Native Bees & Squash Plants

Along the Pacific coast of Mesoamerica, people, plants, and pollinators have shared a bond that goes back thousands of years. 

There are three key players at the heart of this story: the farmers who tend the land, the native bees that pollinate it, and the humble squash plants that have nourished families for generations.

These three have always worked in harmony. 

The bees visit the squash blossoms at sunrise, helping the plants bear fruit. The farmers care for both the crops and the landscape that keeps the bees thriving. 

Over time, this partnership has shaped local agriculture, strengthened communities, and become part of the region’s cultural identity.

But that balance is now changing. 

In this blog, we explore why native squash and native bees matter, how they have supported Mesoamerican culture for generations, and what it takes to protect this unique connection.

Native Bees: The Quiet Pollinators of Mesoamerica

Native bees are essential to the health of ecosystems across Central America. 

Unlike honeybees, which were introduced from Europe, many native bee species evolved alongside the region’s wild and cultivated plants. 

These include stingless bees, solitary bees, and ground-nesting species that thrive in forests, fields, and even backyard gardens.

Native bees differ from honeybees in several important ways:

• They often forage earlier in the morning
• They visit flowers more efficiently
• They show strong preferences for native plants.

Because many native squash species bloom at dawn or in the early hours, local bees are right there when the flowers open. 

Their size, behavior, and foraging patterns make them particularly effective pollinators of squash.

This means that for many rural families across this region, these bees are important partners in food production.

Native Squash: A Crop With Deep Roots

Squash has been cultivated in Mesoamerica for more than 8,000 years. 

Long before maize and beans rose to cultural prominence, squash was one of the first domesticated crops in the region. 

Varieties such as Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita moschata were grown in home gardens, forest edges, and traditional milpas. These are mixed crop fields that combine maize, beans, and squash. 

Squash is valuable for many reasons:

• Its seeds are rich in oil and protein
• Its flesh is nutritious
• Its flowers are central to local cuisine
• The vines protect the soil and reduce evaporation
• They also create a natural ground cover that supports healthy farming systems

But squash cannot thrive without pollinators. 

Its flowers open for a few brief hours each morning, and successful fruiting depends on native bees visiting the blossoms during that narrow window. 

Without them, harvests can drop dramatically. 

The Bond Between the Two

The relationship between squash and native bees is woven deeply into the cultural tapestry of Mesoamerica. 

In traditional agriculture, the milpa system placed squash alongside maize and beans. 

Each crop supported the others: maize provided structure, beans fixed nitrogen, and squash shaded the soil. Native bees played a crucial role by pollinating squash blossoms.

Indigenous groups understood this connection. Many kept stingless bees, known as meliponas, in hollow logs or clay pots. 

The honey was used for medicine, ceremonies, and food. Even today, meliponiculture persists in rural parts of Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, carrying forward ancient knowledge about pollination and ecological balance.

Local dishes also reflect this heritage. Squash blossoms are used in soups and stews, toasted seeds are ground into sauces, and young squash is served fresh or cooked. 

These recipes continue to tie communities to their land and to the pollinators that make the harvest possible.

Why This Relationship Matters Today

The link between native bees and squash remains essential to food security and rural livelihoods. Many families still grow squash for household use, market sales, or seed saving. 

Healthy bee populations help sustain these crops without the need for chemical inputs.

But both native bees and traditional squash varieties are facing growing threats, such as:

Declines in native bee populations

Native bees are sensitive to changes in land use. 

Clearing forests, burning fields, and replacing mixed crops with monocultures reduces the habitat they rely on. 

Pesticides add additional pressure by reducing insect numbers and contaminating flowers.

Loss of traditional agricultural systems

As modern farming expands, traditional milpas and home gardens become less common. Fewer squash varieties are planted, which means there are fewer flowers for native bees. 

This loss of agricultural diversity affects food systems and cultural heritage alike.

Climate pressure

Warmer temperatures and unpredictable rain affect bloom timing. 

If squash flowers open earlier or later, native bees may not arrive at the right moment, reducing fruit set.

The Role of Conservation

Protecting native bees and native squash is essential not only for biodiversity but also for food security, traditional farming, and the livelihoods of rural communities that depend on these crops.

