Ecological Region

The Southern Andean steppe ecoregion is found in the higher elevations of the Chilean and Argentine Andes, the southern portion of the Andes range, and features a cold desert climate. It is part of the Montane grasslands and shrublands biome.

The Southern Andean Yungas is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in the yungas of southwestern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. It contains what may be the last of the isolated evergreen forests resulting from Quaternary glaciations.

The Southwest Amazon moist forests are in the upper Amazon Basin, encompassing parts of Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. The vast ecoregion contains some of the richest and largest tracts of intact tropical rainforest in the Amazon. Its inaccessibility has kept most of the habitat intact.

The Talamancan Montane forests ecoregion is one of Central America's most intact habitats with high species diversity. The ecoregion covers a discontinuous area within the highlands of northwestern Costa Rica and western Panama, protected by numerous parks and reserves.

An ecological treasure trove lies in the Andes Mountains of southwestern Colombia: the Cauca Valley montane forests. This magnificent ecoregion, marked by its dramatic topography and diverse array of habitats, is a living testament to the incredible natural wealth of the Andean region. It supports a remarkable concentration of plant and animal life found nowhere else on Earth.

Nestled high amidst the jagged, snow-covered peaks of the Southern Andes lies the Central Andean Puna - a land of rugged resilience crafted from pristine pampas and awe-inspiring altiplano plains. This high-altitude montane grassland stretches across the southern regions of Peru, traversing the rugged Bolivian Altiplano and dipping into the northern corners of Argentina.

The Trinidad and Tobago moist forests ecoregion covers most of the two-island nation located off the northeastern coast of South America. While small portions of the islands are home to other habitat types, such as mangroves and dry forests, the moist forests dominate the landscape and support an exceptionally diverse flora and fauna.

Among the rugged contours of the eastern slopes of the Andes in Argentina lies an area of exceptional beauty and ecological significance - the High Monte ecoregion. This expansive montane landscape stretches from the northern reaches near Salta to the southern expanse of Mendoza, blending dramatic topography and diverse ecosystems. Despite the arid embrace of the Andean foothills, life flourishes in unexpected abundance here, defying the harsh environment.

The humid pampas ecoregion in eastern Argentina is characterized by expansive grasslands, xeric woodlands, slow-moving rivers, and numerous lagoons. It occupies the province of Buenos Aires and is known for its high human population density. The region is part of the more extensive Pampas lowland plains and features flat plains with gentle undulations and occasional low peaks that emerge like islands across the landscape.

Nestled amidst the azure waters of the eastern Caribbean Sea, the Leeward Islands dry forests ecoregion sprawls across secluded corners of the Leeward Islands. Characterized by gentle relief and moderate rainfall, this ecoregion, though weathered by centuries of deforestation, still retains echoes of its former magnificence, offering glimpses into its enduring beauty.