Introduction

Leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus), Madagascar.
© Piotr Naskrecki/ Conservation International

Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas).
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

King protea (Protea cynaroides), South Africa.
© Haroldo Castro/ Conservation International

Fiji banded iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus).
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

A pair of southern cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius) mating.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Dwarf chameleon (Brookesia superciliarus), Madagascar.
© Piotr Naskrecki/ Conservation International

Buttress tree (Dracontomelon vitiense), Cote d'Ivoire.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

The endangered diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), Madagascar.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Albertine Rift

A man with a pack hiking though Virunga Volcanoes National Park, a Mountain Gorilla habitat, Rwanda, Africa.
© Russell Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Hagenia woodland in Virunga Volcanos National Park, habitat of the Mountain Gorilla, Rwanda, Africa.
© Russell Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Hagenia woodland in Virunga Volcanos National Park, habitat of the Mountain Gorilla, Rwanda, Africa.
© Russell Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Atlantic Forest

Muriqui monkey (Brachyteles arachnoides) in the Atlantic forest region, Brazil, South America.
© Andrew Young

Sloth in the Atlantic Forest region, Brazil, South America.
© Russell Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Black-faced Lion Tamarin, (Leontopithecus caissara), Brazil, Atlantic Forest hotspot. Discovery of the species in 1990 was a surprise because it had gone unnoticed in a highly populated region. Population estimates remain in the low hundreds.
© Russell Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Male Muriqui monkey, Brachyteles hypoxanthus, Fazenda Montes Claros, Brazil, Atlantic Forest Hotspot.
© William R. Konstant

Beach landscape, Brazil, Atlantic Forest Hotspot
© William R. Konstant

A waterfall in the Atlantic forest region, Parana State, South Brazil.
© Russell Mittermeier/ Conservation International

A stream near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Atlantic Forest Hotspot
© William R. Konstant

Deforestation, near Una Reserve, Bahia, Brazil, Atlantic Forest Hotspot.
© William R. Konstant

Male Muriqui monkey leaping, Brachyteles hypoxanthus, Fazenda Montes Claros, Brazil, Atlantic Forest Hotspot.
© William R. Konstant

Golden-headed Lion Tamarin, Bahia, Brazil, Atlantic Forest Hotspot.
© William R. Konstant

California Floristic Province

Primordial Plant, Point Reyes, California Floristic Province Hotspot.
©Sterling Zumbrunn/ Conservation International

California PoppyCalifornia Floristic Province Hotspot.
©Sterling Zumbrunn/ Conservation International

Cape Floristic Region

George or Scarborough lily (Cyrtanthus elatus), Outeniqua Mountains, South Africa. South Africa's Cape Floristic Region hotspot.
© Haroldo Castro/ Conservation International

Caribbeanislands

Ricord's iguana (Cyclura ricordi, a Critically Endangered iguana speices that is endemic to a very small area in the southern part of the Dominican republic on the border with Haiti. It is sympatric with the more widespread rhinoceros iguana (C. cornuta), from which it can be readily distinguished by its red eyes. Caribbean Island Hotspot
© Cristina G. Mittermeier

A handful of hatchling crocodiles from a breeding facility, Cuba.
© Cristina G. Mittermeier

Caucasus

An azure butterfly (Celastrina sp.).

Cerrado

The Formoso River, Emas National Park, Cerrado, Brazil.
© Haroldo Castro/ Conservation International

Aerial view of Jacuba River, Emas National Park, Cerrado, Brazil.
© Haroldo Castro/ Conservation International

Calliandra spp. (white form), Emas National Park - Cerrado, Brazil.
© Haroldo Castro/ Conservation International

Formosa River, Emas National Park, Cerrado, Brazil.
© Patrick Johnston/ Conservation International

Calliandra spp. "the Cerrado Flower."
© Haroldo Castro/ Conservation International

Tucanucu, Ramphastos toco, Brazil, Cerrado.
© Russell Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Chilean Winter Rainfall Vegetation And Valdivian/patagonian Forests

Tina Buijs, TNC contract park guard supervisor studies moss covered trunks of rare old Alerce trees, (Fitzroya cupressoides), World's second oldest living species found in a small grove of old-growth trees still standing in The Nature Conservancy's Reserva Costera Valdiviana, (Valdivian Coastal Reserve), a 147,500 acre site comprising temperate rainforest and 36km of Pacific coastline south of Valdivia, Chile.
Mark Godfrey © 2004 The Nature Conservancy

Aerial photograph of The Nature Conservancy's Reserva Costera Valdiviana, (Valdivian Coastal Reserve), a 147,500 acre site comprising temperate rainforest, freshwater lagoons, rivers, coastal Olivillo forest, old-growth Alerce trees and 36 kms of Pacific coastline located south of Valdivia, Chile.
Mark Godfrey © 2004 The Nature Conservancy

Coastal Forests Of Eastern Africa

Crested guineafowl (Guttera pucherani), Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa Hotspot.
© Cristina G. Mittermeier

Young leopard (Panthera pardus), Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Eastern Arc Mountains And Southern Rift