Here are some practical steps toward this goal:

Encouraging native plant gardens

When farmers and families grow native squash and other local crops, they create living spaces for native bees. 

These gardens become small sanctuaries where pollinators can feed and nest safely. 

They also help keep traditional farming varieties alive, linking present-day practices to generations of cultural wisdom.

Supporting pesticide-free agriculture

Native bees are highly sensitive to chemicals. 

Encouraging organic or low-impact farming protects pollinators while improving soil and water health can help greatly.

Many farmers who move toward pesticide-free methods notice more bee activity and better pollination.

Restoring natural habitats

Habitat restoration is one of the strongest tools for recovery. 

Reforestation, mangrove protection, and sustainable land management give bees food sources throughout the year and safe sites for nesting. 

These efforts also benefit other wildlife and strengthen the ecosystems that rural communities rely on for farming, fishing, and daily life.

Sharing knowledge

Traditional knowledge is a cornerstone of conservation. 

Practices such as meliponiculture and seed saving preserve both biodiversity and cultural heritage. 

When communities share what they know, whether it’s how to care for bees or how to grow native squash, they ensure that ancient wisdom continues to guide sustainable living today.

Help Paso Pacifico Keep the Connection Alive

The story of native bees and native squash is, at its heart, a story about balance.

A balance between:

• People
• The land
• Tradition and change
• Cultivation
• Care

For thousands of years, this connection has helped communities across Mesoamerica thrive. It has shaped what people grow and eat, as well as how they live in harmony with nature.

Today, that balance needs our attention. 

By supporting local farmers, planting native crops, protecting wild habitats, and valuing traditional knowledge, we can help ensure that these quiet pollinators and ancient crops continue to flourish side by side.

At Paso Pacífico, this belief guides our work. 

We’re committed to protecting the relationships that sustain life along the Pacific coast. Our work encompasses everything from restoring native vegetation, helping to protect different species, to empowering rural communities. 

You, too, can be part of that effort by learning, sharing, volunteering, or supporting conservation projects that keep this heritage alive.

Together, we can make sure that the hum of bees in the morning and the golden bloom of squash in the fields remain a part of Mesoamerica’s living story.

Back in the ’90s, scientists had already begun warning us: Big changes are coming. On cue, the world watched in horror over the next three decades as the mercury rose, farmlands began to dry out, and unnatural weather patterns prevailed.

Today, climate change is a global phenomenon. No country is safe from at least one consequence. Along the Pacific Coast, for instance, rising sea levels and the rapid degradation of coral reefs have already sounded alarm bells. But too few voices are discussing what could potentially be a bigger challenge: desertification and drought.

At Paso Pacifico, we lead conservation efforts across Mesoamerica. Over the years, we’ve seen the effects of these phenomena on local communities firsthand. And while things are not looking great, we know that there’s a lot we can do. So, this World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, let’s roll up our sleeves and take action.  

What Is World Day To Combat Desertification and Drought?

First, some context. The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was established in 1994 by a United Nations General Assembly resolution.

The UN believed these two issues would affect nearly all major regions. It urged the international community to come together and address the matter, selecting June 17 as the official day of observance.

Unfortunately, things haven’t improved much since. In 2024, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification found that 40% of the world’s land area was considered “degraded.” This land is responsible for 95% of all our food. The biggest contributors, the body suggested, were a rapidly growing populace, coupled with unsustainable practices, consumption, and demand for natural resources.

The Real Impact of Desertification and Drought

With so many threats to our ecosystem, you may ask, why focus on desertification and drought? The answer is that these two phenomena are deeply tied to human activity while posing an immediate existential threat. 

Unlike the image it conjures, desertification doesn’t simply mean that sand dunes are slowly extending their reach. Instead, it refers to a gradual process of degradation, in which arid or semi-arid land starts to lose its vegetation completely. This includes not just deserts, but also grasslands, prairies, savannahs, and more. Large parts of North and South America, for instance, have hot semi-arid climates that are at risk.

To give you an idea of how bad this could get, it’s said that 5,000 years ago, the Sahara desert was lush. Today, of course, it’s one of the least arable parts of the world.

