Posted August 1, 2023
The department of El Progreso has unique biological diversity in the region however, that has been little known and admired by the population; since among the different ecosystems present in the department, the most outstanding is the Dry Forest, also known as thorny forest, scrubland, chaparral o xerophytic forest, alluding to its characteristic. Dry forests have generally been associated with low attractiveness, because they are composed of plant communities comprised of trees with small structures, scattered, losing their leaves during the dry season of the year, as well various shrubby plants. However, they have a unique diversity with many endemic flora and fauna species.
Dry forests in Guatemala occupy 4.49% of the country’s total area. These are being affected by the expansion of the agricultural frontier, the formation of pasture, and the extraction of wood for firewood. The research in this area is very limited, despite being one of the places with the greatest endemism in Guatemala. Even though several studies have been carried out in the dry forest, there are few records of fauna, especially for the department of El Progreso.
Calocitta formosa (White-throated magpie-jay). El Rancho, El Progreso. Edwin Solares, 2023.