Preserving Nature, Nurturing Tradition

The diverse ecosystems and habitats of Central America harbor a wide spectrum of neotropical flora and fauna and a panoply of sea life. Colombia’s rainforests alone are a thriving habitat for more than 1,900 species of birds and 45 types of mammals, many endemic to the region.

Costa Rica’s tropical forests are legendary—as are the country’s conservation initiatives. Innovative restoration programs in the Guanacaste Conservation Area have contributed to regeneration of the region’s rare and endangered tropical dry forests, heavily felled by cattle ranchers in the mid-20th century. The conservation zone now harbors an estimated 235,000 species, which account for 65% of the species in Costa Rica.

In the Panama Canal Zone, a world-record 385 bird species were once recorded in a single day. The region is carefully conserved by the government, since the freshwater coming out of the rainforest is necessary for the locks to operate. Explore the vibrant undersea along the Panamanian coast, including in the San Blas Islands, where the Guna Yala people are careful not to overfish their reefs.

In 2009, the Belize Barrier Reef—Belize’s only UNESCO World Heritage site—was placed on the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger, due to threats like offshore oil extraction, hurricanes, and coastal development. Belize vowed to take landmark action to revitalize and safeguard the fragile ecosystem, and in 2018, the World Heritage Committee removed the reef from the list. Today, this thriving reef supports a wealth of marine life, including more than 500 species of fish, gentle manatees, and more than 90 varieties of coral.

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The diverse ecosystems and habitats of Central America harbor a wide spectrum of neotropical flora and fauna and a panoply of sea life.