Drought similarly means more than just less rainfall. Communities across the world have been crippled by droughts brought about by phenomena like El Niño, and La Niña. More recently, human activity, including poor irrigation practices, deforestation, and erosion, has been a bigger contributor.

The best way to combat this threat? Building more wildlife corridors, a mission Paso Pacifico holds close to its heart. Our teams work tirelessly to restore forest cover across the Pacific Slope ecosystems of Mesoamerica. This prevents drought and deforestation. It also protects wildlife, biodiversity, and local communities.

Why Does This Day Matter?

Clearly, desertification and drought don’t just affect dry countries. Still, their impacts are so far-reaching that it’s hard to iterate just how far the ripples spread.

It’s Impacting Food Production and Prices

The world has limited farmland. If these regions can’t produce crops, global food prices rise, and food becomes harder to procure. Rice yields, for example, diminish by 10% for every 1 degree rise in temperature, a natural outcome of droughts. 

It Means Less Water

Desertification and drought naturally indicate water shortages, but they don’t do a good job of explaining just how disastrous they are in the long term. Both outcomes are associated with a decrease in surface overflow, depletion of groundwater, and the drying up of freshwater sources, like rivers and springs. Considering only about 1.2% of the world’s water is drinkable, this is a serious threat in the years to come. 

It Causes Forced Migration

Historically, the best way to deal with a drought has been to move away from it. But this is no longer a sustainable solution. Urban areas are already crippled under the stress of overpopulation. In 2020, 18.2 million people were affected by droughts and deforestation, a number only set to rise.

It Causes Air Pollution 

Healthy land is a carbon sink, as it is known to naturally absorb greenhouse gases. But when this land degrades, it loses that ability. Rather than storing carbon, it releases it back into the atmosphere. As more land becomes barren, the air gets heavier with carbon. What was once a solution becomes part of the problem.

Why Is Mesoamerica So Crucial?

The Pacific Coast, from California to Chile, is under severe threat. It’s a region known for its extensive forests, urban sprawls, and massive coastlines. But the way things are currently going, these may not last. 

Even Mesoamerica is affected. The area is losing trees faster than other parts of the world. It’s an astonishingly beautiful region that includes parts of Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and other Central American countries. It makes up only 0.5% of the world’s total land, but accounts for 7% of its biodiversity. It’s also currently in crisis.

Between 1980 and 1990, it lost land to deforestation at a rate of 1.4% a year. Since then, 80% of the region’s original habitats have degraded. In El Salvador, one of the most drastic examples, less than 5% of the original forest cover remains.

Meanwhile, further north in California, warmer temperatures and drought-like conditions lead to dangerous wildfires year after year. Further south in Chile, a drought lasting 15 years is beginning to seriously impact the country’s Mediterranean forests. Towards the East, the Amazon faced its biggest drought in history in 2023, which a panel later confirmed was the result of human activity.

All these individual factors come together to ruin what was once one of the most fertile regions in the world. That’s why Paso Pacifico has committed itself to turning these statistics around. Help us rebuild Mesoamerica with a small donation.

What Can You Do To Help?

The good news is that change is possible. Even if volunteer work is out of reach,  everyone can contribute by simply making better choices:

• Buy local produce
• Eat less red meat
• Avoid fast fashion
• Buy from trusted brands
• Travel sustainably

At the end of the day, one of the biggest statements you can make is with your wallet. Always make an effort to support good causes and practices over cheap and easy products and services.

Join the Paso Pacifico Mission

One thing we need to understand this World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is that the planet is under an immense threat. This is no longer an issue that should be discussed at the institutional level, but in every home, school, and workplace. At Paso Pacifico, we’re doing our part, restoring and protecting one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. This includes thousands of acres of dry tropical forests, mangrove wetlands, and coral reefs that make up Mesoamerica.We’ve put one foot forward to initiate change. Visit our website to contribute with a small step of your own.

Life on Mesoamerica’s Pacific slope is influenced by all kinds of things — from its rich mix of plants and animals to its diverse landscapes and colorful cultures. But one of the biggest forces shaping daily life here is the annual monsoon season.

These rains aren’t just a weather shift. They’re what keep everything going — helping water crops, refilling rivers and underground water, providing drinking water, and keeping forests and wildlife healthy.

