Madre de las Aguas Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2024, in Dominican Republic. In the heart of the Dominican Republic, the Madre de las Aguas Biosphere Reserve spans across 11 provinces and 35 municipalities. Shaped by the Cordillera Central, its varied topography includes plateaux and cascading waterfalls. The reserve contains four distinct ecosystems and harbours 88 bird species, 20 of which are endemic and 17 are under threat. The Sparrowhawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.