Ericaceae: Flora of Ecuador

安第斯云雾林是厄瓜多尔境内遭到破坏和威胁最严重的地区。因此，必须在云雾森林植物的遗传多样性因栖息地转换而灭绝之前进行研究。杜鹃花科(蓝莓、小红莓、杜鹃花和杜鹃花)是厄瓜多尔热带云雾森林的显著特征，通常是主要的植被类型。生长在厄瓜多尔云雾林中的杜鹃花科植物(92种)中有50%可能被认为是濒危物种。杜鹃花科在厄瓜多尔也有巨大的经济潜力，用于尚未开发的食品、园艺和花卉栽培。该项目最终为厄瓜多尔植物区系国际项目对杜鹃花科植物进行分类处理，将加强厄瓜多尔各机构开展与生物多样性和经济潜力有关的研究的能力。它将提供有关物种丰富度(即生物多样性)的基本信息；它将提供植物分布图，从而确定多样性中心(用于地方保护)；它将为比较地区的目的提供参考，并帮助厄瓜多尔人确定和设计新的保护区，并为这些地区编制总体规划；最后，它将为当地科学家和学生提供调查和采集技术、植物标本馆管理和植物学出版方面的培训。

Andean cloud forest is the most devastated and threatened area within Ecuador. Consequently, studies of cloud forest plants must be undertaken before their genetic diversity is lost to extinction through habitat conversion. The Ericaceae family (blueberries, cranberries, rhododendrons, and azaleas) is a prominent feature of tropical cloud forest in Ecuador and often dominates a major vegetation type. Fifty percent of the Ericaceae (92 species) growing in cloud forest in Ecuador maybe be considered endangered. Ericaceae also has great economic potential in Ecuador for food, horticulture, and floriculture which have not yet been exploited. This project, culminating in a taxonomic treatment of the family Ericaceae for the international project Flora of Ecuador, will enhance the capabilities of institutions in Ecuador to conduct research related to biological diversity and economic potential. It will provide basic information on species richness (i.e. biodiversity); it will provide a picture of the distribution of plants thus pinpointing centers of diversity (for local conservation); it will provide a reference for purposes of comparing areas and help Ecuadoreans in locating and designing new areas for protection and in preparing master plans for these areas; and finally it will provide training for local scientists and students in survey and collecting techniques, herbarium management, and botanical publication.