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Central American Atlantic moist forests

{{Infobox ecoregion

|name = Central American Atlantic moist forests

|image = Cerro Chachahuate.jpg

|image_size = 300

|image_alt =

|caption = Cerro Chachahuate

|map = Ecoregion NT0111.png

|map_size = 300

|map_alt = Ecoregion territory (in purple)

|map_caption = Ecoregion territory (in purple)

|biogeographic_realm = Neotropical

|biome = Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests

|animals =

|bird_species =

|border = Belizean Coast mangroves

|border1 = Central American dry forests

|border2 = Central American montane forests

|border3 = Central American pine–oak forests

|border4 = Isthmian–Atlantic moist forests

|border5 = Miskito pine forests

|border6 = Mosquitia–Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast mangroves

|border7 = Motagua Valley thornscrub

|border8 = Northern Honduras mangroves

|border9 = Petén–Veracruz moist forests

|area = 89979

|country = Guatemala

|country1 = Honduras

|country2 = Nicaragua

|country3 = Belize

|state =

|region_type =

|elevation =

|coordinates = {{coord|13.75|N|84.75|W|display=inline}}

|geology =

|seas =

|rivers =

|climate =

|soil =

|conservation =

|global200 =

|habitat_loss =

|habitat_loss_ref =

|protected = 30.2

|protected_ref =

}}

The Central American Atlantic moist forests ecoregion (WWF ID: NT0111) covers the lowland coastal forests of Honduras, southeast Guatemala, and the eastern forests of Nicaragua (plus two small patches in Belize). Half of the ecoregion is closed-canopy tropical broadleaf evergreen forest, with tree heights reaching 50 meters.{{cite web |title=Central American Atlantic moist forests |publisher=World Wildlife Federation |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/nt0111 |access-date=March 21, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Map of Ecoregions 2017 |publisher=Resolve, using WWF data |url=https://ecoregions2017.appspot.com/ |access-date=September 14, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Central American Atlantic moist forests |publisher=Digital Observatory for Protected Areas |url=https://dopa-explorer.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ecoregion/60111 |access-date=29 March 2022}} This ecoregion has the largest single fragment of natural forest in Central America, with a size of {{convert|14629|km2|mi2}}.{{cite web |title=An overview of forest biomes and ecoregions of Central America |publisher=Routledge |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280004414_An_overview_of_forest_biomes_and_ecoregions_of_Central_America |format=pdf |access-date=October 9, 2020}} The total area is {{convert|89979|km2|mi2}}.

Location and description

The ecoregion stretches for 700 km from the valley of Lake Izabal in southeastern Guatemala, across the northern coast of Honduras (in a 50 km wide strip), and down across most of the eastern half of Nicaragua (additionally alongside two minuscule patches in Belize). The mean elevation is {{convert|293|m|ft}}, with a maximum of {{convert|2270|m|ft}}.

Climate

The climate of the ecoregion is Tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification (Am)). This climate is characterized by relatively even temperatures throughout the year (all months being greater than {{convert|18|C|F}} average temperature), and a pronounced dry season. The driest month has less than 60 mm of precipitation, but more than (100-(average/25) mm. This climate is mid-way between a tropical rainforest and a tropical savanna.{{cite web |last1=Markus |first1=Kottek |last2=Grieser |first2=Jürgen |last3=Beck |first3=Christoph |last4=Rudolf |first4=Bruno |last5=Franz |first5=Rubel |date=June 2006 |title=World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated |publisher=Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006 |volume=15 |number=3 |pages=259–263 |url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pdf/Paper_2006.pdf |access-date=September 14, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Dataset - Koppen climate classifications |publisher=World Bank |url=https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/dataset/world-maps-k%C3%B6ppen-geiger-climate-classification |access-date=September 14, 2019}} Average precipitation in the ecoregion is 2,333 mm/year.

Flora and fauna

Half of the ecoregion is closed-canopy broadleaf evergreen rain forest, but with 30% of the territory converted agriculture. The remainder is open canopy evergreen forest or herbaceous wetland. From 1990 to 2000, the ecoregion was experiencing deforestation at a rate of just under 1% per year. The ecoregion contains a number of large undisturbed fragments, which is important for larger species of animals. (The largest mammals require an estimated 100 km2 fragment to sustain viable populations).

Protected areas

30.2% of the ecoregion is officially protected. These protected areas include:

References

{{reflist}}

Category:Ecoregions of Guatemala

Category:Ecoregions of Honduras

Category:Ecoregions of Nicaragua

Category:Neotropical tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests