| Central American Atlantic moist forests | |
| Map: | Ecoregion NT0111.png |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Map Alt: | Ecoregion territory (in purple) |
| Biogeographic Realm: | Neotropical |
| Biome: | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
| Border: | Belizean Coast mangroves |
| Border1: | Central American dry forests |
| Border2: | Central American montane forests |
| Border3: | Central American pine–oak forests |
| Border4: | Isthmian–Atlantic moist forests |
| Border5: | Miskito pine forests |
| Border6: | Mosquitia–Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast mangroves |
| Border7: | Motagua Valley thornscrub |
| Border8: | Northern Honduras mangroves |
| Border9: | Petén–Veracruz moist forests |
| Area: | 89979 |
| Country: | Guatemala |
| Country1: | Honduras |
| Country2: | Nicaragua |
| Country3: | Belize |
| Coordinates: | 13.75°N -84.75°W |
| Protected: | 30.2 |
The Central American Atlantic moist forests ecoregion (WWF ID: NT0111) covers the lowland coastal forests of Honduras, southeast Guatemala, and the eastern forests of Nicaragua (plus two small patches in Belize). Half of the ecoregion is closed-canopy tropical broadleaf evergreen forest, with tree heights reaching 50 meters.[1] [2] [3] This ecoregion has the largest single fragment of natural forest in Central America, with a size of 14629km2.[4] The total area is 89979km2.
The ecoregion stretches for 700 km from the valley of Lake Izabal in southeastern Guatemala, across the northern coast of Honduras (in a 50 km wide strip), and down across most of the eastern half of Nicaragua (additionally alongside two minuscule patches in Belize). The mean elevation is 293m (961feet), with a maximum of 2270m (7,450feet).
The climate of the ecoregion is Tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification (Am)). This climate is characterized by relatively even temperatures throughout the year (all months being greater than 18C average temperature), and a pronounced dry season. The driest month has less than 60 mm of precipitation, but more than (100-(average/25) mm. This climate is mid-way between a tropical rainforest and a tropical savanna.[5] [6] Average precipitation in the ecoregion is 2,333 mm/year.[4]
Half of the ecoregion is closed-canopy broadleaf evergreen rain forest, but with 30% of the territory converted agriculture. The remainder is open canopy evergreen forest or herbaceous wetland.[3] From 1990 to 2000, the ecoregion was experiencing deforestation at a rate of just under 1% per year. The ecoregion contains a number of large undisturbed fragments, which is important for larger species of animals. (The largest mammals require an estimated 100 km2 fragment to sustain viable populations).[4]
30.2% of the ecoregion is officially protected.[3] These protected areas include: