Peribuela: A People and Their
A Guide for Visitors
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Produced by: CASA Inter-Americana
In Collaboration with: Jeronimo Ramos, Peter Shear, Jose Maria
Chavez, Lola Maria
Written by: Angela and Richard Berkfield
Drawings and Photos: Angela and Richard Berkfield
2007
Contents
1.
Introduction pg
2-3
2.
The Community of
Peribuela pg
3-5
3.
A People’s History
of Peribuela and its
4.
Ecotourism in
Peribuela pg
9-10
5.
Things to Do pg
10-13
6.
The Protected
a.
The Chaparral pg
13
b.
The
c.
The Paramo pg
15
7.
Inventory of Plants
pg
16-24
8.
Inventory of Animals
pg
24-26
9.
Inventory of Birds
pg
26-29
10.
Bibliography pg
30
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1.
Introduction
Welcome!
You find yourself in the community of Peribuela, which is located in the parish
of Imantag, the
The
community of Peribuela has been working together for the last few decades to protect
this remainder of rare forest. This is not an easy job and your visit is
helping them immensely. With your help they are protecting 330 hectares of
forest, which borders the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve.
The
community has been working for many years to make their forest available to
student groups, volunteers, and tourists, both national and international.
Sharing the knowledge of the forest is important in protecting it and can
potentially be a good source of income for the community if enough groups
arrive.
This
guide is intended to give you a diverse and inside look at the community of
Peribuela and its forest. We compiled this information from community members,
especially Don Jeronimo Ramos, from research that was done here in the forest,
and from our own observations. The information is not exhaustive by any means,
and is subject to change. Because much of the information is not scientific,
you, the visitor, may find some information that can be modified. Please, make
these changes, as we would like for this guide to be as accurate as possible.
We,
the authors, aren’t scientists, or birders, or botanists, but we do have an
interest in forests, especially their conservation, and in ‘ethnobotany’, the
study of the relationship between plants and people. So in this guide there is quite a bit of
information regarding the age old relationship of plants affecting people and
people affecting plants. This
relationship is one that has had and will have a huge impact on human beings.
2.
The Community
Peribuela
is home to roughly 450 people, living in around 60 houses, and covers an area
of 395 Hectares. The primary language spoken is Spanish, although some elders
speak Quichua. Most people are Catholic and, as there is no church here, go to
mass in Imantag. The residents own and work the land here and also hire
outsiders as laborers in the fields. There are daily buses to and from Ibarra,
Atuntaqui, Cotacachi, and Imantag, but none that return home any later than 2 pm,
making it impossible to work elsewhere without a personal vehicle.
The
primary sources of income for the community are agriculture and animal
husbandry. They grow several varieties of potatoes and beans, as well as
barley, wheat, corn, cauliflower and onions. And most families keep horses,
cows, pigs, chickens, and of course, guinea pigs. Some people have fruit trees:
avocado, lime, orange, apple, and peach.
An interesting fruit tree you will see here is the tomate de arbol or tomato tree, which produces a fruit similar to a
tomato. This fruit is used primarily to make juice.
Poverty
in Peribuela is on the rise as the population increases and the soil quality
decreases. The intensive farming practices, for the purpose of selling in the
market, leave farmers little choice but to use chemical fertilizers and
pesticides. One alternative to improving the soil quality is to rotate the crop
planted in a field every three years, and also to leave fields fallow for a
time. Even though you get a better harvest, only a few people are doing this.
Another alternative is to use fewer chemicals and increase the organic
pesticides and fertilizers, but only a few people are doing this because it is
easier to buy chemicals than to prepare the organic mixtures.
Peribuela
is lucky to have a good source of water for irrigating their fields. In fact,
they used to have a surplus, which they shared with neighboring Imantag. But by
1995 Imantag was taking more than their fair share of the water supply and
Peribuela took the issue to court. The governor of the Province tried to force
Peribuela to sign a document giving half of the water the supply to Imantag,
threatening imprisonment if they did not comply. Peribuela refused. Luckily for
Peribuela, there was an election that year and the Governor was removed from
office. The new Governor was sympathetic to the situation and helped Imantag
and Peribuela to arrive at an agreement in ’96, guaranteeing half the water for
Peribuela and half for Imantag.
In
1999, the Catholic Church helped the community to build irrigation ditches to
bring water to the fields. They can now
grow crops during the off-season to sell in the market when there is a short
supply, and thus receive a higher price. To do this they plant at the end of
the rainy season and use the irrigation to water the crops.
People
grow a variety of plants in their gardens. Some are purely ornamental, but many
of these are used medicinally to treat common ailments. They grow some herbs
you may be familiar with like peppermint and aloe. There are also many local
plants that are used for first aid and as primary treatment. In the plant
inventory you will see that many plants from the forest, chaparral, and gardens
are used medicinally. Plants play a major part in the health system of
Peribuela. Only if a condition worsens, is the case referred to the hospital in
Ibarra, which is about an hour away by bus.
Today
there is only one curandero and one midwife remaining in the community. While
many people use home remedies for their illnesses, some still go to the
curandero when they have illnesses which don’t seem to have a cause. This
natural and spiritual form of healing is a dying art here. Some women choose to
be attended by the midwife in the community, but since many people now have
cars, and since the midwife charges as much as the hospital ($30), the majority
of women give birth in the hospital in Ibarra.
In
Peribuela there is one primary school that goes up to 6th grade. The
school has around 50 students and 2 teachers. It is part of the bilingual
program that
These
days it is only those who don’t finish their high school diploma who stay in
Peribuela to work the land. In recent years some young adults from the
community have migrated to the cities for other work opportunities, such as
teaching. Some people have even gone to
There
has been a movement in
There
are still some cultural activities in Peribuela, but very few compared to
before. There just isn’t as much time now. There was an old man up the valley
who played the mandolin and he always invited the other villagers to his house
for party, drink, dance, and food. But since he grew old and passed away there
hasn’t been anyone to take up that tradition. Now there isn’t as much time for
partying, one has to plant more and put more work into the field to get a good
harvest.
3.
A People’s History of Peribuela and its
The
origin of the name Peribuela is
unknown by its current residents, but
Going back centuries…
The
current residents of Peribuela don’t have many stories or much identification
with the pre-Incan Caranqui or with the ancient Inca. Nevertheless, the people
consider themselves indigenous. It can be surmised that going back 900 years
the Caranqui lived on this very hill. There is evidence found around Peribuela in
the 12 tolas, hills which were used as graves and/or ceremonial sites by the
Caranqui. Tolas were popular for the Caranqui between 1250 and 1550AD.
Then
came the Spanish conquest and along with it, the hacienda system. The exact Post-conquest
history of Peribuela is unknown, as all records were destroyed in an earthquake
in Ibarra about 150 years ago. However, around 200 years ago, an earthquake
caused a massive landslide that left the obvious scar that you can see up on
the mountain. The virgin forest to the left of the landslide was fortunate
enough to be on the other side of a ridge and protected from destruction. That
slide buried the original hacienda, killing many, destroying fields and
forests. The location of the old hacienda site is near the entrance to the
protected forest. Some old artifacts have been found as people plow the earth
above the buried building.
Sometime
after the first hacienda was destroyed, the land went into the hands of the
state, and another hacienda was started in what is now the community of
Peribuela. This particular hacienda was owned by the state and was rented out
to different owners, usually of Spanish descent. The owner typically stayed for
9 or 10 years and then returned to
Recent History…
In
1960 IERAC (Instituto Ecuatorian Reforma Agraria y Colonizacion or Institute for
Ecuadorian Agrarian Reform and Colonization) bought the land from the state. They
administrated the land and provided the equipment and fertilizers, while the
farmers who lived there provided the labor. After a time IERAC offered to sell
the land to the workers. The workers did not have confidence that they could
buy the land and did not form a cooperative at that time. However, there were
people from outside of the area who came daily to work, who wanted to buy the
land. These outsiders treated the farmers very poorly, and eventually the
farmers decided to kick them out and to buy the land themselves.
Thus,
in 1978 the 29 associates formed the OCAT cooperative (Organizacion Campesina
Adjudecataria de Tierras – Organization of Small Landowners). On February 20th,
1978 in
Those
16 years were not easy. During that time 3 different “ghost” cooperatives tried
to take the land from OCAT and there were violent clashes. The first attempt at
usurpation was when the cooperative was just forming. As mentioned above, a
group of people from outside tried to take the land, weren’t welcome by OCAT
associates, and were forced off the land. In ‘80, after OCAT was official, another “ghost”
cooperative, Atahualpa, tried to take the land. And again in ‘86 another “ghost”
cooperative, called “29 de Junio”, comprised of 300 mestizo and Afro-Ecuadorian
members, tried to kick out the 29 OCAT indigenous farmers. They thought it would
be easy based on the difference of numbers. On May 24th, ’86, Mother’s
Day, while the women were all celebrating together, the men were locked in
conflict with the “29 de Junio”. It was a violent showdown. Shotguns and
machetes were threatened. The police from Otavalo were called to break up the
violence, resulting in the imprisonment of some men from the other cooperative.
Because the land was in the name of OCAT, they won the dispute. That conflict was
the end of the problems with other groups trying to take over the land.
Finally
in 1994 the land officially belonged to OCAT and they contracted a topographer
(he charged $160), who helped them to analyze and divide the land amongst the
cooperative associates. Each family was given around 7 hectares for farming. It
was a just and fair distribution; although throughout the years there have been
some land disputes between neighbors. When these border disputes happen, the
community council is called upon to resolve the disputes and make a fair
ruling. The council counts on its elected legal representative to handle these
issues.
Once
the land was theirs, OCAT changed from a cooperative to a “comuna” or community,
comprised of 60 houses. Each family became responsible for working their parcel
of land, but decisions are still made as a community, and as a community they
are responsible to the municipal government. To receive municipal or NGO
(Non-Governmental Organization) financial support they must operate as a
community. Peribuela has a community council comprised of five members:
President, Vice President, Legal Representative, Treasurer, and Secretary.
These positions are elected every year, but the same person can continue on the
council for more than one year, if chosen by the people. All community members over
18 years can vote and can be elected.
The
High Altitude Andean forest was a part of this grand purchase. The community
owns the land up to the limits of the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve. The
community had planned to divide the 330 hectares of forest amongst its members,
but never got around to it. Then in 2000 the DRI (Integral Rural Development)
advised the community to protect the forest under State law so that it could be
used for ecotourism. While ecotourism was the main reason for protection, there
are other reasons as well - it serves to safeguard their water supply, and it
is a valuable inheritance to leave for their children.
