The Atlantic forest in Brazil is cut off from the rest of the forests of Brazil by the Cerrado savannas. Having evolved separately, 40% of the 20,000 plant species are endemic to this forest. There is a wide range of tree species, with a hectare recording 400 different species. There are 260 species of mammal, 70 of which are endemic. There are even 15 species of primate, which includes 3 critically endangered species of marmoset. There are 950 species of bird, 15% of which are found nowhere else. To complete all of this, there are hundreds of species of reptile amphibian and freshwater fish – half of these are only found here.

Unfortunately, this forest has been devastated by deforestation so that only 10% of its area remains – even worse than the bigger Amazon rainforest. Both Rio de Janeiro and San Paulo are nearby, and urban sprawl is slowly eating away at the edge of the forest.

Of hope for its future, the Brazilian environmentalist movement (a lobby making an outsize amount of noise) has started to fight to protect what is left.

There is 9190 square miles (23800 square km) is strictly protected, though in 224 separate areas. 1814 square miles are an UNESCO heritage site.

It is true that there has been a great deal of deforestation within the Amazon. It is also true that this fragmentation of the Amazon not only threatens the survival of the whole Amazon, but also is a problem for the world as the Amazon rainforest becomes a carbon emitter rather than a carbon sink. However, it is not true to suggest that all of the Amazon is under threat. There are areas of a patchwork of protected areas.

The central Amazon is one of these areas in a better state. These 4 reserves protect land in this area: Jaú National Park 9140 square miles (Jaú National Park is the largest forest reserve in South America), Anavilhanas National Park covering 1350 square miles, Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve which is over 9000 square miles and  Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve which covers 4300 square miles. These 4 reserves cover an area together of almost 25,000 square miles, which is substantial.

The atot das Rocas and the archipelago of Ferando de Noronha are all peaks of a submarine row of volcanoes. As with other volcano peaks that stick out of the ocean far from land, these places are full of sea life.

These islands and surrounding waters – amounting to 160 square miles are considered a world heritage marine conservation site which contain colonies of endangered turtles and dolphins, as well as a large number of fish and bird species. Sharks and tuna are also common in the area.

Rocas, whcih is 60 miles to the west of Noronha and is a ring atoll in the South Atlantic, and consists of an almost closed ring of coral

Cotopaxi national park is a reserve in Ecuador, and it contain Cotopaxi which is an active volcano with more than 50 eruptions over the last 3 centuries. The volcano rises out of a high area of grassland and forest. Its interest is not only the fact that it is an active volcano but also that it hosts one of the few glaciers that lie on the equator.

The park hosts more than 200 species including animals such as wild horses, deer, llamas, Andean foxes and even Andean spectacled bears. Birdlife includes condors eagles falcons, and fascinating hummingbirds.

Sangay national park covers 5178 square km or 2000 square miles. As it has a variety of different habitats including glaciers, volcanic landscapes cloud forests, tropical forests grasslands, wetlands, and even one of the largest areas of high elevation moorlands in the country. It also has over 300 lakes which keep a wetland area covering over 3000 hectares in a good state.

Apart from all its other habitats, it is a vital place for various species of the Andes including the mountain tapire and the spectacled bear. In the forests at lower elevation you can find more spectacled bears along with giant otters, jaguar ocelot, margay Brazillian Tapir, white-tailed deer, little red brocket deer and northern Pudu. While seen less often both Cougar and Pampas cat have been recorded within its boundary as well.

Lying 500km (300 miles) off the coast of Columbia, Isla de Malpelo is a rock covering 350 hectares (1.3 square miles).

As with many small islands out in the open sea, the waters around this place are a haven for a variety of sea creatures. 

With visibility usually 50m or more, cold and hot water currents hit, and stir up nutrients from deep below the surface. As a result, the largest shark population live near the mount, with schools of 500 hammerhead sharks not uncommon. Hundreds of silky sharks, tuna, and the worlds biggest fish – the whale shark, as well as other fish are a common site. 17 mammal species are regularly seen,  including Pantropical spotted dolphin, bottlenose dolphin and an essential breeding ground for humpback whales.

There are hotels nearby

Canaima National park contains the highest waterfall in the world. With the water falling 16 times as far as it does over the Niagara falls, the water falls 979m. The park, however, is far more than the waterfall covering 11,580 square miles (30,000 square km). About 2/3 of the park is occupied by plateaus of rock called Tepulas, which are a kind of table-top mountain millions of years old, with vertical walls and almost flat tops. These constitute a unique biological environment and are also of great geological interest. They have almost vertical cliffs, and plenty of waterfalls, including Angel falls which is the highest waterfall in the world, at 979 metres (3,212 ft) create spectacular landscapes.

The most famous tepuis in the park are Mount Roraima the tallest and easiest to climb, and Auyantepui, the site of Angel Falls. The tepuis are sandstone and date back to a time when South America and Africa were part of a super-continent.