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Biodiversity: Nature has given the Sierra Tarahumaras some of the greatest varieties of species of flora in North America. Many of these are strictly endemic and a consequence of the unique topographic and climatic conditions of this region. The Sierra Tarahumaras are covered with coniferous species such as Pinus ponderosa and Picea Chihuahua. It is also easy to find the red twisted trunk of the Madroña (Arbustus arizonica) contrasting with varieties of oak, along with other plants, bushes and cacti, which have been used by the Raramuris as sources of food and medicine. There is a succession of vegetable communities from the mid-part of the Sierras into the canyon depths, proliferating spiny bushes and agaves (Agave lechuguila) and some other cactaceous such as the sotol (Desulirion wheeleri). Both of these plants produce potent competition to the more famous Tequila!
The Sierra Tarahumaras are habitat to nearly 30% of Mexico's registered species of fauna, among them the black bear, mountain lion, whitetail deer and Mexican wolf. The region also maintains 290 species of birds, 24 of them endemic, ten of which are in danger of extinction. The Military Macaw, the Thick-Billed Parrot, and the Eared Trogon are among those in danger. Often, one can witness in flight the Golden Eagle and Peregrine Falcon. During winter, migratory Canada Geese and Mallards take refuge from U.S. and Canadian weather.
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