At Paso Pacifico, the monsoon season plays a huge role in how we work. It pushes us to respond in ways that make sense for the region. We’ve built our conservation efforts around the rhythm of the rains, because everything we do to protect nature depends on them showing up.

Come along as we dig into what the monsoon season is all about — why it happens, and why it matters so much to local farmers and the tropical ecosystems they call home.

What Is the Monsoon Season?

Monsoons make people think of continuous heavy rains. However, monsoons can create dry periods as well as wet. Technically speaking, the term refers to the definitive shift in directional winds, which typically happens when seasons change. The word was derived from the Arabic word mausim, meaning “season.”

As land temperatures change, so does wind direction. When summer sets in, for example, areas of land heat up more quickly than bodies of water. Warm air rises from the earth, reversing wind direction. Wind then moves from cold to warm places. The hot air condenses and becomes rain.

Are the Rainy Season and Monsoon Season the Same?

They are related. They also share similar qualities. But they have their differences. Monsoons feature changes in wind direction. The rainy season is when the most rain happens. Additionally, rainy seasons can be caused by monsoons. They can also be due to tropical storms and other seasonal factors.

Areas That Experience Monsoons

Asia is well-known for its monsoons. But they can take place in any region that experiences contrasting temperatures between its bodies of land and water. Areas with tropical and subtropical climates, such as the Pacific slope, are prone to monsoons.

Its dry seasons happen from November to April, while wet seasons occur from May to October. Before rains arrive, warm, humid air moves from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California, converging over Central America’s Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. 

Mesoamerica’s Mid-Summer Drought

During the wet season, Central America and Mexico’s Pacific slope undergo a brief dry period. Scientists call it the mid-summer drought (MSD). In Central America, it is called veranillo, which translates to “little summer.”

The Pacific slope experiences heavy rains at the beginning and end of its rainy seasons. Between these periods of generous rainfall, the area encounters a 2- to 4-week period from July to August when the downpours are less intense, hence the name.

Why the Monsoon Season Matters in Mesoamerica

While monsoon seasons can bring floods and droughts, they are a vital aspect of life in Mesoamerica. 

Aids Agriculture and Food Security

Small Mesoamerican farmers are heavily dependent on monsoon rains for crop cultivation. Indigenous communities who practice small-scale farming are particularly reliant on rain. The changing seasons affect planting and harvesting.

Changes in seasons dictate their planting and harvesting activities. Major crops from the region include:

• Cotton
• Lima beans
• Tomatoes
• Corn
• Chili peppers
• Cacao 
• Avocados

When rain is delayed or reduced, their livelihoods and local food security become threatened.

Replenishment of Water Supplies

Most rain falls during the wet season. Downpours replenish water supplies. They allow rivers to keep flowing. They also maintain balance in natural ecosystems, especially after dry seasons.

The arrival of rain, its duration, and intensity also determine the amount of water available to households.

Supports Power Generation and the Local Economy

Monsoon rains give fisheries and hydroelectric power plants water. This lets the local economy flourish. Belize, Costa Rica, and Mexico generate electricity through water. Five out of seven Central American countries use water to supply over 30% of their electricity needs.

When rains arrive on schedule, economic uncertainty is reduced, while governments and businesses can anticipate and reduce disruptions.

Fosters Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health

The area is biodiverse. It’s home to over 690 types of reptiles, wherein 35% are endemic. Many animals have breeding cycles and other behaviors that are influenced by seasonal changes. 

For instance, frogs lay eggs in temporary water pools. Insects come out after heavy rains, becoming easy prey for bats and birds. Meanwhile, bird eggs hatch after monsoon rains, when food is more accessible. Forests become lush with plant life after downpours, letting animals forage and seek shelter.

How Climate Change Disrupts Monsoon Seasons

Monsoons have been taking place for millions of years. Though the weather changes they bring cause droughts, floods, and landslides, monsoons are not the root of the problem. Rather, it is climate change. 

Long-term changes in weather patterns and temperatures make meteorological events more erratic and intense. Rains are heavier. Winds are stronger. Temperatures change faster while reaching higher and lower extremes that are harder to tolerate.

