Southern Andean Yungas

The Southern Andean Yungas is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregion located in the Neotropic biogeographic realm, covering Central and South America, the Caribbean, and southern portions of Mexico, spanning approximately 75,152 km². Classified under the WWF ecoregion code NT0165, this region represents a distinct ecological community shaped by its unique combination of climate, geography, and evolutionary history.

Climate and Vegetation

This ecoregion experiences warm year-round with high annual rainfall, typically exceeding 2,000 mm. The dominant vegetation consists of dense, multi-layered canopy of broadleaf evergreen trees. These conditions create the foundation for the ecological communities found within the Southern Andean Yungas.

Ecological Significance

These forests are the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems on Earth, hosting an extraordinary density of plant and animal species per unit area. Epiphytes, lianas, and a rich understorey characterise the complex vertical structure. The Southern Andean Yungas contributes to the broader biodiversity patterns of the Neotropic realm.

Geographic Distribution

The Southern Andean Yungas extends across Argentina and Bolivia. This geographic range places it within the Neotropic realm, one of the eight major biogeographic divisions of the world.

Notable Species

The Southern Andean Yungas supports a range of wildlife, including (Dictyota dichotoma), agate snail (Cecilioides acicula), Annual Knawel (Scleranthus annuus), Ball Mustard (Neslia paniculata), Bastard Alkanet (Buglossoides arvensis), Bastard Nodding Thistle (Carduus acanthoides), Bastard Scotch Thistle (Carduus nutans), beautiful grass snail (Vallonia pulchella), and 42 more species. Among these, 13 species are classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List, underscoring the conservation importance of this ecoregion.

Conservation

Like many tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecosystems, the Southern Andean Yungas faces threats from deforestation, agricultural expansion, logging, and climate change. Conservation efforts in this ecoregion focus on habitat preservation, sustainable land management, and protecting corridors that connect fragmented habitat patches.