Chin Hills–Arakan Yoma montane forests
The Chin Hills-Arakan Yoma montane forests is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in western Myanmar (Burma). Surrounded at lower elevations by moist tropical forests, this ecoregion is home a diverse range of subtropical and temperate species, including many species characteristic of the Himalayas, as well as many endemic species. Setting. The ecoregion covers an area of , encompassing the montane forests of the Arakan Mountains. The Chin Hills, which cover most of Burma's Chin State, and extend south along the ridge of the Arakan Mountains forms the boundary between Rakhine  State on the west and Magway Region, Bago Region, and Ayeyarwady Region to the east. The ecoregion is bounded by the Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests to the west, north, and northeast, and the Irrawaddy moist deciduous forests to the east. Two enclaves of Northeast India–Myanmar pine forests lie immediately to the north. The ecoregion includes Nat Ma Taung (Mount Victoria) in southern Chin State, which rises to above sea level. Flora. The plant communities in the ecoregion vary with elevation. Lower montane forests occur below 1000 meters elevation. Dominant canopy trees include "Bauhinia variegata, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Derris robusta , and species of Ficus, Hibiscus", and "Strobilanthes". Lianas drape the mature forests, especially "Congea tomentosa" and "Mucuna pruriens". Mixed evergreen broadleaf forest is predominant between 1000 and 2100 meters elevation. Species of oak "(Quercus), Castanopsis, Eugenia, Saurauia, Eriobotrya", and "Schima" are the dominant canopy trees. Montane cloud forests occur above 2000 meters elevation. In the transition zone to the lower-elevation mixed broadleaf evergreen forests, the predominant tree species are typical of the Himalayas, including "Alnus nepalensis, Betula alnoides", and species of "Carpinus, Prunus, Pyrus", and "Torreya". At higher elevations, species of "Castanea, Cornus, Eriobotrya, Laurus", and "Taxus" become more  common. Epiphytes grow abundantly on the trees in the montane cloud forests, and common epiphytes include species of "Aeschynanthus" and "Agapetes, Rhododendron cuffeanum", aroids, and the orchids "Dendrobium" and "Pleione". The tree "Lithocarpus xylocarpus" is common between 2,400 and 2,750 meters elevation. "Rhododendron arboreum" and "Quercus semecarpifolia" are dominant above 2,750 meters elevation. Above 3000 meters elevation on Nat Ma Taung, shrub forests of "Hypericum patulum" and "Rhododendron burmanicum" occur, with herbaceous plants including species of "Aconitum, Lactuca, Pedicularis", and "Veronica". Some summit ridges are covered in a temperate shrub savanna, with shrub species of "Rhododendron, Buddleja, Daphne, Leycesteria", and  Lonicera interspersed among tall grasses and herbs including species of "Aconitum, Delphinium, Geranium", and "Thalictrum". Fauna. The ecoregion is home to several threatened and endangered mammals, including the hoolock gibbon ("Hylobates hoolock"), tiger ("Panthera tigris"), leopard ("Panthera pardus"), clouded leopard ("Pardofelis nebulosa"), sun bear ("Ursus malayanus"), Eld's deer or thamin ("Cervus eldii"), and gaur ("Bos gaurus"). There are no endemic mammals. Three bird species are endemic to the ecoregion – the striped laughingthrush ("Trochalopteron virgatus"), brown-capped laughingthrush ("Trochalopteron austeni"), and white-browed nuthatch ("Sitta victoriae"). Conservation. A 2017 assessment found that , or 6%, of the ecoregion is in protected  areas. Another 84% of the ecoregion is forested but outside protected areas.