A Modern Perspective…
Looking
back on the history of the area, it is amazing that the land is now owned by
indigenous individuals. First, in the
1400s the Inca conquered the area and brought it under control of their Empire
based in
Then,
after the Conquest of the Spanish in 1535, the people were enslaved to work on farms
for the Spanish landowners. The Spanish brought cows to the
And
now, four centuries later, they have emerged out of this system to buy back the
land that once belonged to their ancestors. Yet, at the same time that they are
gaining back the independence of land ownership and regaining some identity, the
influence of the modern world has hit hard through radio, television, and
consumerism. The youth aren’t so interested in the old ways. More and more
manufactured food has shown up and less and less native vegetables and herbs
are eaten. Youth are wearing clothes and imitating behaviors that they see on
music videos of a culture that comes out of the gang ridden barrios of the big
cities of
Life
is changing in Peribuela, bringing new challenges. It is one thing to scratch
out a living from the earth, especially on land that has been worked
unsustainably for so long, but it is another to battle the influence of the modern
world. However, there are remnants of hope that people will stay connected to
their land. Young women are still using herbs for healing. There is an ancient forest
that is protected. Hopefully the forest and plants will continue to keep the
people connected to the earth for the health of their children and
grandchildren.
4.
Ecotourism in Peribuela
“Before, people cut down the
forest, or burned it, or took birds or animals. But now, as owners of the
forest, Peribuela can demand that people respect the forest and don’t take any
wood or animals from the forest. Things have been much better in the last 5
years.”
Jose Maria Chavez,
President of Peribuela 2007
Throughout
the years Peribuela has had many visitors, especially Ecuadorian student groups,
thesis students, and a few international students, all people who are
interested in the
At
the beginning of the project there was an analysis of the
The
people in Peribuela want to help with the ecotourism project, but as they
haven’t seen much concrete benefit until now, they are reluctant to put in the much
needed effort and resources to attract more foreigners. Still, the locals
participate in cultural nights, and work together when asked to come and help
with cleaning, painting, and maintaining the hostel and trails in the forest.
“Here,
there isn’t poverty like in other places. We complain that we don’t have
enough, but everyone works hard and things are better here than in other
places. So, the people here don’t yet understand the benefits of tourism. There
are only a few people here who think that tourism is important for the future
of Peribuela. It is important to have ecotourism in Peribuela for the economic
benefits, and also because we can learn from each other. The community has
learned a lot from people who have come to visit Peribuela.”
Jeronimo Ramos – President
of Ecotourism committee
5.
Things to Do
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In the
In the forest there are several landmarks…
La Choza: a traditional Andean
thatched hut which is used as an interpretive center. Growing close to the shelter you will find *Pigalan *Fucuna *Rosa
*Aliso *Guatze *Pushingo *Juan *
Mama
Piedra:
“Mother Rock” - a giant boulder that was possibly used in Caranqui spiritual
ceremonies. From this giant boulder you can find *Guatze *Sarcillo de Inca *Siempre
Viva *Various Orchids *
Valley of
the Orchids: There are three ‘Valley of the Orchids.’ The big one is to the north,
directly below the landslide on the edge of the pine forest, the second biggest
is near Mama Piedra, and the smallest is in between the others. These big open
areas are beautiful, both for the orchids, of which there are hundreds, and the
vantage point you gain. From here, you
can have a good look at the mountain above you, the forest around you, and the
spread of the valley below.
Orchids bloom throughout the year,
but peak in May and June. There are many ‘Guaminse’ orchids, which flower all
year round, but mostly in March. There are a lot of blueberries, and people
collect them to sell. Many delicate
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The Forest Trails
Highlights from the three main trails...
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Pine trail - 4 hours ·
Start in the Pine forest ·
Big ·
Killo grove; vine used instead of nails for making
houses; several bushes of Arrayan aromatico ·
Big Pumamaqui tree; big ferns; a huge Guatze; trees covered in moss ·
Viewpoint in the Paramo at 3,180m – a good spot for lunch! ·
Return on same trail ·
A grand grove of Guatze ·
Pass Mama Piedra ·
Back to La Choza |
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Waterfall trail - 2 hours ·
Down the hill from La Choza ·
Guatzes with low reaching branches full of orchids ·
Viewpoint - valley below and larger waterfall ·
The line between the forest and the deforested hills ·
Many orchids ·
Pass below small waterfall ·
Viewpoint ·
Return to La Choza |
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Mama Piedra trail - 2.5 hours ·
Down the road from La Choza ·
Through Guatze grove and ravine ·
Mama piedra, great place for a picnic ·
Second biggest valley of the orchids ·
Through Mixed forest ·
Return to La Choza |
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Timbuyacu (Quichua for
hot water) - Thermal Baths and Waterfall
If you like wild waterfalls, this
is a great day trip to do if you have extra time. It is an interesting hike,
taking you through the agricultural fields of Peribuela, through a hacienda
that is still functioning, past two ancient tolas, through the quaint town of
Santa Cecilia, past a house made completely of stone, and up into a beautiful
ravine. After about a two hour walk, you will find thermal waters which have
been contained in a tiled pool. The tepid water isn’t much worth the hike
unless you catch it on a day without screaming kids in it.
