Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean: Living Expression of Global Biodiversity

This region brings together three critical dimensions for global conservation: exceptional biodiversity, profound cultural richness and high vulnerability to climate change. 

Within less than 2% of the Earth’s land area, the region is home to some of the world’s most diverse, fragile, and globally significant ecosystems, ranging from tropical forests and mountain systems to coral reefs and island landscapes with high levels of endemism.

In Mesoamerica and the Caribbean, Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant communities and local communities inhabit and manage nearly 40% of forested areas, sustaining knowledge systems that have enabled the conservation of nature across generations. Biological and cultural diversity coexist and reinforce one another.

Nature 2030: The Union in action

The implementation of the Nature 2030 IUCN Programme in the region is grounded in a core belief: true conservation only happens when it originates within the heart of the territories and is strengthened through the efforts of their inhabitants. In a context where Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant communities manage a significant proportion of forests and high-value ecosystems, the Union promotes approaches that integrate territorial governance, rights, traditional knowledge, and scientific evidence to sustain biodiversity over the long term.

Regional priorities focus on conserving and restoring landscapes and strengthening ecological connectivity. Maintaining functional biological corridors allows biodiversity, water, and livelihoods to flow beyond national borders, ensuring the integrity of the land and a balance between conservation, production, and human well-being.

In this region, water management is seen as critical to life. IUCN works to safeguard watersheds, wetlands, and hydrological systems that sustain biodiversity and reduce risks associated with water and food insecurity. At the same time, actions in oceans and coastal areas strengthen policy frameworks and channel investments toward the restoration of marine ecosystems, which are essential for the region’s ecological and social resilience.

In one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, climate action is integrated with conservation. IUCN promotes Nature-based Solutions that contribute to both mitigation and adaptation, reduce climate risks, and strengthen the resilience of ecosystems and communities, aligning biodiversity, development, and climate stability.