Sierra de la Laguna dry forests


The Sierra de la Laguna dry forests are a subtropical dry forest ecoregion of the southern Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.

Location

The dry forests cover the lower elevations of the Sierra de la Laguna, from elevation. They are surrounded at lower elevations by the San Lucan xeric scrub, which lies between sea level and elevation. Above 800 meters elevation, the dry forests transition to the subhumid and temperate Sierra de la Laguna pine-oak forests.

Flora

The predominant tree species of the dry forests are the Mauto, Palo blanco, Cajalosucho and Palo zorrillo.
Herbaceous plants are less prominent and include Caribe, Buena mujer, Solanum spp., and Biznaga.
The endemic palm here is Brahea brandegeei, that occurs in washes and along streams.

Protected areas

A 2017 assessment found that 839 km², or 21%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas in the ecoregion include the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve.