Biodiversity

Panama (Central America) and its rights of nature
With a total of more than 10,000 species in the country, the Republic of Panama is one of the most biodiverse places in the world: thousands of insects and spiders, over 200 species of mammals, and many hundreds of as-yet-unknown species of amphibians and reptiles. To protect this extraordinary biodiversity, a law on the rights of nature was recently enacted, guaranteeing its "right to exist, persist, and regenerate", recognizing "a unique and indivisible community of interconnected living beings, elements, and ecosystems with their own set of intrinsic rights". It is an approach that could also have positive repercussions on energy and territorial policies.

=

Costa Rica (Central America): a biodiversity leader
On the renewable energy front, Costa Rica continues to be a pioneer, with 95-98% of its electricity coming from renewable sources. The goal has been declared: carbon neutrality by 2050, a milestone that is part of a broader strategy that includes reforestation, the expansion of protected areas, and the reduction of emissions in a variety of sectors. As such, it has increased its forest cover to more than half of the national territory and has designated a quarter of its total acreage as a protected area. These efforts also include marine ecosystems, with initiatives such as "Coralmania", which have led to the restoration of large portions of coral reefs.

=

Malaysia (Asia) and the world's largest flower
With one of the largest and oldest rainforests in the world, Malaysia is home to nearly 15,000 species of flowering plants, 3,000 species of trees, 230 species of mammals, more than 500 species of birds, and countless insects. Here you can also admire the largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia arnoldii, though it's not exactly what one might term as romantic: it can reach up to a meter in diameter, weighing as much as 10 kilos, but its most unforgettable peculiarity is its nauseating smell. Unsurprisingly, it is also known as a "corpse flower". Fortunately, its natural habitat can be found in Sabah's Lohan Valley and Gunung Gading National Park. The creators of Pokémon were inspired by the rafflesia, resulting in the design of Vileplume, a well-known first-generation Grass/Poison Pokémon.

=

American Samoa (Oceania): an archipelago of orchids
The eco-region of American Samoa is a veritable sanctuary of biodiversity, hosting 228 species of ferns and 53 species of angiosperms, with about 30% of the latter endemic to the archipelago. For enthusiasts, one of the best places for admiring orchids is the cloud forest. This particular type of forest, characterized by high humidity and cooler temperatures, provides an ideal environment for several species of orchids, including Dendrobium, Bulbophyllum, Liparis, Malaxis, Calanthe, and Phreatia. Orchids can also be found in the mountain and lowland forests, environments where you can not only observe orchids in bloom but also appreciate the complex interaction between the various plant and animal species that make this eco-region so unique.

=

Madagascar (Madagascar - Africa): the eighth continent
Well-known for its immense biodiversity, Madagascar records the discovery of new species on a yearly basis. Thanks to its long isolation, which lasted some 88 million years, the island is home to a multitude of plants and animals that are not found anywhere else on Earth, hence its "eighth continent" nickname. Known as the land of lemurs, with over 100 different lemur species, the island is home to more than 200 species of mammals, around 300 species of birds, more than 260 species of reptiles, and at least 266 species of amphibians, as well as a large number of invertebrates. More than 80% of Madagascar's 15,000 plant species are found nowhere else in the world.
Want to see the lemurs? Visit the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, home to the Indri, the largest of them all.

=

Australia (Oceania): an ocean of biodiversity
Australia is known to be home to waters with one of the world's highest rates of biodiversity. The continent's fauna is unique, with a large percentage of species exclusively native to Oceania. Marine life is particularly rich, with 4,000 species of fish, 1,700 species of coral, and 50 types of marine mammals. The Great Barrier Reef extends over 2,300 kilometers along Australia's northeastern coast. This complex and delicate ecosystem, made up of some 3,000 coral reefs, is home to a rich variety of animal species, including dolphins, turtles, crocodiles, sharks, jellyfish, and a wealth of fish. It is the largest coral organism in the world.
Must-see destinations include the Ningaloo Coral Reef, Kangaroo Island, and the Great Otway National Park, each with distinctive ecological features and species.