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Ecological Systems of Latin America and the Caribbean

NatureServe and its member programs, with funding from The Nature Conservancy, have completed a working classification of terrestrial ecological systems in Latin America and the Caribbean. This report summarizes the nearly 700 ecological systems that currently are classified and described, emphasizing the natural portion of the landscape. We document applications of these ecological systems for conservation assessment, ecological inventory, mapping, land management, and ecological monitoring.

The working classification presented in this report will serve as the basis for NatureServe to facilitate the ongoing development and refinement of the Latin America and Caribbean components of an International Ecological Systems Classification.

Clasificación de Sistemas Ecológicos de América Latina y el Caribe

Con financiamiento de The Nature Conservancy, NatureServe ha completado una clasificación de sistemas ecológicos terrestres de América Latina y el Caribe, a la que consideramos un trabajo en progreso. Este Informe resume los cerca de 700 sistemas ecológicos que hasta aquí se han identificado y descrito, enfatizando el entorno natural del paisaje. Documentamos también las aplicaciones de estos sistemas ecológicos para evaluaciones de conservación, inventarios ecológicos, mapeo, manejo del suelo y monitoreo ecológico.

La clasificación en curso, presentada en este informe servirá como base a NatureServe para facilitar el desarrollo y refinamiento ya en proceso, de los componentes latinoamericanos y caribeños de una Clasificación Internacional de Sistemas Ecológicos.

  • Database Citation:
  • NatureServe. 2003. Ecological Systems of Latin American and the Caribbean Database, version 1.01. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
Data Download Instructions:

In order to successfully install and run the searchable database on your computer, you must download the files in the order they are presented below. The Access database on Ecological Systems (available in either Access 97 or Access 2000 format) will not run properly unless you have already installed the mini-EcoArt database.

  1. Download the Latin American and Caribbean systems database manual. PDF file (916K)
    • See page 4, Getting Started, for instructions on how to install the database.
    • See page 2, Copyright & Citation, for information on permissions for use of these data.
  2. Download mini-EcoArt database MSAccess file (6.43M).
  3. Download Ecological Systems database (MSAccess files)and supporting documents into the same directory.