Patagonia

Argentine and Chilean Patagonia comprises two ecoregions: the steppe and the Patagonian forests. The steppe is a cold and extremely dry area with low, cushion-shaped shrubs, and is critically endangered due to a reduction in its extent, initially caused by fires for livestock farming. On the other hand, the Patagonian forests are located in mountainous regions of southern Chile and southwestern Argentina, characterized by a wet and cold climate influenced by humid air masses from the Pacific that lose moisture while crossing the Andes. This ecosystem hosts high biodiversity, with 84 species of native mammals, but faces serious issues due to introduced species that affect plant communities, many of which are endemic.