South America · 7,000 km of mountain range
By Charlie Graham & jaxon Arcus
The Andes Are
Disappearing.
Glaciers are vanishing. Forests are falling. Species are going silent. The world's longest mountain range is in crisis — and most people don't know it yet.
The Crisis
Four forces destroying the world's longest mountain range
Deforestation
Over 40% of Andean forests have been cleared for agriculture and cattle ranching, destroying critical habitat and watershed protection.
Glacial Melt
Andean glaciers have lost 30–50% of their mass since the 1970s, threatening freshwater for 80 million people.
Biodiversity Loss
Home to 15% of all plant species on Earth, the Andes are losing species faster than scientists can document them.
Extractive Mining
Large-scale mining operations contaminate rivers and destroy irreplaceable high-altitude ecosystems across the cordillera.
By The Numbers
The scale of the crisis
of Andean glaciers lost since 1970
people depend on Andean glaciers for freshwater
of all Earth's plant species found in the Andes
of Andean forests cleared in the last century
Ecosystems
Three worlds stacked on top of each other
The Páramo
The páramo is one of the world's most efficient water-capturing ecosystems — a sponge-like highland grassland found only in the northern Andes. It feeds rivers that supply water to millions, yet it's disappearing under cattle grazing and potato farming.
Explore this ecosystem
Cloud Forest
Draped in mist and moss, Andean cloud forests are among the most biodiverse places on Earth. A single hectare can contain more tree species than all of North America. They are being cleared at an alarming rate for coffee and coca cultivation.
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Amazon Headwaters
The eastern slopes of the Andes are where the Amazon begins — a transition zone of extraordinary richness where mountain streams become the world's greatest river system. Deforestation here has cascading effects felt across an entire continent.
Explore this ecosystem
Bring the Andes into your classroom
Our research library and lesson plans are designed for secondary and university-level educators. From glaciology to indigenous land rights, every resource is grounded in peer-reviewed science.
Free to download. Curriculum-aligned. Built for the next generation of environmental advocates.