Neotropical RealmEdit

The Neotropical Realm is the biogeographic region that encompasses much of the tropical Americas, including most of South America east of the Andes, Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of Mexico. It is defined not only by political boundaries but by distinctive assemblages of plants and animals shaped by a long, interlinked geological and climatic history. The realm hosts some of the planet’s most celebrated ecosystems, from vast lowland rainforests to winding mountain biomes, and it remains a laboratory for evolution and a cornerstone of regional economies and cultural life. Its boundaries traditionally coincide with major geographic features such as the Andes and the Isthmus of Panama, which together helped shape a highly specialized and diverse biota. The Neotropical Realm sits opposite the Nearctic Realm to the north, a contrast that highlights the region’s unique species mixes, ecological processes, and human interactions.

Geography and boundaries

The core of the Neotropical Realm lies in tropical South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and southern Mexico. The region’s western boundary is largely defined by the Andean cordillera, a corridor that generates diverse climates and a mosaic of habitats from tropical forests to high-elevation páramo and puna ecosystems. The eastern boundary follows the Amazon basin’s vast lowlands and river systems, which foster an extraordinary concentration of life.
Major subregions include the Amazon basin, the tropical Andes, the Cerrado savanna and the Caatinga scrublands of Brazil and northeastern South America, the Pantanal wetlands, and the Caribbean island chains. Each subregion hosts distinctive suites of species and ecosystems, yet they are all tied together by shared biogeographic history and hydrology. See Amazon rainforest for a flagship example, and Andes for a mountain corridor that drives considerable diversification.
Human geography parallels ecological complexity. National borders in the region overlay indigenous and mestizo communities, agrarian lands, and rapidly growing urban centers. The realm’s political geography influences conservation policies, land use, and the pace of development, all of which in turn affect ecological integrity.

Biodiversity and ecosystems

The Neotropical Realm sustains some of the world’s richest biodiversity, with tropical rainforests, cloud forests, dry forests, wetlands, and high-elevation ecosystems contributing to a record of species richness unmatched in many other regions. The Amazon rainforest is a focal point of conservation, research, and resource use, while the Pantanal and Cerrado illustrate how floodplain and savanna systems support distinct plant and animal communities.
Within the tropical Andes, habitat diversity from highland forests to montane grasslands generates rapid speciation and endemism. The interplay of altitude, temperature, and moisture creates ecological gradients that have shaped the evolution of many groups, from amphibians and birds to insects and plants. The region’s biomes also sustain charismatic and economically important fauna, such as jaguars, capybaras, toucans, and macaws, each tied to particular habitats and hydrological regimes.
People have long interacted with these ecosystems, shaping landscapes through agriculture, forestry, and mining, while local communities often maintain traditional ecological knowledge that underpins sustainable use. See Sustainable development and Ecotourism for discussions of how conservation and local livelihoods intersect.

Evolutionary history and biogeography

The Neotropical Realm bears deep signatures of geologic and climatic change. The uplift of the Andes created a long-running engine of diversification, driving speciation as climates shifted and habitats shifted with altitude. The Great American Biotic Interchange, when land connection formed between North and South America, allowed exchanges of species that reshaped regional faunas and offered opportunities for adaptation and niche filling in new environments. See Andes and Great American Biotic Interchange for context.
The region’s biota reflects both long-term stability in some lineages and rapid evolution in others, producing a depth of endemism in certain groups that remains a central focus of biogeographers and conservationists. The combination of ancient lineages and recent radiations helps explain why the Neotropical Realm is a focal point for studies in ecology, evolution, and systematics.

Human dimensions and economies

Indigenous and local communities have lived in Neotropical landscapes for millennia, adapting to diverse environments from rainforests to highlands. Contemporary economies in the realm rely on a mix of agriculture, extractive industries, tourism, and increasingly, market-based conservation strategies. Balancing development with environmental protection is a central policy concern.
Conservation approaches vary widely. Some emphasize expanding protected areas and strengthening enforcement to reduce deforestation, while others stress sustainable-use models that incorporate private land tenure, certification schemes, and community-based management. Proponents argue that clear property rights and market incentives can align conservation with economic stability, whereas critics worry about restrictions on livelihoods and regional disparities in who benefits from conservation investments.
International actors and global markets play a role as well. Financing for forest protection, credit programs for sustainable land use, and cross-border cooperation on climate and biodiversity targets all shape outcomes in the Neotropical Realm. See Conservation and Sustainable development for broader trends and debates.

Controversies and debates

Deforestation and land use: The pace and drivers of forest loss, particularly in the Amazon, are contested topics involving policy choices, commodity markets, and enforcement capacity. Advocates of rapid conservation argue that preserving intact forests is essential for climate regulation and biodiversity, while others contend that local livelihoods and infrastructure development require a more flexible, rights-based approach to land use. The debate often centers on who bears risk and who gains from different policy tools.
Indigenous rights versus resource development: The tension between recognizing indigenous land tenure and permitting extractive activities remains a live issue. Supporters of assertive property rights argue that clearly defined ownership incentivizes long-term stewardship, whereas opponents worry that overly restrictive regimes can hinder growth and poorer communities’ access to opportunity. The discussion frequently touches on how to reconcile traditional stewardship with modern economic needs.
Global alarmism versus local pragmatism: Critics of what they see as exaggerated environmental alarmism argue that strict, top-down rules can hinder development and investment in the region, sometimes without delivering commensurate conservation benefits. Proponents of prudent risk management contend that biodiversity and ecosystem services justify swift action. In this frame, critiques of “woke” environmentalism are often aimed at arguing for proportional responses that protect livelihoods while still advancing stewardship of ecosystems.
Protected areas and governance: The creation and management of protected areas raise questions about governance, funding, and the rights of local communities. Market-based and community-led models are promoted by some as ways to fund conservation without displacing people, while others worry that certain designs of protected areas can undermine subsistence activities or cultural practices. See Conservation for the spectrum of approaches and the debates that accompany them.