-Image created by Microsoft Copilot Mesoamerica’s five forests stretch over 8 countries from Mexico to Panama. They cover over 100 million hectares – an area the size of Switzerland. As well as being an ecological bridge between North and South America, they are the world’s third largest biodiversity hotspot, especially for birds and amphibians. Home to jaguars, tapirs and scarlet macaws, its high diversity is due to varied microclimates and topography. The forests also provide food, water and livelihoods for approximately five million people. Between 2000 and 2020 these forests lost 1.4 million hectares or 23% of their area. Historic forest loss was largely due to expansion of plantations but 90% of more recent losses are due to illegal cattle ranching and infrastructure development. Roads through the region fragment habitat and facilitate illegal logging and poaching, both of which are made easier by poor oversight, conflicting laws and poor en...
Veronika Wild
Practising Geographer - nature culture places people