Protected Areas in South America

The site of the Cerrado Protected Areas includes the Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks, situated on the Brazilian central plateau in the State of Goias. Both parks help protect the Cerrado biome, one of the world's oldest and most diverse ecosystems.

Cerro Castillo National Park is located in the Aysén Region of southern Chile, along the Carretera Austral. Named after the magnificent Cerro Castillo peak, its unique landscape contains hanging glaciers that form lagoons with bright turquoise waters.

Chapada Diamantina National Park is located in the Brazilian state of Bahia. The Chapada Diamantina is a plateau bounded by cliffs which form a watershed, draining on one side into the São Francisco River and on the other into the De Contas River and Paraguaçu River.

The Chicamocha Canyon, located within the Colombian Andes, is among the largest in the world. Chicamocha National Park, also known as Panachi, is a major tourist attraction due to is spectacular landscape and the variety of outdoor activities that it offers. 

Chingaza National Natural Park is located in the Cordillera Occidental of the Colombian Andes. Situated within the Orinoco River basin, it contains numerous natural glacial lakes and is an important source of drinking water.

The Chocó Andino de Pichincha Biosphere Reserve is located in northern Ecuador, in the Pichincha province, northwest of the capital city of Quito. The region is considered a biodiversity hotspot. Many archaeological sites of the Yumbo culture can be found in the area.

The Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta Biosphere Reserve is located in northern Colombia and contains one of the largest coastal wetlands in Latin America. It comprises Isla de Salamanca National Park as well as the Flora and Fauna Sanctuary of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta.

The Cinturón Andino Biosphere Reserve is located at the Macizo Colombiano, in the Andean Chain in southern Colombia. It comprises three National Parks: the Cueva de los Guácharos National Park, the Puracé National Park and the Nevado del Huila National Park.

The Cocora Valley is where the national tree of Colombia, the Quindío wax palm, can be found. It is part of the Los Nevados National Natural Park, located in the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes, which contains volcanoes, lakes, and the Colombian coffee region.

Conguillío National Park constitutes the core area of the Araucarias Biosphere Reserve, while the Alto Biobío National Reserve constitutes the buffer zone. The protected area is characterized by extensive Araucarias and Nothofagus forests and the Llaima volcano, one of Chile's largest and most active.