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Cause for Concern in South and Latin America, Carribean and Florida
Neotropical
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Isthmian-Pacific moist forests
Most of this ecoregion has already been cleared to make room for cattle pasture, human settlement, and plantations of coffee, pineapple, and other crops. Illegal logging, goldmining, hunting, and pollution all continue to threaten the region, even around protected areas. Parrots have been widely eliminated by people taking nestlings for the pet trade.
Neotropical
•
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Jamaican moist forests
Grazing, the invasion of exotic grasses, and human-caused fires are all taking their toll on this region. Agricultural expansion, especially coffee plantations, presents perhaps the biggest threat.
Neotropical
•
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Japurá-Solimoes-Negro moist forests
This moist forest ecoregion is mostly intact, especially in the interior. But along the rivers, extensive human activities have deforested or degraded habitat, reducing populations of many plants and animals. Logging, mining, cattle ranching, uncontrolled fires, and urban development all pose serious threats to this ecoregion.
Neotropical
•
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Juruá-Purus moist forests
Much of this ecoregion remains intact, mostly because no roads traverse the forests and open them to hunting and colonization. Plans to continue the trans-Amazon highway, however, could result in extensive logging and hunting. The expansion of small-scale cattle ranching and agriculture along the abundant river communities also threatens the forest environment.
Neotropical
•
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Leeward Islands moist forests
Forests of this ecoregion are often cleared for banana plantations, road building, or urban development. Pollution, grazing, and exotic species all pose serious problems. Excessive numbers of some bird species are often killed for meat or sport or are taken as pets.
Neotropical
•
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Madeira-Tapajós moist forests
Human activities such as agriculture and ranching, mining, road-building, logging, wildlife exploitation, hydrologic projects, introducing exotic species, hunting, and frequent burning of the savannas all threaten this unique ecoregion.
Neotropical
•
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Magdalena Valley montane forests
Today, most of the original forest cover of this ecoregion has disappeared due to conversion to farmland and cattle ranching. Only a few forest patches still exist around the Cabrera River in Tolima and along creeks. Goats were introduced in the 16th century by the Spanish, and their descendants still roam and graze throughout the region today, competing with native species for food and causing damage to the landscape. Several oil deposits are present in the region, and drilling and extraction causes pollution around the Tatacoa Desert. There are no reserves or other conservation projects protecting this ecosystem.
Neotropic
•
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Magdalena-Urabá moist forests
Most of Colombia's human population can be found surrounding this ecoregion, creating tremendous pressure on the area's natural resources. Large-scale colonization, cattle ranching, gold mining, oil drilling, timber operations, illegal narcotic crops, and warfare threaten the region, as well as extreme pollution of the two most important rivers, the Magdalena and the Cauca.
Neotropical
•
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Marajó varzea
Both the natural habitat and biodiversity of the Maraj Vrzea have suffered severe degradation from large-scale agriculture, forestry, and ranching operations. Because this area occupies the mouth of the Amazon's "superhighway," it has been affected by human activities for hundreds of years. Other concerns include human colonization, hunting pressures, the collection of palm fruits, logging, and subsistence agriculture.
Neotropical
•
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Maranhão Babaçu forests
No large protected areas exist in this ecoregion. Severe deforestation marks the path of shifting cultivation, plantation agriculture, and cattle ranching. Pioneer species such as babacu palms move in and flourish in places where the forest has been cleared. In Maranho, stands of babacu cover almost 250,000 acres (100,000 ha), and exotic grasses planted in cattle pastures replace native vegetation.