African violets (Saintpaulia spp.), Eastern Afromontane.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Silvery-cheeked hornbill (Ceratogymna brevis), Eastern Afromontane.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Udzungwa or Uhehe colobus (Procolobus gordonorum), Eastern Afromontane.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Clear-cutting and burning in he Usambara Range, Eastern Afromontane.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Firewood harvesting, which is particularly important for cooking and heating during the cold season, maybe one of the largest uses of the forests of the Eastern Arc Mountains and Southern Rift, and one that is particularly hard to regulate. Eastern Afromontane.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Ethiopian Highlands

Mountain nyala or gedemsa (Tragelaphus buxtoni), Ethiopia.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Herenna Forest, Ethiopia.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Rouget's rail (Rougetius rougetii), Ehtiopia.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Giant lobelia (Lobelia rhynchopetalum), Ethiopia.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

This local elderly woman in Debre Libanos relies on whatever bits and pieces she can carve off of old stumps. Eastern Afromontane.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Guinean Forests of West Africa

Unnamed toad of the Bufo togoensis complex.
© Piotr Naskrecki/ Conservation International

Hingeback tortoise (Kinixys erosa), Cote d'Ivoire.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Lowe's guenon (Cercopithecus lowei), Cote d'Ivoire
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

The Himalaya

The Bengal tiger (Oanthera tigris tigris) of India, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, was the first recognized tiger subspecies. Kaziranga National Park in northeastern India, and alluvial plain grassland, is known to hold the higest adult tiger density- almost 17 tigers per 100 km squared- evidence that tiger densities can still be high in optimal habitats. Himalaya hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), Himalaya.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Indo-burma

White-headed black langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus leucocephalus), China.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Boy with charcoal, Indo-Burma Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Irano-anatolian

The impressive Kopet-Dagh Range is the border between Turkmenistan and Iran, and the refuge of many species like the Vulnerable bezoar or wild goat (Capra aegagrs) and Vulnerable Afghan Urial (Ovis orientalis cycloceros). Irano-anatolian Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Man with rifle, Irano-Anatolian Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Japan

Temperate rainforest, Yakushima Island, South Japan. Habitat of the Japanese Macaque.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Waterfall in forest, Yakushima Island, South Japan, Japan Hotspot.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Whole tuna for sale in Tokyo.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Madagascar

The endangered black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) is found in the rainforest of eastern Madagascar, and is thereated byhabitat destruction and hunting. Recent infroamtion indicated that it may be divded into three distinct subspecies. Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands Hotspot.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

The leaf-tailed geckos of the genus Uroplatus are endemic to Madgascar and rank among the world's most cryptically shaped and colored lizards in the world. This species, the aptly-named U. phantasticus, is from the region of Ranomafana National Park. Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands Hotspot.
© Piotr Naskrecki/ Conservation International

Madreanpine-oakwoodlands

Pinyon pine forest, Texas, USA.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

The maroonfronted parrot (Rhynchopsitta terrisi) is a vulnerable species that is one of the most important endemic flagships for the Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands. This flock was photographed in the El Taray Sanctuary in the Sierra Madre Oriental. Madrean pine-oak woodlands hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Durango chipmunk (Tamias durangae solivagus), Mexico.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Cloud forest and waterfall in the Sierra de Tamaulipas, Mexico.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Black bear (Ursus americanus), Mexico.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Maputaland-pondoland-albany

Strandloper Falls in the Mkambati Nature Reserve, Pondoland. Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii), Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

The Ceropithecus mitis group of guenons is represented in the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot by the distinctive endemic Samango monkey subspecies C. m. labiatus.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

In addition to the irreversible loss of habitat in the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot to cultivation, urbanization, and plantations, localized mining activities- specifically titanium extraction from coastal sand dunes- have also led to loss of natural vegetation.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Elephants in the Tembe Elephant Reserve, South Africa.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Mediterranean Basin

The Cabrera Archipelago, south of Mallorca Island, Spain, is one of the few sites where Mediterranean-type forests have found refuge, thanks to which this area was declared a national park and, above all, because for many years a military base operated there, hindering the development of this zone, which now has different endemic flora species. Mediterranean region Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

The silhouette of a large conifer on the Sierra de Cazorla, Spain.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

East Melanesian Islands

Pacific boa (Candoia spp.), East Melanesian Islands Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Tree buttresses on a rainforest giant, Vanuatu.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Coconut crab (Birgus latro), East Melanesian Islands Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Mesoamerica

Jaguar (Panthera onca).
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

The magnificent red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) is one of the world's best known and most photographed frogs, and has become a "poster child" for rainforest conservation around the world. Mesoamerica Hotspot.
© Piotr Naskrecki/ Conservation International

Ornate hawk-eagle (Spizaetus ornatus), Mexico.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

The Mountains Of Central Asia

The spectacular Tien Shan Mountain range of Kyrgyzstan. Mountains of Central Asia Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii), Mountains of Central Asia.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Red deer (Cervus elaphus), Mountains of Central Asia.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Mountains Of Southwest China

The golden or snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana, VU) is among the few truly temperate monkey species in the world, and moves in large groups that can exceed 300 individuals. This photograph was taken in the Beihai Park, Sichuan. Mountains of Southwest China Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

The golden or snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana, VU) is among the few truly temperate monkey species in the world, and moves in large groups that can exceed 300 individuals. This photograph was taken in the Beihai Park, Sichuan. Mountains of Southwest China Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Woman collecting mushrooms in Shiang Gu Ching village, Yunnan Province. Mountains of Southwest China Hotspot.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

New Caledonia

Pindai Forest, Province Nord, New Caledonia hotspot.
© Bruce Beehler/ Conservation International

Pindai Forest, Province Nord, New Caledonia Hotspot.
© Bruce Beehler/ Conservation International

New Zealand

New Zealand pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), New Zealand.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Lush tree-fern forest, New Zealand.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Brother's Island tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri), New Zealand.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Philippines

Palawan, Philippines Hotspot.
© Haroldo Castro/Conservation International

Idea leuconoe, commonly called the tree nymph, has an endemic subspecies (I. l. princesa) on Palawan, .Philippines. Philippines Hotspot
© Haroldo Castro/Conservation International

Butterfly Orchid (Lanay Peninsula), Sierra Madre Mountains, Philippines, Asia-Pacific.
Haroldo Castro/Conservation International

Nephentes Sp., Lanay Peninsula, Sierra Madre, Philippines, Asia-Pacific.
© Haroldo Castro/Conservation International

Polynesia-micronesia

A heavily forested canyon in the foothills of Samoa.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

The Vulnerable masked shining-parrot (Prosopeia personata) now survives only on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. The total population of this species is thought to be around 5,000 birds, but may be declining mainly due to habitat loss. Polynesia-Micronesia & Hawaii Hotspot
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

The crimson shinin-parrot (Prosopeia splendens) is endemic to Fiji and Tonga in the Polynesia-Micronesia Hotspot. The species may be found singly, in pairs or groups up to 40 individuals outside the bredding season.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

A family of the Eufato village, Samoa.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Queensland Wet Tropics

Fan palm (Licuala ramsayi), Australia.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), Australia.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Victoria's riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae), Australia.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Boyd's rainforest dragon (Hypsilurus boydii), Australia.

Daintree Rainforest, Australia.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Succulent Karoo

Crassula congesta, Succulent Karoo.
© Olivier Langrand/ Conservation International

Aloes are very diverse in the Succulent Karoo, and are often very restricted in range by small differences in altitude and soil condition. South Africa's Succulent Karoo Hotspot.
© Haroldo Casstro

Sundaland

The Critically Endangered Sumatran rhinoceros (Sicerorhinus sumatrensis), photographed in the Way Kambas National Park. Numbers have declined over 50% due to poaching over the last 15 years. Few than 300 Sumatran rhinoceros survive in very small and highly fragmented populations in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sumatra. Sundaland Hotspot
© Haroldo Castro/ Conservation International

Southwest Australia

Grass trees, (Kingsia australis), South of Perth, Western Australia.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Jarrah Forest, Eucalyptus marginata, between Mt. Barker and Denmark, Extreme SW Australia.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Giant Kari and Red Trees, "Valley of the Giants", extreme southern part of western Australia.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Beach vegetation, Rottnest Island, off Perth, Western Australia.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Beach vegetation, Rottnest Island, off Perth, Western Australia.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

(Xanthorrhea preissii) flowering, Southern part of Western Australia.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Australian Koala Bear (phascolarctos cinereu) ree, Australia.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Horn Of Africa

Although Awash National Park is a stronghold for the Hamadryas or sacred baboon (Papio hamadryas), it also had within its borders a unique hybrid zone between this species and the olive baboon (P. anubis). Hybrids of the two baboon species have been witnessed preying on young Salt's dikdiks (Madoqua saltiana). Horn of Africa Hotspot
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Soemmerring's gazelle (Nanger soemmerringii), Horn of Africa.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Tropical Andes

The adult male Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana) a spectacular species found in the Andean Mountains from Venezuela south to Bolivia, spends much of its time at communal courtship sites, called leks, where it puts on displays for females. Tropical Andes Hotspot
Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Violet-tailed sylph (Algaiocercus coelestis).
Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus).
Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Booted racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii).
Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Tumbes-choco-magdalena

Broad-billed motmot (Electron platyrhynchum), Colombia.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Galapagos land iguana Conolophus subcristatus, VU) on Isla Plaza, one of two species of land iguanas endemic to the Galapagos. Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena Hotspot.
© Cristina G. Mittermeier

Wallacea

Tarsius sp., Indonesia, Asia-Pacific, Wallacea Hotspot.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Boys and girls play music with costume, children, local people, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Asia-Pacific, Wallacea Hotspot.
© Russell A. Mittermeier/ Conservation International

Western Ghats And Sri Lanka

Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus priam), Western Ghats and Sri Lanka.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Sri Lanka.
© Patricio Robles Gil/ Sierra Madre

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