The Central American Atlantic moist forests ecoregion (WWF ID: NT0111) covers the lowland coastal forests of

Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. The republic of Honduras is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Oce ...

, southeast

Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...

, and the eastern forests of Nicaragua. Half of the ecoregion is closed-canopy tropical broadleaf evergreen forest, with tree heights reaching 50 meters. This ecoregion has the largest single fragment of natural forest in Central America, with a size of . The total area is .

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. The mean elevation is , with a maximum of .

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 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. 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: * Agalta National Park * Azul Meámbar National Park * Blanca Jeannette Kawas National Park (Punta Sal) *

Bosawás Biosphere Reserve The Bosawás Biosphere Reserve in the northern part of state Jinotega (border with Honduras), Nicaragua is a hilly tropical forest designated in 1997 as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. At approximately 20,000 km² (2 million hectares) in size, the ...

* Capiro-Calentura National Park * Cerro Azul National Park * Cerro Saslaya National Park *

Chocón Machacas The Chocón Machacas Protected Biotope is a protected nature reserve in eastern Guatemala. It is located in the municipality of Livingston, in a densely forested area covering the lower reaches of the Chocón Machacas River The Chocón Machacas Riv ...

* Cuevas de Silvino National Park *

Cusuco National Park Cusuco National Park is a national park in Honduras. It was established on 1 January 1959 and covers an area of . Cusuco National Park is a protected area in the Merendon mountains of northwest Honduras. The park ranges from just above sea lev ...

Montaña de Botaderos Carlos Escaleras Mejía National Park Montana or Montaña is the surname of: * Allison Montana (1922–2005), New Orleans cultural icon who acted as the Mardi Gras Indian "chief of chiefs" * Amber Montana (born 1998), American actress * Billy Montana (born 1959), American country m ...

Montaña de Yoro National Park Montañade Yoro National Park (previously named Montaña de Yoro National Park) is a national park in Honduras. It was established on 1 January 1987 and covers an area of 154.8 square kilometres. It has an altitude of between 1,800 and 2,245 metr ...

* Nombre de Dios National Park * Omoa National Park *

Patuca National Park Patuca National Park is a national park in Honduras. It was established on 1 January 1999 and covers an area of 3755.84 square kilometres. References {{authority control National parks of Honduras Protected areas established in 1999 Cent ...

* Pico Bonito National Park * Pico Píjol National Park *

Punta Izopo National Park Punta Izopo National Park ( es, Parque Nacional Punta Izopo) is a national park located in the municipality of Tela, on the northern Caribbean coast of the Atlántida department of Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is ...

* Port Royal National Park * Río Dulce National Park *

Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve The Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve is 5,250 km2 of preserved land in the La Mosquitia region on the Caribbean coast of Honduras. Most of the land runs along the Río Plátano. The reserve has a number of endangered species and some of Hond ...

Santa Bárbara National Park Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnight ...

Tawahka Asagni Biosphere Reserve Tawahka Asagni Biosphere Reserve is a protected area in Honduras. The reserve was established in 1999, and covers an area of 2509.42 km2. The reserve is surrounded by other protected areas. It adjoins Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve on the north ...

* Temash-Sarstoon National Park

References

{{reflist Ecoregions of Guatemala Ecoregions of Honduras Ecoregions of Nicaragua Neotropical tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests