Megadiversity in the Middle

  

 

Ecuador, like many Latin American nations, possesses distinct features. Location, wildlife, waterways and religion make Ecuador unique.

 Because of its location at the equator, hence its name, Ecuador experiences little variation in daylight hours during the course of a year. Sunrise and sunset occur each day at the two six o'clock hours.

Though it sits on the equator, the 0⁰ latitude at Quito’s 10,000+-foot altitude makes the equator more tolerable and accessible to individuals seeking the Middle of the Earth than Uganda, Indonesia and a handful of other countries. Furthermore, the climate in the Andean highlands is temperate and relatively dry, and the Amazon basin on the eastern side of the mountains shares the climate of other rainforest zones.

One of seventeen megadiverse countries, Ecuador has the most biodiversity per square mile of any nation. In this diverse, rich ecology, Ecuador hosts many endemic plants and animals, such as those of the Galapagos Islands.

 

There are 1,600 bird species in the continent and 38 more in the Galápagos. In addition to over 16,000 species of plants, the country has 106 endemic reptiles, 138 endemic amphibians, and 6,000 species of butterfly.

Ecuador’s rivers are an important part of its geography and economy. Most of its 2,000+ rivers and streams have headwaters in the Andes mountain range, flowing toward the Pacific Ocean or eastward toward the Amazon. Most rivers broaden as they reach the lower elevations of the Pacific and Amazon.

 

 

 

 

Nearly 92% of Ecuador’s population has a religion, while 8% are unbelievers. Among people who have a religion, more than 80% are Roman Catholic, 11%+ are Prostetant, 9%+ are other (Jehovah’s Witness, Jewish, Buddhists and Latter-day Saints).

I was fortunate to visit Ecuador with Multiplication Network Ministries staff members and donors (July 11 – 17, 2015). Multiplication Network Ministries equips local leaders who understand their culture, language and social networks, enabling them to share the Gospel more effectively than someone from another country and culture. We "train-the-trainers" for entire denominations and associations so these workers can, in turn, train the church planters. This approach allows us to reach many more people with our training and to multiply strategically. In my next blog, I will introduce the pastors and church planters I met. In September, MNM celebrates its 15th Anniversary. Watch a short video now. Click here.