Guatemala Biodiversity

According to Parkswatch and the IUCN [http://www.iucn.org/guatemala] , Guatemala is considered the fifth Biodiversity Hot Spot in the world [http://www.parkswatch.org/guatemala] . The country has 14 eco-regions ranging from Mangrove forest (4 species), in both ocean littorals, Dry forest and Thorn bushes in the Eastern Highlands, Subtropical and Tropical rain forest, Wetlands, Cloud Humid forest in the Verapaz region, Mix and Pine forest in the Highlands,36.3% or about 39,380 km² of Guatemala is forested (2005). Of this, 49.7% or roughly 19,570 km² is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse form of forest. including 17 Conifer (pines, cypress and the endemic Abies Guatemalensis) species, the most in any tropical region of the world.Guatemala has 6 wetlands of international importance or RAMSAR sites [ [http://www.ramsar.org/profile/profiles_guatemala.htm The Annotated Ramsar List: Guatemala ] ] . Tikal National Park, was the first mix UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world.

Guatemala has some 1246 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 6.7% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 8.1% are threatened species. Guatemala is home to at least 8681 species of vascular plants, of which 13.5% are endemic. 5.4% of Guatemala is protected under IUCN categories I-V. Guatemala has the largest percentage of Protected areas in Central America,with a total of 91 protected areas and more than 28% of the territory as a protected area. [http://www.nps.gov/centralamerica/parques/guatemala.shtml]

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