The Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range located in Southern North America extends from Western Mexico up into southwestern United States. Compromising approximately 86,000 square miles of land area, the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range contains deep canyons, steep slopes and tall cliffs. Included in this range a biodiversity of subtropical and tropical coniferous forests contain approximately two thirds of the total standing timber found in Mexico. Once a habitat for the American black bear, Mexican wolf and jaguar, these species of animals have all but disappeared due to logging and mismanaged hunting practices. Current inhabitants include over 300 species of birds, 85 species of reptiles, 20 species of amphibians, white-tailed deer and several species of squirrels. Elevation in the area ranges from low mountains to some peaks more than 3,000 meters high.
Located in Southern North America, the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range extends from Eastern Mexico up into the southeastern United States. Containing tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, it contains an area of 25,300 square miles. Average altitude ranges from 1,000 to 3,500 meters. The tallest peak, Potosi, measures 3,625 meters above sea level. The area contains 13 protected areas, including Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, one of the largest in Mexico. Common inhabitants include mule deer, coati, jaguar, puma, chipmunk, coyote, wild turkey, parrots, golden eagles and peregrine falcons. Logging and agricultural activities have destroyed nearly 37 percent of the native pine-oak forests throughout the region.
The Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range runs parallel to the Pacific Coast in Western Mexico. Composed of 23,600 square miles of tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, the Sierra Madre del Sur range extends through the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca in the Mexican South Pacific region. Characterized by steep slopes, the altitude ranges from 100 to 3,500 meters above sea level. Dominated by pine-oak forests, the vegetation varies according to elevation, with oak dominated forests at lower elevations giving way to pine dominated forests at elevations up to 2,500 meters. Of the 595 species of plants in the area, 207 species of orchids are found in the state of Guerrero. Other inhabitants include 161 species of butterflies, 54 species of mammals and 39 species of amphibians.
