The habitat has been occupied by people for centuries and has been severely damaged by deforestation, overgrazing and hillside erosion due to unsustainable agriculture.

[7] Floristic structure of tropical dry forests range from scrub, thorn, deciduous, to semi-evergreen.

Both on the coast and inland there are trees adapted to the dry conditions that last for most of the year, such as acacia, jacaranda, mesquite, fig and cacti.

[3] Most plants shed their leaves during the dry season to reduce water loss, and stop photosynthesis.

Surviving mammals probably include mantled howler (Alouatta palliata), white-fronted capuchin (Cebus albifrons), jaguar (Panthera onca), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii), white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), red brocket (Mazama americana), lowland paca (Cuniculus paca) and Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata).

[10] Species found in the transitional forest on the Pacific slope of the Andes include grey-backed hawk (Pseudastur occidentalis), El Oro parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi), crowned woodnymph (Thalurania colombica), El Oro tapaculo (Scytalopus robbinsi), buffy tuftedcheek (Pseudocolaptes lawrencii) and ochraceous attila (Attila torridus).

Species that frequent the coastal mountains or southern part of the ecoregion include pale-browed tinamou (Crypturellus transfasciatus), rufous-headed chachalaca (Ortalis erythroptera), ochre-bellied dove (Leptotila ochraceiventris), great green macaw (Ara ambiguus), red-masked parakeet (Psittacara erythrogenys), grey-cheeked parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhoptera), Esmeraldas woodstar (Chaetocercus berlepschi), little woodstar (Chaetocercus bombus), Watkins's antpitta (Grallaria watkinsi), blackish-headed spinetail (Synallaxis tithys), henna-hooded foliage-gleaner (Clibanornis erythrocephalus), Pacific royal flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus occidentalis), grey-breasted flycatcher (Lathrotriccus griseipectus), slaty becard (Pachyramphus spodiurus) and saffron siskin (Spinus siemiradzkii).

[10] Species found elsewhere include pale-headed brush finch (Atlapetes pallidiceps), rufous-necked foliage-gleaner (Syndactyla ruficollis), black-eared hemispingus (Hemispingus melanotis), grey-headed antbird (Ampelornis griseiceps), black-cowled saltator (Saltator nigriceps) and bay-crowned brush finch (Atlapetes seebohmi).

[10] Endangered birds include great green macaw (Ara ambiguus), grey-cheeked parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhoptera), Esmeraldas woodstar (Chaetocercus berlepschi), gray-backed hawk (Pseudastur occidentalis), slaty becard (Pachyramphus spodiurus), waved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata), yellow-bellied seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis), Peruvian tern (Sternula lorata) and blackish-headed spinetail (Synallaxis tithys).

[10] The ecoregion shows the impact of human occupation over several centuries, mostly in the transition zone and along watercourses.

The main threats come from deforestation, including selective removal of valuable tree species, slashing and burning to clear and for agriculture, planting crops on unstable hillsides and overgrazing.

[12] The Machalilla National Park is the main conservation unit in the west of Ecuador, protecting remnants of dry and moist forests with many endemic plants and animals.