Destructive Weather Events in Mesoamerica

Disregarding our environment has brought on some of the strongest and most destructive meteorological challenges:

• Honduras faced one of its worst disasters in September 1974. Eight thousand to 10,000 people died from Hurricane Fifi. Another 100,000 were left homeless.
• Hurricane Mitch destroyed millions of homes in Nicaragua and Honduras. Winds reached 180 miles an hour in 1998.
• Hurricane Stan created floods and landslides. Over 1,000 from Guatemala and neighboring areas died in 2005. 
• Category 4 hurricanes struck Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. More than 400 people died in 2020. Damages were worth $1.4 billion.

Do monsoons cause hurricanes? They don’t, but they can influence their formation and path.

Impact on Conservation

Climate change leads to economic losses. It also reduces the quality of life. Additionally, climate change endangers ecosystems worldwide. The IUCN revealed alarming data. At least 10,967 threatened species are affected by climate change. This makes their extinction more likely.

NASA also shared important information. Even a one-degree rise in temperature has grave and unanticipated effects on species’ abundance, genetics, behavior, and survival. It added that climate change is happening at a rate that’s “unprecedented over millennia.” In fact, the average temperature on the planet has gone up two degrees Fahrenheit since the final decades of the 19th century.

The culprits? Massive carbon dioxide emissions and other human activities. Other examples of harmful human practices include:

• The burning of fossil fuels
• Poor waste management
• Unsustainable manufacturing processes
• Transportation
• Fertilizer use
• Rice cultivation
• Urbanization
• Habitat fragmentation
• Deforestation 

Despite raising the alarm, these types of issues continue to prevail.

Paso Pacifico: Protecting Wildlife Corridors and Fighting Climate Change

Paso Pacifico protects wildlife corridors. We understand the causes and consequences of climate change. We know how it can affect monsoon seasons. These annual events benefit us, our environment, and wildlife. Combined with climate change, however, they can become devastating and lethal forces of destruction. 

We are responding to this urgent issue. Paso Pacifico has initiated reforestation projects and supported innovative efforts like fractal research and the Machete Project.It’s not too late to save the only home we have. But we must take action now.

World Oceans Day 2025 is coming up on June 8. This annual event brings to the fore issues concerning our oceans — the vast part of the earth that makes up 97% of the planet’s water and covers 71% of its surface.

With this year’s theme, “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” the UN urges communities, governments, and other stakeholders to grasp the magnitude of the ocean’s wonders and how to interact with it in a way that sustains its life-giving gifts. 

Oceans sustain life — they produce over half of the world’s oxygen and trap carbon dioxide 50 times more than our atmosphere does. Whether we live inland or along the coast, we owe much of the air we breathe to ocean waters. And we all know its benefits don’t end there.

How Oceans Sustain the Planet and Its People

Oceans play a significant role in the way we live on Earth. Here are some of the ways they impact our lives:

Climate Regulation

Oceans help regulate our climate. They transfer heat from the equator to the poles. This tempers our weather, regulates its patterns, and influences rainfall and droughts in the process.

By trapping one-third of CO2, it helps us breathe and live. However, we need to curb the carbon we produce to avoid adverse effects on climate regulation. If this issue remains unaddressed,  we will experience extreme weather patterns or climate change — something we’re already seeing worldwide because of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Sustaining Biodiversity

The ocean is home to 80% of all biodiversity on Earth, including some 250,000 marine flora and fauna species and microorganisms. There are so many life forms in saltwater. Sadly, marine life is disappearing faster compared to land-based organisms. 

Data from the IUCN reveals that more than 1,550 out of 17,903 marine species and plants are in danger of extinction. This includes the large marine mammal dugong and abalone shellfish species. They face threats from harmful human activities like poaching and overfishing. Ignoring the problem could affect the ocean’s ability to support life.

Food Source 

We derive 15% of our diet’s animal protein from the ocean. Beyond seafood, oceans provide a vast number of marine-derived sustenance, like seaweed, fish gelatin, and fish oil. These are used in high-protein food products like soy milk and peanut butter. 

To continue to enjoy these ocean edibles, we need to seriously reconsider how we view our bodies of water. The sea is not an inexhaustible food source. Overfishing, accidentally catching fish in nets and fishing gear, plastic pollution, etc., are causing them to diminish quickly. 

