Biosphere Reserves in South America

The Mbaracayú Forest Natural Reserve and the Bosque Mbaracayú Biosphere Reserve protect a hotspot of biodiversity in the Mata Atlántica biologic corridor. It is a tropical humid forest ecosystem, which includes low and medium-altitude Atlantic semi-deciduous forests and savannas.

The Ñacuñan Biosphere Reserve is located in the Argentine province of Mendoza, in the plains at the foot of the Andes. The area consists of semi-arid upland grasslands, shrubby steppe, matorral, and shrubby and herbaceous woodlands and wetlands.

The Oxapampa-Ashaninka-Yanesha Biosphere Reserve and Yanachaga-Chemillen National Park in central Peru comprise the last undisturbed ecosystems in the central jungle. Its location between the Amazon forest lowland and montane cloud forest results in a high diversity of flora and fauna.

The Patagonia Azul Biosphere Reserve encompasses the greatest biodiversity on the Argentine coastline. The area includes important breeding, feeding and migration sites for various species. It also hosts the world's largest colony of Magellanic penguins.

Nestled between the municipalities of La Plata and Berazategui, along the banks of the majestic Río de la Plata, lies the Pereyra Iraola Provincial Park and Biosphere Reserve. This urban oasis is the largest provincial park in Argentina's Buenos Aires Province and a rich center of biodiversity, offering a sanctuary for nature enthusiasts and city dwellers alike.

The Pilón-Lajas Biosphere Reserve is located on the far eastern spur of the Andes. It comprises mixed mountain and highland ecosystems. The Bolivian government has designated the reserve as a territory and Native Community Land of the indigenous groups living in the Pilón-Lajas region.

The Podocarpus-El Condor Biosphere Reserve covers an area of over 1,050,000 ha (2,600,000 acres) in southern Ecuador. This area, including Podocarpus and Yacurí National Parks, is considered one of the world's most important sites for biodiversity.

Situated in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles from the South American continent, the protected areas of the Galápagos Islands include the Galápagos National Park, the Galápagos Marine Reserve, and the Galápagos Biosphere Reserve.

The Riacho Teuquito Biosphere Reserve is located in the Province of Formosa, within the Chaco region in northeastern Argentina. The environment protected by the Biosphere Reserve is primarily the woody ecosystems of the semi-arid Chaco, which has been weakly represented among protected areas in South America.

San Guillermo National Park occupies the core zone of the San Guillermo Biosphere Reserve located in San Juan Province, Argentina which protects and represents the mixed mountain and highland ecosystems in the foothills and mountains of the Andes.