
to
cold
conditions,
which
has
the
ability
to
retain
large
quantities
of
water.
The
Reserve
is
therefore
considered
as
a
real-life
‘sponge’
providing
the
entire
Carchi
province
with
water.
It’s
also
the
birthplace
of
several
rivers
which
eventually
deposit
their
contents
in
the
basins
of
River
Mira
and
River
El
Angel.
These
high-altitude
grasslands,
also
known
as
paramos
,
are
considered
the
most
humid
in
Ecuador
.
The
surrounding
areas
of
the
Reserve
have
been
deforested
for
the
extraction
of
wood
and
agricultural
purposes.
The
Reserve
was
therefore
founded
with
the
intention
of
maintaining
the
natural
landscape
and
to
protect
the
forests,
in
particular
the
frailejones
or
espeletia
–
giant
plants
which
grow
to
up
3
metres
high
to
form
a
forest,
similar
in
appearance
to
sunflowers
with
hairy
leaves
to
insulate
the
flowers
from
the
harsh
climate
–
a
typical
feature
of
this
paramo
covering
around
85
per
cent
of
its
surface
area.
Given
that
private
properties
and
communes
exist
within
the
area,
which
have
been
present
since
before
the
creation
of
the
Reserve,
traditional
agricultural
activities
practised
in
the
area
pose
a
certain
threat
to
the
eco-systems
that
are
maintained
here.
The
soil
is
being
damaged
by
agricultural
activity,
and
the
excessive
use
of
fertilisers
and
pesticides
has
contaminated
several
rivers
in
the
area.
In
addition,
owners
of
the
haciendas
frequently
burn
the
vegetation
and
undergrowth
in
order
to
prepare
the
soil
for
the
sowing
of
crops.
However,
since
the
creation
of
the
Reserve,
such
activities
are
being
undertaken
with
less
frequency.
Last
Updated
18th
July
2006
