Biomes / Ecosystems of Central America

Nestled within the cerulean embrace of the Caribbean Sea lies a submarine realm of breathtaking beauty and paramount ecological significance – the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS), often reverently termed the Great Mayan Reef. This extensive and intricate network of coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and associated coastal ecosystems represents the most expansive barrier reef system in the Western Hemisphere.

From the emerald canopies of Mexico's Lacandon rainforest to Panama's pristine cloud forests, an extraordinary conservation network spans the heart of the Americas. The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor represents one of the world's most ambitious biodiversity preservation initiatives, weaving together a living tapestry of ecosystems across eight nations. This transnational conservation marvel connects fragmented habitats, creating vital pathways for wildlife movement while protecting some of Earth's most biodiverse regions.

Along the Pacific coast of South America, stretching like a lush ribbon from southern Panama to northern Peru, lies one of Earth's most extraordinary and endangered natural treasures: the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena Biodiversity Hotspot. This remarkable region is more than just a conservation priority—it serves as a living laboratory of evolution, a refuge for numerous endemic species, and a vital battleground in the global effort to protect biodiversity. The Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena is one of the most biologically important—and most threatened—regions on our planet.