Transportation and Logistics

Global trade is also highly dependent on marine transportation. Over two-thirds of our economy relies on the oceans to transport goods. In the US alone, 76% of trade involves marine transportation directly and indirectly.  

From manufacturing to e-commerce, oceans enable logistics to flow, giving people and businesses access to the things they need — from bulk produce and livestock to petroleum products, machinery, and raw materials. 

Source of Livelihood

Nearly half of the world’s population relies on oceans for their livelihood. This includes the marine fisheries industry that generates over 57 million jobs worldwide. 

The shipping and logistics industry and other marine-dependent businesses like seafood manufacturing, food and beverage, salt-making, etc., provide over 3 billion individuals with a means to support themselves and their families.

Threats Facing Our Oceans Today

Our ocean ecosystems are in danger. If these issues aren’t fixed, they could seriously affect our lifestyles. We must sustain what sustains us or face consequences within the span of a few short decades.

Unregulated Fishing

Issues surrounding overfishing are more complex than they seem. They involve economic challenges and deeply ingrained culinary practices. Even criminal activities and poaching networks associated with the international drug trade are part of the problem.

The continued decline of marine life due to unregulated human activities demands urgent action. Failing to act promptly will reduce marine biodiversity. This will impact our food sources, nutritional needs, and sustenance.

Rising Ocean Temperatures

Several catastrophic events have taken place due to rising ocean temperatures.

Water temperatures are climbing from greenhouse gases’ excess heat. This makes water expand. Along with melting glaciers, higher ocean temperatures lead to rising water levels. This effect is already around us. It’s evident in the massive floods, changing shorelines, lost animal habitats, and public infrastructure damage we’re experiencing.

As ocean temperatures rise to up to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, species like whale sharks, which thrive in mild water temperatures, get stressed and die. The heat level also affects the health of fish, seabirds, and coral reefs. 

Coral reefs are forced to expel algae. This causes coral reef bleaching, death, and sedimentation.

Water Pollution and Ocean Acidification 

Multiple forms of destruction can stress and harm marine life, threatening their safety and in turn ours. Industries, microplastics, and boat traffic create toxic chemicals. 

Breathing and breeding become more difficult. The air’s carbon dioxide goes into the ocean. The natural balance gets thrown off when the water turns acidic. This affects the development of many sea creatures like shellfish and mollusks. It also impacts the marine ecosystem, affecting other species’ health as well. 

Protecting Marine Corridors in Nicaragua

The survival of marine life greatly depends on our oceans. This is why Paso Pacifico has been carrying out initiatives to protect marine wildlife habitats with the help of volunteers, partner communities, and donors.  

Officially defined by One Earth as the areas beneath and above the oceans that serve as migration routes for fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, these areas promote biodiversity by allowing them to move, feed, and spawn.   

We have been implementing our marine monitoring program across La Flor Wildlife Refuge. It is a 20,000-acre marine area on Nicaragua’s Pacific Coast. Together with other organizations, we have implemented conservation activities to curb destructive fishing and protect different species, including humpback whales and hawksbill sea turtles. 

We also partner with local communities to protect nesting beaches in the area. 

Safeguarding Fish Population, Sustaining Livelihood

Paso Pacifico’s collaboration with organizations like Oceans5, PRETOMA, and Fauna and Flora International promotes aquaculture and sustainable fishing so that fish, sea turtles, and other marine animals can breed in safe environments, without getting caught by fishing vessels before recovery breeding can take place.

The truth is that exploitative fishing could lead to marine animal extinction, severely reducing the populations of fish, sharks, rays, chimera, etc. If we ignore the problem, there may be no more fish to catch by 2048. Food security is at stake, and it is our responsibility to ensure that future generations will have access to marine food sources and the wonders of the ocean. 

How You Can Help

World Ocean Day 2025 puts the spotlight on the value of oceans and why we need to honor them as an irreplaceable resource that sustains life. 

Paso Pacifico supports this endeavor. We continue to develop and implement science-based solutions in monitoring and safeguarding the Pacific slope marine corridors and wildlife. 

Ocean conservation on World Ocean Day should concern us all because it affects everyone. Disruptions have far-reaching effects that influence the economy, food security, tourism, recreation, and our climate. 

