A Conservation Assessment Public Disclosure Authorized of the Terrestrial Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Eric Dinerstein David M. Olson Douglas ). Graham Avis L. Webster Steven A. Primm Marnie P. Bookbinder George Ledec Public Disclosure Authorized r Published in association with The World Wildlife Fund The World Bank WWF Washington, D.C. A ConservationAssessment of the TerrestrialEcoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean A Conservation Assessment of the Terrestrial Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean Eric Dinerstein David M. Olson Douglas J. Graham Avis L. Webster Steven A. Primm Marnie P. Bookbinder George Ledec Published in association with The World Wildlife Fund The World Bank Washington, D.C. © 1995 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America First printing September 1995 The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this study are entirely those of the authors and should not be attributed in any manner to the World Bank, to its affiliated organiza- tions, or to members of its Board of Executive Directors or the countries they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any consequence of their use. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this volume do not imply on the part of the World Bank any judgment on the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. The material in this publication is copyrighted. Requests for permission to reproduce portions of it should be sent to the Office of the Publisher at the address shown in the copyright notice above. The World Bank encourages dissemination of its work and will normally give permission promptly and, when the reproduction is for noncommercial purposes, without asking a fee. Permission to copy portions for classroom use is granted through the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., Suite 910, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, Massachusetts 01923, U.S.A. The complete backlist of publications from the World Bank is shown in the annual Index of Publications, which contains an alphabetical title list and indexes of subjects, authors, and coun- tries and regions. The latest edition is available free of charge from Distribution Unit, Office of the Publisher, The World Bank, 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A., or from Publica- tions, The World Bank, 66 avenue d'I6na, 75116 Paris, France. ISBN 0-8213-3295-3 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A conservation assessment of the terrestrial ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean / Eric Dinerstein . .. [et al.]. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ). ISBN 0-8213-3295-3 1. Biological diversity conservation-Latin America-Evaluation. 2. Biological diversity conservation-Caribbean Area-Evaluation. 3. Biotic communities-Latin America-Evaluation. 4. Biotic communities-Caribbean Area-Evaluation. 5. Ecology-Latin America- Evaluation. 6. Ecology-Caribbean Area-Evaluation. I. Dinerstein, Eric, 1952- QH77.L25C66 1995 333.9516'098-dc2O 95-227 CIP Contents Foreword viii Acknowledgments ix Authors xi Contributors xii Acronyms and Abbreviations xv Executive Summary xvi Introduction 1 1 Approach 4 Fundamental Goals Underlying the Approach 4 Snapshot Conservation Status 7 Final Conservation Status 8 Biological Distinctiveness 8 Biodiversity Conservation Priority 10 2 Major Ecosystem Types, Major Habitat Types, and Ecoregions of LAC 12 Major Ecosystem Types (METs) 12 Major Habitat Types (MHTs) 12 Ecoregions 14 3 Conservation Status of Terrestrial Ecoregions of LAC 16 Results 17 4 Biological Distinctiveness of Terrestrial Ecoregions of LAC at Different Biogeographic Scales 20 Results 20 5 Integrating Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status 22 Results 22 Major Trends 24 6 Conservation Assessment of Mangrove Ecosystems 36 Definition 36 Ecological Attributes of Mangrove Ecosystems 36 Delineation of Mangrove Complexes and Units 37 Conservation Status 39 Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Activities 39 7 Conclusions and Recommendations 42 Comparisons with Other Priority-Setting Frameworks for LAC 46 Application of the Methodology to Finer Geographic Scales 46 V vi A Consemation Assessment of the TerrestrialEcoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean Appendixes A Methods Used for Assessing the Conservation Status of Terrestrial Ecoregions 49 B Methods Used for Assessing the Conservation Status of Mangrove Units 59 C Definitions of Major Ecosystem Types and Major Habitat Types 63 D Hierarchical Classification Scheme of LAC Ecoregions 66 E Results of Assessments of Landscape-Level Criteria, Conservation Status, and Biological Distinctiveness of Non-Mangrove Ecoregions 71 F Ecoregion Profiles and Sources