Biodiversity in Mexico

Mexico is considered one of the most mega-diverse countries of the world. With over 200,000 different species, Mexico is home of 10–12% of the world's biodiversity. Mexico ranks 1st in biodiversity in reptiles with 707 known species, 2nd in mammals with 438 species, 4th in amphibians with 290 species, and 4th in flora, with 26,000 different species. Mexico is also considered the 2nd country in the world in ecosystems and 4th in overall species. Approximately 2,500 species are protected by Mexican legislations and the Mexican government created the National System of Information about Biodiversity, in order to study and promote the sustainable use of ecosystems.

"Protected Natural Areas" include 170,000 square kilometers in Mexico. Included in this area are 34 reserve biospheres (unaltered ecosystems), 64 national parks, 4 natural monuments (protected in perpetuity for their aesthetic, scientific or historical value), 26 areas of protected flora and fauna, 4 areas for natural resource protection (conservation of soil, hydrological basins and forests) and 17 sanctuaries (zones rich in diverse species).

Mexico's is also home of many ingredients used worldwide, including native ingredients like: chocolate, tomato, maize and corn, vanilla, avocado, guava, chayote, epazote, camote, jícama, nopal, tejocote, huitlacoche, sapote, mamey sapote, and many varieties of beans. Most of these names remain in indigenous languages like Nahuatl.

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Biodiversity in Mexico

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