Accelerated Fragmentation of Papagayo Forest: Urgency for Protection Amid Urban Pressure in Guayaquil

The Papagayo Protective Forest, the second largest tropical dry forest in Guayaquil, is an ecosystem of high ecological and social value, threatened by urban expansion and the absence of effective conservation policies. Although declared a protected area in 2012, the lack of governmental intervention has allowed its progressive degradation. Currently, the forest faces severe pressures such as informal urbanization, recurrent forest fires, human invasions, and the expansion of agricultural activities, all of which have intensified its fragmentation and compromised ecological connectivity. To analyze these changes, land cover data from the MapBiomas Ecuador platform for the years 2007 and 2023 were used. The information was processed in QGIS for land use classification, and landscape metrics were applied using Fragstats 4.2 software, including patch area (AREA), number of patches (NP), mean shape (SHAPE_MN), mean fractal dimension (FRAC_MN), diversity index (SHDI), and evenness index (SHEI). The results indicate a significant loss of 471 hectares of open forest, a reduction in natural forest, an increase in agricultural area from 837 to 1,272 hectares, and the appearance of 28 hectares of urban infrastructure. Furthermore, the number of patches increased significantly, along with a greater diversity of land use classes, indicating accelerated fragmentation. This loss of spatial continuity hinders wildlife mobility, reduces the forest’s ability to regenerate, and compromises the provision of ecosystem services such as water regulation and temperature control. In conclusion, the conservation of the Papagayo Forest demands urgent attention through effective public policies, reforestation, sustainable territorial planning, and community participation to prevent its progressive disappearance.