Itaipu Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2017, in Paraguay. Located in the east of the country, the Itaipu biosphere reserve covers a surface area of over a million hectares. It comprises semi-deciduous subtropical forest, also known as the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest. This is one of the most important ecosystems for the conservation of biological diversity on a global scale, because of the large number of endemic species, the richness of species and its original forest cover. It is home to large predators such as harpies (Harpia harpyja), jaguars (Felis concolor) and pumas (Panthera onca), as well as large herbivores such as tapirs (Hydrochaeris hydrocheris).