However, if you hike an hour
further up the ravine, through a lovely native forest with a few species which
are different from the forest in Peribuela (Misillo, Guayavo, Purvante, and
Porontoncillo), you will come to a beautiful waterfall, falling 30m, at almost
3,000m. In the past, during the festival of Inti Raymi, locals would come up
for an energizing bath. It is said that the black rocks give off a strong
energy, as does the water, and so the people would leave full of the energy of
animals. Another transportation option is to hire horses in Peribuela, but be
sure to give advance notice so that horses can be arranged.
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Camping in the Paramo
Another excellent activity for your
stay in Peribuela is to hike up into the paramo and stay for a night or two.
Camping is a great way to experience the paramo, including birds and animals (if
you are lucky!), which are generally active in the early mornings and evenings.
The campsite is in view of the steep rocky cliffs of the Cotacachi volcano and
other distant mountain ridges. The scenery is amazing, as long as you don’t mind
sharing it with a few cows! Be sure to find the chuquiragua, a beautiful flower
and important medicinal plant found below the campsite. The community has tents
and sleeping bags that you can rent, if you don’t have your own equipment.
·
Evidence of the Caranqui
Visit the 12 Tolas, scattered
around Peribuela. These hills are said to be the graves and/or ceremony sites of
Caranqui which were built between 1250 and 1550 AD. When residents of Peribuela
have tried to flatten these hills, their tractors have sunk into holes which
hold water. In Peribuela, there is at
least one house built on a Tola, and other than that they have left the rest of
the Tolas alone. Let the dead rest in peace.
·
Bee Project
While Peribuela has always
maintained bee hives for pollinating their orchards and for a supply of honey,
they have only recently begun a project of extracting pollen and propolis from
the hives. A student from the
·
Orchid Project
There are over 40 different types
of orchids in the forest, and about half are in the hacienda. A student from the
university in Ibarra did his research on orchids in the Peribuela forest during
2006. He started an orchid room at the Hacienda and even though his thesis has
finished, the orchids remain there. Don Jeronimo is now the caretaker of these
orchids and is hoping to expand the amount of orchids possibly for selling in
Ibarra or
6.
The Protected
a. The Chaparral
The
chaparral is the first part of the protected area that you see on your way up
to the primary forest. It is mostly bushes and short trees. The trees of the
ancient forest were cut many, many years ago, and the resulting chaparral has
established itself as the new ecosystem. It is a healthy and natural ecosystem
with mostly native species, including a plethora of medicinal plants. The
fruits and seeds of the trees and bushes provide an excellent habitat for birds
making it a great place for birding. Although some forest trees grow here, the
area is likely to remain chaparral for years to come. The edge of the chaparral
is great for picking raspberries.
Plants: Rosa, Iso,
Mora, Tipo, Taxo, Pumamaqui, Aliso, Sarcillo de Inca, Matico
Animals: Almost every type of bird can be seen or at
least heard in the chaparral.
b. The
As
you begin your visit, you will first walk through the secondary forest before
arriving at the primary forest.
Secondary
forest has many of the same species of the same age, usually young, growing in
the same area. They are often representatives of plants that grow quickly, are
stronger, and more resistant; plants that are called pioneer species. Here the
secondary forest consists mainly of eucalyptus and pine. These trees were
planted by the community in the mid ‘90s to be harvested after 20 years. There
are many native plants and bushes growing beneath the trees, providing good
habitat for numerous bird species who feed on the seeds and berries of the
plants below. The frontier of the secondary forest and the chaparral is a great
area to see birdlife.
Eucalipto (Eucaliptus globules) Eucalyptus:
You may have seen a lot of eucalyptus
growing around the area; it is the most common tree here. It was brought over
from
Pino (Pinus radiate or Pinus patula ) Pine Tree:
Pine trees of two types have been
brought from
Primary forest
The
primary forest here is the jewel of the area. Primary forest is virgin,
untouched by human hands. It has a high variety of plants of different ages,
many epiphytes, and rare and delicate species. There are several rare tree
species of considerable value due to their strong durable wood. Interestingly,
there are large groves where only one type of tree grows, usually covered in
moss and orchids. The forest is a storehouse of biodiversity: there are more
than 40 types of orchids, and numerous birds. Mixed feeding groups of several
species of birds roam the big trees abundant with fruit. Nearly all similar
forest in the area has been logged either by the Inca or the Spanish. It is
said that years ago most of this area was forest. Luckily, the people of
Peribuela have decided to protect this valuable land.
Plants: Guatze, Pushingo, Arrayan, Arrayan aramatico, Pumamaqui,
Roble, Olivo, Matitze, Vena de Canasta, Callahuala, Pulmonario
Animals: Pavo or Andean Guan, Turcasa, Puma, Skunk, Fox
c. The Paramo
“Above
the cloud forest are the Andes High Altitude grasslands and scrublands known as
the paramo. The paramo is characterized
by a harsh climate, high levels of ultraviolet light, and wet, peaty soils. It
is an extremely specialized habitat, unique to the neotropics (tropical
Plants: Chuquiragua, Orchids, Paja
Animals: Perdiza (bird), Bear,
Deer and Fox
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A community legend from the paramo: In and
around the year 1915, Don Miguel, who is now 95 yrs old, went to the top of
Cotacachi Volcano carrying potatoes and guinea fowl as an offering for the
mountain. He left his offerings at the ravine where it was too difficult to
pass and returned to his house to sleep for the night. When he went again the
next day the trail was easy, the ravine had mysteriously disappeared, and he
could reach the top of the mountain. He then cut ice blocks from the mountain
to bring down for the hacienda. |
7. Inventory of Plants
Note:
All Spanish names are in italics, Latin names are in parentheses, and the
English names are in bold, in that order.