Help us by volunteering, involving your business, or donating so we can continue our conservation and education programs. The time to act is now.

You have probably heard this phrase before: “Forests are the lungs of our planet”. I must tell you that such thing is entirely correct. They make up 31% of the world’s land area.

But that’s not everything you can know about forests! Let me tell you even more interesting facts about them, such as their diverse forms, each with unique ecosystems! These are so important because they work as sanctuaries for many birds and animals (and some of them are endangered species!).

They’re also home to more than 80% of terrestrial species and absorb roughly 15.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually.

Along the Pacific coast of Central America, these ecosystems face threats. Preserving these natural habitats are at the heart of what we do at Paso Pacifico.

Join our team as we explore the different types of forests in the world and why their conservation is imperative.

Understanding the Different Types of Forests in the World

While forests can be classified by geographical regions, their latitudes and climates are what influence humidity, precipitation, temperature, and wind, ultimately shaping the diversity of the plants and animals that thrive in them.

Based on this distinction, the three main types of forests are:

Boreal Forests 

Also known as taiga, boreal forests are the largest terrestrial pool of biomes. They occupy 17% of the earth’s land area and 27% of the total forest area.

There are two types of boreal forests:

• Open canopy boreals cover 11% of the land surface area. They have cold and dry climates (45° to 70° latitude), lesser diversity of species, and short growing seasons. 
• Closed canopy boreals are located at lower altitudes. They have warmer climates, rich diversity of species, a long growing season, and a canopy cover of over 20%.

Sweden, Russia, Canada, and Japan are some of the most common places where you can find such forests (they’re also great places for tourism!). They act as carbon sinks, and are really important. Why? Because they store carbon in tree biomass and soil organic matter.

Did you know that these places are home to more than 300 species of birds? This makes it up to three million migratory birds! That’s A LOT! But there’s even more: more than 30,000 species of insects such as pollinators and decomposers, and even mammals live there (around 85 species, including wolves, moose, lemmings, elks and more). This safe habitat for such species is also great for other species that are currently in danger, like the grizzly bear, species of squirrels, polar bears, wolverines and the woodland caribou. Do you understand why we must do whatever we can to ensure their safety?

Even after all of that we said, there’s more important data to cover. Did you know that almost 80% of the planet’s forests are permafrost? This happens due to climate change, and it’s happening extremely fast. We must do something before it’s too late. This accelerated process includes many risks, which I’ll mention to you: damage to infrastructure, landslides, collapsing grounds, instability related to geological problems and even rising sea levels!

Tropical Forests 

Found along the equator in regions like Central and South Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and South America, tropical forests cover about 12% of the Earth’s land surface. They are warm throughout the year, and their abundant cloud cover (which extends to over 8,700 yards ) restricts heat loss, preventing temperatures from dropping.

Popular types of tropical forests include:

• Mangrove forests, where trees grow in low-oxygen soil and brackish water. They stabilize the coastline, offering protection from currents and storms.
• Evergreen rainforests receive over 79 inches of rain annually. They have warm humid conditions and the most diverse terrestrial systems.
• Moist tropical forests exhibit low variability and less rainfall.
• Tropical dry forests receive very little rain and are the most endangered major tropical ecosystems. Long dry seasons are followed by heavy rain.
• Cloud forests are found in high altitudes. They have a low-level cloud cover which makes the crowns of trees appear as if they’re bathed in mist. They also host an abundant collection of epiphytes or air plants.

Tropical forests contain about half of all terrestrial life. They are extremely dense with diverse varieties of flora and fauna. These forests are home to species on the brink of extinction, including the yellow-naped amazon parrot, which is on the IUCN Red List.

Temperate Forests 

Temperate forests are positioned between boreal and tropical forests. They are located at mid-latitudes of around 25° to 50° across North America and Eurasia, covering more than  10.7 trillion square feet. They experience four seasons, receive around 20 to 60 inches of annual precipitation, and support diverse plant growth.

Temperate forests are usually classified into three types:

• Coniferous forests are terrestrial biomes with cold climates marked by conifers, which grow needles and cones instead of leaves and flowers. 
• Deciduous forests are broad-leaf areas that lose their foliage each winter as they enter dormancy. They are classified into five zones based on the height of their trees.
• Temperate rainforests receive heavy rain and are influenced by the sea.

