Cauca Valley dry forests

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The Cauca Valley dry forests is a tropical dry broadleaf forest ecoregion in Colombia.

Contents 1 Setting 2 Flora 3 Fauna 4 Human use 5 References and external links

[edit] Setting

The Cauca Valley dry forests occupies an area of 7,300 square kilometers (2,800 square miles), extending in a long, narrow strip along the Cauca River. The Cauca Valley is nestled between the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central in the northern Andes. These ranges create a rain shadow, which makes the Cauca Valley drier than the surrounding forests. The Cauca Valley dry forests lie below 1000 meters elevation; the higher slopes are occupied by the distinct Cauca Valley montane forests.

[edit] Flora

The main plant communities are open woodland, deciduous dry forest, evergreen dry forest, riparian forest, arid scrub and wetlands. The natural vegetation has been almost completely displaced by human activities, chiefly agriculture.

[edit] Fauna

Three endemic or near-endemic birds found in the ecoregion are the White-chested Swift (Cypseloides lemosi), Greyish Piculet (Picumnus granadensis), Apical Flycatcher (Myiarchus apicalis).

[edit] Human use

The Cauca Valley dry forests have been mostly converted to agricultural fields. The city of Cali lies in the ecoregion.

[edit] References and external links

• Cauca Valley dry forests (WWF scientific report)