Forest TREES
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Aliso
(Alnus acuminata) Alder: This tree
is native to the Peribuela forest. You may recognize this tree from the northern
climes where it grows near streams in the mountains. Here, it is a common
tree in the forest and at the edge of clearings. It grows well in poor soils,
so it is important for reforesting old pasture and fields. It adds nitrogen
to the soil and its leaves are a good fertilizer. It also grows well in areas
where there isn’t much water as it draws water from deep in the soil. It is
easy to propagate simply by cutting branches and planting them. In Peribuela,
many Alders have been planted along fields and irrigation ditches. The
community also plans to plant it up in the protected forest. The leaves of
this tree can be boiled to make a nutritious tea. |
|
Arrayan (Myrciantes sp. and Myrciantes rhopaloides): There are two types of Arrayan in the Peribuela
forest. One is a tree that grows to be
huge, and there are beautiful areas where there are many old Arrayan trees
covered in moss. Here is does not grow straight, as it does in other forests.
Its wood is used for making the handles of tools and the traditional plow.
The
other is called ‘Arrayan arromatico’. This rare aromatic bush is in the same
family as the Arrayan tree. It is small and is more commonly found at higher
altitudes. Its leaves smell (and taste) like a cross between laurel (bay
leaves) and lemon, and is commonly used to make a tea, which is good for flu
and cold symptoms.
|
|
Fucuna: This tree resembles Pumamaqui, but it has
longer leaves and its flowers are uniquely made of many small purple tubes.
These flowers are used as adornments in houses. In the past people used the
hollow trunk as a tube to stoke the fire. |
Guatze (Freziera canescens):
This tree is the striking symbol of the diminishing
Guatze
is the preferred wood for construction in this area. Its wood lasts longer than
any other tree in this forest. You will find milled Guatze in the homes of the
locals as doors and floors. Unfortunately,
there aren’t many young Guatzes growing in this forest, and their seedlings
don’t grow tall when grown in nurseries. The Guatzes of Peribuela could be the
last of their kind.
Juan (Viburnum triphyllum): Juan has big leaves and small white flowers
with a yellow center. The wood makes beautiful bowls, spoons and plates. In Pucalpa,
the little community above Peribuela, people still use Juan for making bowls.
Killo: This tree only grows above 3,000m. It has strong wood and
is good for the forest.
Matatzi (Weinmannia pinnata):
The wood of this tree is reddish. There are only a few Matatzis of any
size in this forest. There aren’t any young Matatzi trees, and they don’t seem
to sprout on their own. They do seem to grow better at higher elevations in
open areas. It would be possible to help the seeds grow, but until now no
projects of this type have been realized.
Motilon: There are quite a
few of these big trees in this forest. It has delicious sweet black fruits, the
size of grapes, which are ripe in July and August. The wood of this tree was
once used by farmers for making their houses.
Olivo (Podocarpus oleifolius) Olive: This is not a native tree in this forest and
it is said that birds dropped seeds here years ago. There aren’t many olive trees
in the forest, but you will find many olive trees growing along the south side
of the ravine. It is different from the olive tree that you might know. It does
have fruits, but they are not edible. This tree has excellent wood for making
furniture because it is smooth and durable. The branch of this tree is on the
National Stamp of Ecuador, along with the laurel branch. The wood of the olive
is considered holy, as Jesus prayed in an olive grove before his crucifixion.
Due to this it is considered good luck to have a piece of olive wood furniture
in your house.
Palo
Blanco or Aguacatillo (Meliosma arenosa): This is another
important hardwood tree that isn’t found in many other places. You can find it
on the trail below La Choza.
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Pigalan (Family-Solanaceae): This tree has large leaves and hard green
fruits the size of grapes. The fruits are used by women for shampoo. |
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Pumamaqui
(Oreopanax ecuadorensis): Translated from Quichwa, Pumamaqui means
‘hand of the puma.’ Puma is a quichwa
word. This tree grows easily in areas that used to be forest. Small Pumamaqui
can be seen throughout the chaparral. The flowers are used for an adornment in
houses. The wood is good for making spoons. The seeds are an important source
of food for birds.
Pushingo
(Palicourea amethystine): This may be the most
common tree in the forest. In the past,
this wood was only used for firewood.
Roble (Ocotea sp.):
While this tree is called Roble, meaning Oak in English, by the people
here, it is not in the same family as Oak. However, it is very similar. It is not native to this forest, but was
brought here by birds. It is most commonly seen on the south side of the
ravine. This grand tree has an excellent wood. Its leaves are boiled, together
with the leaves of the Arrayan and Cerote, and are used for bathing after
giving birth for energy and strength. This remedy is still used by the women of
Peribuela today.
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Common TREES
in the Community
Cedro (Cedrella
Lechero (Euphorbia laurifolia):
This tree is easy to propagate and grows quickly making it an excellent
plant for living fences. It is native to this area. When you break a branch a
milky substance is emitted, which is the source of its name in Spanish – leche means milk.
Sauce (Salix sp.)
PLANTS and
HERBS in the chaparral, forest, paramo and gardens
Achupalla (Puya hamata):
This plant is a relative of the common pineapple. It can be most easily
seen in the big valley of the orchids. It does not have a fruit, but instead
produces a big stalk which has dozens of beautiful blue flowers. The flowers
are used for adorning houses. The root is good for burns when made into a white
powder. Bears like to suck the white juice that comes out of the root.
Anis de
Monte (Tagetes pusilla h.b.k.
is related Anis de campo) Anise:
Bring some of this small weed with tiny yellow flowers back from your
forest hike. It is easily found on the grassy paths. When boiled, it makes a
delicious licorice tea that will calm your stomach.
Atucsara: The brightly
colored purple and fuchsia fruits of this plant were used in the past as soap
for washing clothes.
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Bromilias Bromeliads Bromeliads are only found in the |
Cabuya (Agave
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Calahuala
(Niphidium crassifolium): The root
of this plant is used for liver and kidney problems. It is very common in the
forest and chaparral. Cerote
(Hesperomeles heterophylla): This is a
common bush found in the chaparral and in the forest. The berries are eaten
in other communities but not here! In the past, the berries were used for
natural dye. They give the wool or cotton a deep red color. |
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Chicoria Chicory: This plant grows close to the ground and has a
flat, white flower. The bitter root can be boiled and the tea taken for
dysentery.
Chilca: There are two
different kinds of Chilca, and both can be found close to La Choza. One has
poisonous black fruits that resemble blueberries and have been used to kill bothersome
dogs. The other has small white fruits and the branches are used by curanderos for healing mal viento (“bad wind” – a psychological
or spiritual condition).
Chuquiragua
(Chuciragua insignes): Also called the ‘Flor de los
Iso (Dalea mutisii):
An infusion of the beautiful purple flowers is taken medicinally for a cough.
The branches are still used today for making brooms, because it is a bitter
plant and thus believed good for disinfecting.
Matico (Eupatorium glutinosum Lam.): An extract of the leaves of Matico are mixed
with bee wax and propolis to make a salve for fractures and sore muscles.
Mora
silvestre (Rubus bogotensis)
Raspberry: These dark berries are a favorite
for making juice. There are loads of raspberry
bushes along the trails and roads. If
you are here between March and May, enjoy the delicious fruits! There is
another type of ‘Mora’ that grows out of reach on vines high in the branches of
trees in the forest. These are for the
birds…
Mortino
blanco White Blueberry: The white blueberry may be endemic, as people
have not seen it anywhere else. It may
grow only here. For some people this
white blueberry is even more delicious than the blue blueberry. It is truly
white and grows on a bush that looks the same as the blue blueberry.
Mortino
negro (Vaccinium floribundum)
Blueberry: Yep, blueberries. If you are lucky enough to be here between
March and November, you can feast on Ecuadorian wild blueberries. But choose
your berries carefully because a poisonous look alike grows right next to the
real deal. The real blueberries have leaves that are less shiny and the berries
are smaller. Blueberries are an important food for the endangered Andean
Spectacled Bear, which lives in the paramo above the forest and comes into the
forest to find these berries. Blueberries are an important ingredient in the
Colada Morada (Purple Shake) that city folk drink during the Holy Week
celebrations in the spring and again in November. During these times the local
people pick and sell the berries, along with raspberries, for big money.
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Orchidias Orchids Over
40 orchids have been identified in the Guaminse (Epidendrum): This bright fuchsia orchid is very common
throughout the forest and especially in the valley of the orchids. The juice
from the flowers is good for epilepsy and for energy when depressed. |
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Paja (Stipa ichu): This thick grass is abundant on the paramo. It
was used to make roofs in the past.
Pulminario Lichen:
This lichen grows on many of the branches and tree trunks in the forest.
It is a light green color. If you drink a tea made from this lichen it is good
for your lungs.
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Sarcillo de Inca: Keep an eye out for this beautiful plant
with red and green leaves and bell shaped red flowers. Siempre Viva: Look for this interesting plant on Mama
Piedra. It is used as a beautiful adornment in people’s houses. |
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Taxo silvestre: This vine
is a relative of passion fruit. It has a brilliant fuchsia flower and tasty
fruit. Tigrancillo: This small forest plant has bright green
leaves which make a tea that is used for treating flu-like symptoms. |
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Tipo (Bistropogan mollis): Try the leaves of this tasty herb in your
soup. It is also used to flavor meats. For flu symptoms and cough you can boil
the branches and drink the tea before lying down for the night.
Venas
de canasta or Sarza (Smilax kunthii): This spiny vine can be used to make baskets,
hence its name in Spanish, Basket Vine. However, it isn’t used much nowadays,
especially as it is now protected in the forest.
Common
garden PLANTS
Cedron (Aloysia citrodora
Yerba
Buena (Lamiaceae Family)
Mint:
Although a common ingredient in teas,
salads, and other dishes, the mint leaf is also a valuable medicinal plant,
especially for stomach problems.
Paico (Chenopodium paico H.B.K): A tasty leaf that gives a delicious bite to
soup!
Sabila
(Aloe Vera) Aloe Vera: This famous plant
from
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8. Inventory of Animals
Note:
All Spanish names are in italics, Latin names are in parentheses, and the
English names are in bold, in that order.
All
of the numbers correspond to the plate numbers in the Ecotravellers’ Wildlife
Guide.
Aranas Spiders: There are no poisonous spiders! However, there
are some big ones (resembling tarantulas – but they aren’t, don’t worry!) keeping
the insect population in control.
Armadillo Armadillo: While the armadillo supposedly does not
wander up above 2,000m, there have been a number of sightings (and feasts!) in
Peribuela. People claim that the meat tastes like pork.
Chucury (Mustela frenata) Long-tailed weasel: This small mammal has a long and slender body
and tail of 30 cm (1 ft). This bold species is often easy to see and approach.
It is active during the day near the tree line going up to low paramo. 80d
Sapo (Eleutherodactylus unistrigatus) Common Paramo Rainfrog: Although the most abundant highland rain
frog, it is very difficult to see this little frog because it hides during the
day under rocks and logs. It is active at night and found between 2,500 and
3,400m. 2c
Conejo
de Paramo (Silvilagus
brasiliensis) Paramo Rabbit: There are
rabbits in the paramo and you might see droppings on the trail as evidence. The
authors saw droppings in the chaparral as well.
Culebras Snakes: Luckily there are no
big snakes and none are poisonous. The existing small snakes are all nocturnal.
Guanta (Agoti taczonowiskii) Mountain Paca: This mammal is about 28 in or 70 cm and lives
between 2 and 3,000m. People like to eat the meat of this little guy. 83f
Lobo (Dusicyon Culpaeus) Andean Fox or Culpeo Fox: Roaming from the
paramo, forest, and down to the fields, this creature is famous for stealing
chickens and corn. But many families keep dogs to prevent too much thievery. It
is said that when the tail of the fox is cut off, and the animal is let go, the
tail continues to live as long as the animal is living. People pay a high price
for these lucky tails that move on their own. See if you can find one in the
market in Cotacachi. 79e
Oso (Tremarctos ornatus) Spectacled Bear: This is the only bear in
Puma (Puma concolor) Mountain Lion: Puma is a Quichua word. The Puma is the
biggest cat in this forest, averaging 130cm in length. It roams from lower
cloud forest up to 4,500m. It is fast approaching extinction. It adapts easily
to its environment and eats wild pigs, small rodents, and even cows and llamas.
If is has extra food from its kill, it saves it for later, and returns the next
night. 81e
Venado Deer: There are three types of deer and all live in
the paramo above the forest. They sleep in caves and usually eat in the early
morning and late afternoon to avoid their main predators; pumas, condors, and
fox. The red brocket deer (Mazama Americana) has small straight antlers 82c , the white-tailed
deer (Odocoileus virginianus) 82d has branched antlers, and the third deer has velvet covered
branched antlers.
Zorro (Conepatus Semistriatus) Striped Hog nosed Skunk: This stinky creature lives both in the forest
and fields. The authors saw the hair of this animal on the trail. The unlucky
creature had run into a puma. 80e
9. Inventory of BIRDS
Note:
All Spanish names are in italics, Latin names are in parentheses, and the
English names are in bold, in that order.
This
list of birds is not exhaustive. It has been put together based on research
done in this forest in 2001, on information in the Ecotravellers’ Wildlife
Guide (2000), and on the experience of the authors in the forest. All of the
numbers correspond to the plate numbers in the Ecotravellers’ Wildlife Guide.
The
birds are busy throughout much of the day; however, the best time for bird
watching is between 5:30 and 8:30 am. We highly recommend going for an early
hike for the birding experience. For a few dollars you can hire a truck to take
you to the forest reserve entrance and from there begin an ascent through the
chaparral, the secondary forest and the primary forest. We found that the most
exciting places for birdlife were the places where the mixed forest joined the
chaparral.
Carpintero
Dorsicarmesi (Piculus rivolii)
Crimson Manteled Woodpecker: It is
medium sized, 28cm or 11in, with bright red upper parts, black and white barred
rump patch, and scaled breast. It is seen alone or in pairs, in short trees or
bushes of upper cloud forest to lower paramo (from 2,000 to 3,500m). The
woodpecker sometimes associates with mixed species foraging flocks. 46c
Candelita
de Anteojos (Myioborus
melanocephalus) Spectacled Redstart/Whitestart:
This small bird is slate grey on its upper parts and has bright yellow
under parts with a short yellow eye line and eye ring which form “spectacles”.
Its white outer tail feathers often spread during foraging. 59c
Chivo (Ampelion rubrocristata) Red Crested Cotinga: It is a medium sized bird, dark grey with
light colored bill, and white tail spots, which are obvious in flight. The dark
red crest is obvious only when displayed. It seen alone or in pairs and is
omnivorous. This bird can be spotted easily in the chaparral. 52c
Huirac-churo (Pheucticus chrysopeplus) Yellow Grosbeck: This charming bird is medium sized and quite
yellow, with black streaks on the back, black wings with white patches (obvious
in flight), and a black tail with white tips. The female is similar but not as
bright yellow. He/she hangs out in secondary forest, open scrubby areas, forest
edge, gardens and city parks throughout the highlands. It is similar to the
Southern Yellow Grosbeck. 71e
Jilguero
Andino (Phrygilus unicolor)
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch: This is a tiny
bird. The male is grey with a dark bill. The female has brown upper parts with
streaks of dark brown and whitish under parts with streaks of brown. They hang
out in open paramo, between 3,000 and 4,300m. 70d
Mirlos (Fam. – Turdidae) Thrush: Here you will see three kinds of thrushes:
Glossy black thrush, Great thrush, and Swainson’s thrush.
The
Great Thrush (Turdidae fuscater) is common in pastures, open areas, city parks,
gardens, and eucalyptus groves throughout the highlands above 2,000m (over
6,500 ft). It is medium sized, dark grey-brown, with bright orange legs and
bills. You will see this thrush throughout your time in Peribuela. 58b
Pava de
Monte or Pava Andina (Penelope montagnii)
Andean Guan: The mountain turkey is
uncommon. It is large and eats fruits. It is dark brown with a long tail and it
has a red throat (like a turkey). You can see and hear it in the interior of
the forest. It cannot fly very far and is usually found in the canopy eating
the fruits of the Guatze tree.
Perdizas
(Attagis gayi) Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe: This medium sized dove- or quail-like bird has
a rusty colored breast and blackish back. It is a treat to see. This bird can
be found in the paramo or in the upper part of the forest. 21b
Petirojo
or Tangara de Montana ventriescarlata
(Anisognathus igniventris) Scarlet Bellied Tanager: This beautiful bird has black upper parts
with bright blue shoulders and rump, a scarlet “ear” patch, and under parts of
scarlet with black upper breast and throat. It eats insects. It can be seen in
small groups in open cloud forest, scrubby bushes, and scattered trees at high
elevations (2,500 to 3,500m). 65b
Pinchaflor
enmascarado (Diglossa cyanea)
Masked flowerpiercer: Commonly observed
and heard in mixed groups in open areas under the canopy, this beautiful little
bird with a black mask and red eyes gets its energy from the nectar of flowers.
60b
Pinchaflor
planquiblanco (Diglossa albilatera)
Whitesided flowerpiercer: Seen and heard in
open areas and thickets, it is a small black bird characterized by presenting a
white mark below the wings. Its curved beak allows it to feed easily on flower
nectar.
Reinita
Corona Rojiza (Basileuterus
coronatus) Russet Crowned Warbler:
Commonly seen in thickets and not far from the ground, the warbler is a
small bird with yellow breast and underside, brown wings, red crest with black
stripes on the sides and above and under the eyes. It eats insects.
Sube
Palo (Margarornis squamiger) Pearled Treerunner: This little brown sparkler is common. It has
a bold white eye line with a white throat and white teardrop spots on breast
and side of neck, rusty back and tail. It climbs like a wood creeper along the
tops and bottoms of large branches, eating insects.
Tangara
Azulinegra (Tangara vassorii) Blue
and Black Tanager: This small bird is
shiny dark blue, except for black wings and tail and a dark eye. It has a short
straight bill. It can be seen in mixed groups under the canopy. This tanager
eats insects. 62b
Torcasa
or Paloma Callejera (Columba fasciata) Band
Tailed Pigeon: While this bird is
not common in most areas, there are large flocks of these pigeons living in the
secondary
Tortula (Zenaida auriculata) Eared Dove: It is medium sized 10 in 25 cm and has a
wedge shaped tail, with brown colored back with black spots and two black lines
in the back of the eye. It is seen alone or in pairs, on the ground, in dryer
highlands above 1,200m, especially in agriculture areas, city parks and
gardens. 28a
Urraca
turcuosa (Cyanoly caturcosa)
Turquoise Jay: This jay is common
and can be seen and heard often in the forest and in open areas. It is medium
sized and turquoise blue with a black forehead mask and a long blue tail with
black tip. Often shy and quiet and other times bold and noisy, it is omnivorous
and can be seen flying in pairs. 56a
Picaflor
or Kinday or Colibri Hummingbirds
Origivioleta veintreazul (Colibri
coruscans) Sparkling Violeteer:
This tiny green dazzling hummingbird is common, and it has a violet
central breast and eye mask that extends under its bill. It can be heard
singing its emphatic series of “sip” notes and can be seen in open areas above
2,000m. It is common in the garden of the hacienda so keep an eye out for it. 36c
(Patagona gigas) Giant Hummingbird: The largest of all hummingbirds is found in
open dry highland between 2 and 3,000m, usually around flowering Cactus and Maguey
(century plant). 37e
(Lesbia victoriae) Black-tailed
Trainbearer: This unique hummingbird is
medium sized, with a green body and a long black tail. It can be seen in bushy
areas, forest edges and gardens of dry highlands at 2,600 to 4,000m. The
authors of this book saw it in the secondary forest. 39a
10. Bibliography
Estudio
Floristico Y Faunistico de la Comunidad de Peribuela. Fernando Nicolalde-Morejon, Edison Meija. 2001.
PUCE-I and DRI Cotacachi/Imbabura.
Guia
Etnonaturistica de Intag.
Andrea Rutigliano. 2006. Taller Grafico La Tierra.
Levantamiento
del Inventario de Atractivos Turisticos de la Comunidad de Peribuela, bojo el
Convenio del la PUCEI – Proyecto DRI Cotacahi. Silvia
Cachiguango, Marissa Canarte, Maribel Saltos. 2004. Pontificia Universidad
Catolica del Ecuador.
Nucanchic
Panpa Janpicuna: Plantas Medicinales del Campo. Brij Kothari. 1993.
Abya-Yala.
The Ecotravellers’ Wildlife Guide: