Ecoregions of Mexico

The Central American dry forests ecoregion, spanning Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, is a crucial transitional zone between the lush tropical rainforests and the arid deserts. This unique region along the Pacific Coast, from southern Chiapas to Guanacaste, exhibits a delicate balance of life in the face of a prolonged dry season.

The Central American montane forests ecoregion is a collection of forest patches scattered across Central America's highest mountains. This region is ecologically significant and exhibits unique adaptations. It stretches from southern Mexico through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua and showcases diverse vegetation and wildlife on the elevated canvas of the region.

Nestled between the highland cloud forests and the lowland rainforests of northern Central America, the Central American pine-oak forests ecoregion unfolds as a diverse tapestry supporting a rich assortment of conifer species. Spanning across the mid-elevations of Mexico's Chiapas, southern Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and small portions of west-central Nicaragua, this region is a vital habitat for various flora and fauna.

The Marismas Nacionales Lagoon System is a significant coastal wetland located on the Pacific coast of northwest Mexico and a substantial and crucial mangrove ecosystem. The Marismas Nacionales–San Blas mangrove ecoregion is renowned for its rich biodiversity and ecological significance.

The Baja California Desert is located within the Mexican states of Baja California Sur and Baja California Norte, on the western side of the Peninsular Ranges in the northern and central Baja California Peninsula. Situated between the Pacific Ocean to the west and cradled by the Peninsular Ranges to the east, the Baja California Desert is a geographical mosaic and a dynamic display of biodiversity and resilience.

The Pantanos de Centla is a tropical moist forest region in southern Mexico, spanning the states of Tabasco and Campeche and serving as a biological corridor between them. This unique ecoregion is characterized by its year-round wetlands, freshwater swamp forests, and diverse ecosystems, including riparian habitats and moist forests.

Mangrove ecosystems are among Earth's most productive and biologically diverse habitats, providing vital ecological services and supporting a rich array of plant and animal life. The Petenes mangrove ecoregion in the western Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico is a unique and extraordinary example of these coastal wetlands. The Petenes mangroves are a biodiversity hotspot, harboring endemic and migratory species.

Nestled within the northern reaches of the Baja California Peninsula in northwestern Mexico, the Sierra Juarez and San Pedro Martir Pine-Oak Forests ecoregion is a remarkable temperate coniferous forest biome. This relatively small ecosystem is a unique western counterpart to the "sky islands" found in northern Mexico and southwestern Arizona, rising from the surrounding desert landscapes as an elevational oasis of diverse and endemic species.

The Yucatán Peninsula is home to a unique ecosystem known as the Yucatán dry forests. This region is isolated from other dry forests and supports a variety of plant and animal species adapted to the region's specific climate and geology. The Yucatán dry forests have flat terrain, thorny scrub vegetation, and scattered cacti shaped by aridity, limestone formations, and evolutionary isolation.

Spanning the Yucatán Peninsula of southeastern Mexico and extending into northern Guatemala and Belize, the Yucatán moist forests ecoregion stands as a remarkable tropical treasure trove. This ecoregion is part of the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome, offering a unique blend of biodiversity, geological wonders, and cultural heritage.