Colombian agronomist, Espinal was born in Jericó, Antioquia. He entered the Faculty of Agriculture to advance his studies in Agricultural engineering, which he finished in 1954 and promptly began teaching at the Faculty. He graduated later, in 1961, having completed his thesis entitled "Formaciones Vegetales del Departamiento de Antioquia". After this Espinal moved to the Geographic Institute 'Agustín Codazzi' (IGAC) and along side the forestry engineer Elmo Montenegro created the first map of vegetation zones of Colombia. He then became a teacher in the Biology Department at the University of Valle, from here he developed a productive academic life, including numerous botanical expeditions. He focused on the relationship between vegetation and climatic zones and the uses of rural areas. He also founded the Herbarium at this University (CUVC).

Between 1973 and 1975 Espinal was contracted by the IGAC as an ecologist before Moving to the National University of Colombia in Medellín as a forestry ecologist. In 1978 he became a Professor here and when he retired in 1988 was given the title of Professor Emeritus. He continued to be active in his field after retirement, offering his help in the Flora of Antioquia and Ecologia Colombiana. An endangered species of the Magnoliaceae Talauma espinalii Lozano (= Magnolia espinalii (Lozoano) Govaerts) was named after him.