Arizona Montaine Forests

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Arizona Montaine Forests (WWF ecoregion NA0503) View National Geographic WildWorld profile,(WildWorld home), View WWF Wildfinder animal species list (WildFinder home)

Oak Creek Canyon, near Sedona, Arizona (c) 2004 Maurice J. Kaurmann

Source of bioregions data: Olson, D. M. and E. Dinerstein. The Global 200: Priority ecoregions for global conservation. (PDF file) Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89:125-126.

Distinctiveness (1=highest,4=lowest): 2 (regionally outstanding)
This region contains a relatively high number of species (2817) and endemic species (132). Many Mexican wildlife species reach their northern limit here.*

Conservation Status (1=most endangered, 5=most intact): 4 (relatively stable)
Approximately 25% of habitat is intact. Logging, overgrazing, and degradation of streams are threats.*

Characteristic species* Pinus leiophylla (Chihuahua pine)
Pinus engelmannii (Apache pine)
Pinus ponderosa var. arizonica (ponderosa pine)
Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica (white fir, corkbark variety)
Juniperus communis (dwarf juniper)
Pinus strobiformis (southwestern white pine)
Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)
Acer glabrum (Rocky Mountain maple)
Salix bebbiana (Bebb willow)
Salix scouleriana (scouler willow)
Sambucus glauca (blueberry elder)
Alnus tenuifolius (thin-leafed alder)
Prunus emarginata (bitter cherry)
Pinus flexis (limber pine)
Pinus aristata (bristlecone pine)
Abies concolor (white fir)

Some Arizona plants

Associated habitats

Oak Creek Canyon, near Sedona, Arizona

Kaibab National Forest, near Flagstaff, Arizona

Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) left: before fire, right: after fire hires hires

* Ricketts, T.H., E. Dinerstein, D.M. Olson, C.J. Loucks, et al. (1999) Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment. World Wildlife Fund - United States and Canada. Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 256-258.