Originally, the Panama dry forests were destributed exclusively in the lower and premontane portions of the Pacific slope (0-800m), around the Bay of Panamá. This ecoregion has a dry climate and relatively low flora diversity, which is distributed in distinct areas, such as small residual deciduous and semi-deciduous forests and gallery forests along the rivers. The vegetation of the ecoregion has been significantly altered by human impact and currently threatened by strong pressure for cattle ranching, burning, and hunting. Resident species are highly adapted to living with little availability of water and high solar radiation, and they demonstrate defenses against herbivory (Dinerstein et al. 1995; Bullock, S. et al. 1995).
Location and General Description
Types and Severity of Threats
Justification of Ecoregion Delineation
This dry ecoregion surrounds the Bay of Parita in Pacific Panama. This dry forest remains isolated from other dry forests and hosts a number of endemic species. Linework for this ecoregion follows UNDP (1970), from which we lumped "tropical dry forest" habitats with the encompassed "premontane dry forest" and the strip of "tropical moist forest" which acts as the transition to the surrounding moist forests. Mangroves were later mapped along the coast and reclassified as such.
Prepared by: Sandra Andraka
Reviewed by: Not reviewed