Physical Geography
The Bilsa Biological Reserve is located on the western coast of Ecuador and falls within Latitude 0°20,816’N and Longitude 79°42,659’ W. This region in the northwestern coastal province of Esmeraldas is very rich in biodiversity, and has high levels of endemism, which are related to its physical geography. The Bilsa Biological Reserve contains forests classified as Tropical Moist Forest and Premontane Wet Forest. Tropical Moist Forests consist of high overall rainfall and a warm/wet and cool/dry season. During the cool and dry season, some plants that are deciduous drop their leaves. Premontane forests consist of elevation changes between 950 and 2,000 plus feet, composed of several valleys that are further separated by small mountain ranges. This can create several microhabitats. The combination of these two types of forest contributes to what makes up the biological reserve.
With an area of over 3,000 hectares, Bilsa protects three coastal river watersheds including the Aguacatal, Dógola, and Cube Rivers. Situated in the Mache-Chindul Mountain Range, at an elevation that rises from roughly 980 feet to just over 2,600 feet, the forest in Bilsa tends to be particularly wet due to the moisture captured from sea winds. Heavy fogs surround the mountains contributing to a considerable level of moisture in the air. The temperature ranges from 64 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in an average year, with average rainfall nearing 120 inches per year. A majority of the precipitation comes in the long and warm wet season between January and August, while the cooler and drier season spans September through December.