Consulted for Their Delineation, Classification, and Assessment 84 G Sources for Remaining Natural Habitat and Protected Area Assessments 117 Glossary 123 References 127 Figures 1-1 Analytical Steps Used to Derive Biodiversity Conservation Priorities 5 1-2 Hierarchical Classification Scheme of METs, MHTs, Ecoregions, and Bioregions 6 2-1 Number of Ecoregions by Size Categories 14 Tables 1-1 Matrix for Integrating Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status to Assign Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation 11 2-1 Important Attributes of the Major Habitat Types of Latin America and the Caribbean 13 3-1 Snapshot Conservation Status of Ecoregions by Major Habitat Type 17 3-2 Final Conservation Status of Ecoregions by Major Habitat Type 18 3-3 Final Conservation Status by Size of Ecoregion 18 3-4 Final Conservation Status by Bioregion 19 4-1 Biological Distinctiveness of Ecoregions by Major Habitat Type 21 5-1 Conservation Importance of Ecoregions by Major Habitat Type 23 5-2 Final Conservation Status and Biological Distinctiveness of All Non-Mangrove Ecoregions 24 5-3 Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests: Integration Matrix of Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status 25 5-4 Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests: Integration Matrix of Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status 27 5-5 Temperate Forests: Integration Matrix of Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status 28 5-6 Tropical and Subtropical Coniferous Forests: Integration Matrix of Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status 29 5-7 Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands: Integration Matrix of Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status 30 5-8 Flooded Grasslands: Integration Matrix of Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status 31 5-9 Montane Grasslands: Integration Matrix of Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status 32 Contents vii 5-10 Mediterranean Scrub: Integration Matrix of Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status 33 5-11 Deserts and Xeric Shrublands: Integration Matrix of Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status 34 5-12 Restingas: Integration Matrix of Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation Status 35 6-1 Conservation Status of Mangrove Units of LAC 38 6-2 Most Appropriate Conservation Activities for Mangrove Units of LAC 40 7-1 Ecoregions of Highest Priority at Regional Scale by Bioregion and Major Habitat Type 43 A-1 Habitat Block Analysis for Tropical Broadleaf Forest MET 54 A-2 Habitat Block Analysis for Conifer/Temperate Broadleaf Forest MET 54 A-3 Habitat Block Analysis for Grassland/Savanna/Shrubland MET 54 A-4 Habitat Block Analysis for Xeric Formation MET 54 A-5 Degree of Protection Analysis for Broadleaf and Conifer Forest METs 56 A-6 Degree of Protection Analysis for Grassland/Savanna/Shrubland and Xeric Formation METs 56 A-7 Degree of Protection Analysis Suggested for Large Ecoregions 56 B-1 Habitat Block Analysis for Mangrove Units 60 B-2 Degree of Protection Analysis for Mangrove Units 60 Maps 1 Bioregions of Latin America and the Caribbean 2a Major Habitat Types of Mexico and Central America 2b Major Habitat Types of the Caribbean 2c Major Habitat Types of South America 3 Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean 4 Mangrove Complexes and Units of Latin America and the Caribbean 5 Snapshot Conservation Status of Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean 6 Final Conservation Status of Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean (Snapshot Conservation Status Modified by Threat) 7 Biological Distinctiveness of Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean 8 Biodiversity Conservation Priority of Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean 9 Biodiversity Conservation Priority of Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean (Incorporating Consideration of Bioregional Representation) Large-format map (insert): Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean Foreword As leading financiers of biodiversity conservation in savannas, shrublands, and drylands are among the Latin America and the Caribbean, the World Bank highest priorities for conservation action in Latin and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) have a America and the Caribbean. responsibility to target conservation funds to the The information and orientation this report pro- areas of greatest concern and need. The present vides will support Bank operations that involve the study represents a step toward this goal by helping protection or management of natural habitats. For us to understand more clearly the conservation the GEF, the results of this study will be useful