Madrean pine–oak woodlands facts for kids

The Madrean pine–oak woodlands are a type of forest found in the mountains of Mexico and the southwestern United States. These woodlands are part of a larger group called Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests. They are known for their mix of pine and oak trees.

These woodlands are surrounded by other types of land, like deserts, grasslands, and different kinds of forests. Over time, as the climate became warmer and drier, these woodlands became separated from each other.

Where are Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands Found?

These unique forests are mostly found in the high mountains of Mexico. They stretch across several major mountain ranges. These include the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, the Sierra Madre del Sur, the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca, and the Peninsular Ranges in the Baja California peninsula.

Distribution of Madrean pine–oak woodlands.

Madrean Sky Islands: Forests in the Sky

Pines and oaks grow together in the Nealtican Malpaís, Mexico.

Imagine islands of forest floating in the sky! That's what the "Madrean Sky Islands" are like. These are about 27 separate areas of Madrean pine–oak woodlands. You can find them in southern Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas.

These "sky islands" are actually mountain ranges that are high enough to have these special forests. The lower lands around them are much drier, like deserts. This makes the forests on the mountains stand out, like islands in a sea of dry land.

Some of the main "sky island" ranges in Arizona include the Dragoon Mountains, Chiricahua Mountains, Pinaleño Mountains, Santa Catalina Mountains, Rincon Mountains, Santa Rita Mountains, and Tumacacori Highlands. In New Mexico and Texas, you'll find them in the Sacramento Mountains, Guadalupe Mountains, Davis Mountains, and Chisos Mountains.

What Plants Grow in These Woodlands?

Madrean pine–oak woodlands in the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca, Mexico.

The Madrean pine–oak woodlands are full of different kinds of trees. You'll mostly see oak trees (called Quercus) and pine trees (called Pinus). Sometimes, you might also find Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga) and fir (Abies) trees. These trees usually grow together in mixed groups. However, sometimes you might find areas with only one type of tree.

These woodlands are incredibly rich in plant life. Mexico is home to a huge variety of plants. In fact, one-quarter of all plant species in Mexico live in these pine–oak woodlands! Mexico also has 44 out of the 110 known species of pine trees in the world. Plus, it has over 135 different kinds of oak trees, which is more than 28% of all oak species worldwide!

Different Types of Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has identified several different types of Madrean pine–oak woodlands. These types are based on where they are located and what specific plants grow there.

Here are a few examples of these sub-regions:

• The Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir pine–oak forests are found in the northern Baja California peninsula.
• The Sierra de la Laguna pine–oak forests are located in the southern part of the Baja California peninsula.
• The Sierra Madre Occidental pine–oak forests stretch along the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range. This includes the "Madrean Sky Islands" in Arizona and New Mexico.
• The Sierra Madre Oriental pine–oak forests are found along the Sierra Madre Oriental ranges in Texas and Mexico.
• The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine–oak forests are in the central part of Mexico.
• The Sierra Madre del Sur pine–oak forests are in southern Mexico.
• The Sierra Madre de Oaxaca pine–oak forests are in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.

See also

In Spanish: Bosques madrenses de pino-encino para niños