A country of great biodiversity
Considered a "megadiverse" country by COP10, Guatemala has an extremely rich biodiversity, with 14 life zones, nine bioclimatic domains, seven terrestrial ecoregions, 46 natural communities and 13,866 species, not including invertebrates. Of these, 1,561 are aquatic, 1,988 are fauna and 10,317 are flora. The latter is very varied and includes species that originated in the United States during the Cretaceous period, such as certain conifers and oaks, while others have been "brought up" from South America, such as orchids, palms and mahogany, among others. More broadly, the country's forests are home to a multitude of other species, including cedar and ceiba - Guatemala's national tree. Similarly, many cultivated plants have their origins here, such as corn, beans, amaranth seed, pumpkin, chayote, avocado, cocoa and chilli.
The reasons for this high biological diversity include the relatively ancient geological origin of the territory and its location, as it is situated in the middle of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and between two different biogeographic regions - the Holarctic and the Neotropics. Other factors include its variable altitude, from sea level to over 4,000 metres, and the layout of its mountain ranges, which provide migration corridors between the northern and southern hemispheres.
Seven terrestrial ecoregions
The tropical humid jungle. Lush expanse, it occupies the northern and eastern part of the Petén's lands, with an essentially flat relief. A great quantity of fauna lives here.
Tropical rainforest. Located in the lower parts of the Santa Cruz-Chamá mountains and in the Mayan lands, up to the valley of the Usumacinta river , in the Petén, it covers marshes, "flood" forests, swamps, estuaries, jungles, pastures, as well as the marine coasts of the Caribbean.
Tropical rainforest. This is most of the slope of the Pacific volcanic mountain range. It has the dynamics of an ecotone - an ecological transition zone between two ecosystems - for species of fauna such as birds, but also for flora, between Nearctic and Neotropical species. The vegetation is leafy and the rainfall abundant.
The tropical humid savannah. It occupies the Pacific plain and is criss-crossed by a large number of rivers that have favoured the development of livestock and pastures. There are marine beaches, estuaries and gallery forests.
The mountain forest. It constitutes the major part of the Altiplano. Pines and oaks abound, as well as subalpine meadows in the highest parts.
The thorny scrub. These are areas of lowland cactus and bramble forests. Several arid regions are affected, such as the surroundings of Nentón, in the department of Huehuetenango, and the plains of Jalapa and Jutiapa.
The cloud forest. It is found between the mountains of the region formed by the Alta Verapaz and the Baja Verapaz. It is a complex floristic structure on uneven terrain, and it shelters a great quantity of habitats. It is a very humid environment, with a lush vegetation of mixed forests - made up of deciduous and coniferous trees - where mosses and ferns grow.
Natural ecosystems under threat
From the supply of food, fresh water, raw materials and genetic resources, to the regulation of climate, erosion and the hydrological cycle, waste recycling and wastewater purification, Guatemala's diversity of genes, species and ecosystems benefits society and the economic system. Its importance is also considerable in terms of disease and pest control, pollination and reducing the damage caused by natural disasters.
Nevertheless, the loss of the country's natural ecosystems is accelerating. According to the latest figures from the United Nations Development Programme, gross deforestation rose from 100,000 hectares annually between 2001 and 2006 to over 132,000 hectares in the period 2006-2010, giving rise to one of the highest annual deforestation rates in Latin America. Worse still: in 2006, 18.2% of all species living in the country were in danger of extinction. In response to this alarming situation, CONAP - the National Council for Protected Areas - has increased the country's protected area to 32% by 2021. This figure has been rising steadily since the organization was founded in 1989.
The main protected areas of the country
The Mayan Biosphere Reserve. Located in the north of the country, in the department of Petén, it is the most important of the Guatemalan protected areas, since it represents almost one fifth of the national territory, or more than 21,129.40 km2. It is home to 34% of the country's vascular plant species, 71% of the bird species, 43% of the amphibian species, 64% of the mammal species and 39% of the reptile species. It also includes several national parks, the first of which was created in 1955, Tikal. Its vestiges, emerging from nature, are halfway between natural and cultural heritage.
The Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve. Declared a protected area in 1992, it covers 236,626 hectares and is home to over 885 species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. It also contains 60% of Guatemala's cloud forest, a unique and threatened ecosystem. It is home to El Salto de Chilascó, one of the largest waterfalls in Central America, with a height of 130 meters. It is also home to Angel Stone, a site where the famous quetzal, the country's emblematic bird, can be spotted.
Bocas de Polochic Wildlife Refuge. This area, protected since 1996, borders the western side of Lake Izabal and includes the small rivers that flow into it. They are home to a rich fauna and flora. There are some 396 plant species, 250 bird species and 26 species of aquatic plants. Manatees, howler monkeys and crocodiles can also be seen.
Ten emblematic animals of Guatemala
Whether wet or wooded, Guatemala's different zones provide an ideal habitat for the majority of native and migratory species, be they birds, amphibians, reptiles or mammals. In all, there are almost 20 different ecosystems. Nevertheless, forest destruction is affecting the country's wildlife, making it difficult to observe animals in their natural environment. Birds are perhaps the most likely to be spotted, as thousands of them migrate to South America every year. The Alta Verapaz, Petén and Caribbean coasts are particularly rich in birdlife. Here are ten of Guatemala's most emblematic animals:
The quetzal. Guatemala's national bird, the quetzal has given its name to the country's currency and is depicted on its flag. It is native to the high, wooded and humid lands of Baja Verapaz, where the lucky ones can spot it in the Ranchitos del Quetzal reserve. Its sublime colors range from emerald green to turquoise blue on its back and wings, to bright red on its breast. Its long tail is made up of a few feathers three times the size of its body.
The New World vulture. This is one of the different types of vulture found in Guatemala. Its distinctive feature is that, unlike other vultures of this type, it searches for food by smell rather than sight. In the Maya worldview, its cousin, the pope vulture, was the messenger between humans and the gods.
The toucan. This tropical bird lives mainly in the Petén and Alta Verapaz regions. In Guatemala, there are three species: the emerald toucanet, the collared araçari and the keeled toucan. They are considered positive vectors for the environment and biodiversity, as they feed mainly on fruit (but also on insects and small lizards), whose seeds they disperse to help germinate new fruit trees.
Scarlet macaw. Commonly known as the "parrot", this is the largest and most exotic bird in the Guatemalan wild. It can be recognized by its brilliant colors, which form a gradation from red to blue to yellow. Today, scarlet macaws are rescued from illegal hunting in several of the country's nature reserves.
The jaguar. Considered the third largest cat in the world, the jaguar lives mainly in the Petén jungle. Vital to the stabilization of the ecosystem, it was one of the indigenous animals revered by Mesoamerican cultures in antiquity. Its representation reached its zenith in Mayan civilization, where the Jaguar god took on the form of the Sun god every morning, to perpetuate the cycle of day and night. He thus traveled westward across the sky, only to fall back into the underworld, his home - and that of the dead. An illustration of the divine right of the gods, who also defy death by being reborn every day.
The Guatemalan howler. This primate is characteristic of the country, but can also be found in parts of Belize and in Yucatán, Mexico. Its name comes from its enlarged hyoid bone - located above the larynx, below the base of the tongue - which gives it a powerful cry.
Atele. Characterized by its broad, slender extremities, including a tail so large it can reach 89 centimetres, it is also known as a "spider monkey". Its agility gives it greater freedom of movement, enabling it to swing from branch to branch without using its legs.
Tapir. Considered one of Central America's largest herbivorous mammals. Its elongated snout, which can be described as a proboscis, makes it unique, as does its ability to run quickly, enabling it to escape predators.
Iguana. This prehistoric animal - considered a descendant of the dinosaurs - lives in the tropical woodlands of Guatemala. Although it belongs to the herbivore family, some species prefer insects.
The sea turtle. One of the dominant species on the Guatemalan coast, the sea turtle is of crucial importance to the country's ecosystems. Faced with the imminent risk of extinction, many organizations are promoting activities such as releasing turtles into the ocean. In the Pacific, for example, the CECON - Centre des Études de Conservation (Center for Conservation Studies) in Monterrico is involved.