Temperate forests are home to endangered species like the European mink, Vanzolini’s spiny-chest frog, and the mountain caribou that thrive alongside a wide variety of plants, vegetation, passerine birds, and wildlife thanks to the distinctive seasons.

The Plight of the Most Endangered Forests

Do you wanna know something really interesting, and worrying at the same time? Tropical rainforests are one of the most threatened ecosystems. Logging, deforestation, and agricultural expansion are the main threats. They’re so important, but at the same time so overlooked!

Let me add even more relevant data. They used to cover over 14% of the Earth’s land (and that was A LOT). But now they make up only 6% of its surface. We must do something fast if we don’t want that number to drastically reduce. If deforestation continues, they will lose 5% to 10% of their species each decade.

However, tropical dry forests are the most endangered. While they’re known to be resilient, they are no match for the consequences of human interference, climate change and man-made fires designed to clear large forest areas. 

Consequently, they’ve shrunk from 5.9 trillion square feet in the 1500s to 5.2 billion square feet. 

 We now have only 0.09% of the original forested area left. 

The Rich Biodiversity in Rainforests and Dry Forests

Rainforests have the most diverse and complex ecosystems. Lot’s of birds and other amazing animals live there, such as the curl-crested araçari, harpy eagle, resplendent quetzal, and sun parakeet (around 5,000 species are there!).

They’re also home to over 50% of known plant species and hundreds of mammals like anteaters, antelopes, capybaras, elephants, gorillas, jaguars, tigers, and orangutans.

Dry forests, on the other hand, host a range of migratory and aquatic/shore birds. They have an astonishing diversity of trees, most of which are deciduous during the arid season to conserve water. 

They’re home to the black-eared opossum, green iguana, guanay cormorant, northern tamandua , Peruvian booby, Peruvian pelican, roseate spoonbill, Sechuran fox, snowy plover, southern flamingo, the South American sea lion, and the Tumbesian tegu.

Nine out of 25 biodiversity hotspots identified contain dry forest areas. Thanks to dry forests’ climatological conditions,  they are a refuge for thousands of endemic species.

For instance, the Tumbesian region, an area in west Ecuador and northwest Peru, has 58 restricted-range birds. Twenty-three of them are threatened/endangered, like the white-winged guan. That’s why 9 out of 25 biodiversity hotspots identified contain dry forest areas.

Rainforests vs. Dry Forests

We all know how rainforests are. In case you don’t, they usually have high rainfall, a lot of vegetation and are characterized by plenty of biodiversity! What does this mean? That many creatures live there! Found in the tropics, these types of regions have a lot of solar radiation, which means that they contribute to around 25% world carbon. What is this for? Well, they’re really useful to regulate global temperature!

So, what makes them different compared to dry forests? Well, those usually endure very prolonged droughts, meaning that the life there had to adapt to such extreme weather in order to survive.

These regions cover around 41.5% of the world, which is a lot! But more interesting, up to a third of the world population live there! Isn’t that surprising? Millions rely on these biomes to live, which means that conserving them is extremely important.

Types of Forests on the Pacific Coast of Central America

You might ask yourself how many types of forest in the world can exist. So let me name three types of forest you can find: Coastal, tropical and cloud forests! Besides those, there’s also mangroves. All of them absorb carbon and are great sources of natural air and water, meaning that many endangered animals make use of them to live, as we humans do. That’s why protecting these places are extremely vital.

Still, it’s heartbreaking to say that most of these places are often threatened. Wildfires, agriculture and timber harvesting are some of the common issues that make these places deteriorate and reduce the oxygen of the world.

Paso Pacífico’s Conservation Efforts

Our organization, Paso Pacifico, works on the Pacific coast of Central America developing different initiatives that can improve the overall well-being of animals and environments. For example, our reforestation projects, preservation of wildlife and engagement with different communities creating sustainable land use allows us to protect and restore habitats without harming anyone.But that’s not everything! We work to restore different forests and prevent the extinction of endemic species (spider monkeys, sea turtles, stingless bees, yellow-naped amazon parrots, jaguars, and migratory birds and more!). So, if you wanna help us, consider donating!