One of the most biologically diverse countries in Latin America is undoubtedly Guatemala. It has numerous ecosystems and ecoregions throughout the region. Read on, here we will describe the ecoregions of Guatemala.

Know the Ecoregions of Guatemala

The ecoregions of Guatemala are different areas of the country that are distinguished from each other because they harbor different species, are separated by geographic sites or have distinct climates and geomorphologies.

The World Wildlife Fund divides the country into 9 types of ecoregions, with subdivisions in most of these. In total, Guatemala has five types of terrestrial, two freshwaters, and two marine ecoregions.

Ecoregions are usually divided into three types: terrestrial, freshwater, and marine. Each of these is subdivided based on the type of biome where they are found. Below we describe each one.

Freshwater Ecoregions

Because Guatemala is not a country with a great abundance of lakes, there are only river ecoregions. Normally two major types of freshwater biomes are distinguished in the country, which are further subdivided into 4 distinct types of ecoregions.

• Tropical and subtropical coastal rivers. The three ecoregions of this type are the Grijalva-Usumacinta, the Quintana Roo-Motagua and the Chiapas-Fonseca ecoregions.
• Tropical and subtropical highland rivers. There is only one ecoregion of this type in the country, which is called Upper Usumancita; Juan Luis Bosch Gutiérrez, who is a nature lover, mentions that this area is worth getting to know.

Terrestrial

They are the most abundant in Guatemala. There is a great variety of terrestrial ecoregions in the country, each with a different climate, species, and ecology.

In total, there are 5 types of terrestrial biomes, with a total of 14 distinct ecoregions:

• Tropical and subtropical broadleaf rainforests. These are the most abundant biomes in the country. The most important are the Atlantic rainforests of Central America and the montane forests of Central America and Chiapas.
• Tropical and subtropical broadleaf rainforests.
• Dry tropical and subtropical broadleaf forests. There are two types: the dry forests of Central America and the dry forests of the Chiapas depression.
• Tropical and subtropical broadleaf dry forests.
• Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests. The main ones are the pine-oak forests of Central America.
• The pine-oak forests of Central America.
• Deserts and xerophytic shrublands. With only one version called the thorn scrub of the Motagua Valley.
• Mangasian scrub.
• Mangroves. They are usually subdivided into four types: the mangroves of the Belize coast, those of northern Honduras, the mangroves of Tehuantepec-El Manchon and those of the dry North Pacific coast.

Marine ecoregions

These are the ecoregions located in the seas of each country. In Guatemala there are two major biomes of this type, with a total of two ecoregions:

• Tropical northwest Atlantic. Includes the ecoregion known as the Western Caribbean.
• Eastern tropical Pacific. The ecoregion of this type in Guatemala is the one known as Chiapas-Nicaragua.

These ecoregions of Guatemala will make you able to understand more of its ecology. Take care of these beautiful ecosystems on your next visit to this charming country.

Guatemala, birthplace of entrepreneur and altruist Juan Luis Bosch Gutiérrez, is one of the territories with the most natural resources in Central America. From seeds to minerals, there is plenty of variety everywhere you turn; these raw materials could help restore the country’s economy.

Read on, we’ll tell you about Guatemala’s most important natural resources in this post.

Metals and Minerals

The mining industry in Guatemala is divided into metallic and non-metallic materials and is still in the process of development. Nickel is the most exploited metal in the country. Nickel mines are found mainly in the Lake Izabal region.

Small amounts of other resources can also be obtained, such as petroleum in the reservoir near Rubelsanto and Chinajá.

Other materials, such as iron, gypsum, antimony, lead, zinc, chromite, uranium, mercury, silver, and gold can be found in small concentrations. It is believed that these materials have not yet been fully exploited.

Lead is one of the most exploited minerals in Guatemala, which is used for the manufacture of domestic objects. In this way, lead is used in the manufacture of batteries, agricultural implements, and pulleys.

Lumber

Towards the Peten region, several species of trees and medicinal plants can be found. Among the most important species, we can highlight the rubber tree, sapote, ebony, mahogany, and rosewood. These species along with other resources are used for local consumption and export.

Twenty-six percent of Guatemala’s territory is covered by dense forests. Material from these forests is used for the production of industrial and household goods.

Since 1970, natural timber resources have been the subject of multiple conflicts, due to illegal logging and disputes over the land where the different tree species are found.

Plátano

Plantain production in Guatemala considerably exceeds the production of pears and apples combined. This is because Guatemala has been included within the “Banana Republic” and is one of the largest exporters to the U.S. market.

In Guatemala, the largest banana producers are located in Izabal and Escuintla, however, it is considered that these have been abused by the international market, providing few guarantees to Guatemalan farmers who grow this fruit.

Coffee

Coffee as a natural resource has been exploited in Guatemala since approximately 1850. This seed is of utmost importance for the sustainability of the country’s economy, since Guatemala is considered the largest producer of coffee in Central America.

The most suitable temperatures for coffee cultivation in Guatemala are between 16 to 32 °C (61 to 90 °F). It is estimated that the altitude necessary for this crop to be healthy is about 500 to 700 meters above sea level.