The MFNR protects, in excellent state of conservation, a representative sample of the Upper Parana Atlantic Forest and the “Cerrado” echo-regions. The vegetation presents tree specimens of up to 35 meters of height.
Among the predominant species are:lapacho (Tabebuia spp.), cedro (Cedrela spp.), yvyra pyta (Peltophorum dubium), yvyra ro (Pterogyne nitens), incienso (Myrocarpus frondosus), guatambú (Balfourodendron riedelianum), yvyra ju (Albizia hassleri), kai kay’gua (Cariniana estrellensis), urunde’y para (Astronium fraxinifolium), guayayvi (Ptagonula americana) y cancharana (Cabralea canjerana).
The species of flora considered endangered are: peroba (Aspidosperma polyneuron), aratiku gauzu (Annona amambayensis), Callistene hassleri, mborevi remvi’u (Faramea cayanea), yva miri (Myrcia multiflora), tuna pe (Frailea spp), Lacistema hasslerianum, Trichilia catigua y Vochysia tucanorum, entre otras.
So far, 1,088 plant species have been listed, of which 8 are endangered and 222 species present some type of property with actual or potential economic value.
The MFNR is one of the places of greatest diversity of fauna in Paraguay. It is the habitat of 410 species of birds, of which 30 are under some degree of endangerment, thus protecting 50 % of the endangered species present in the country.
Among the forest species, the MFNR is one of the few protected areas that maintains populations of the endemic and endangered Black-fronted Piping-guan (Pipile yacutinga); Bare-throated Bellbird (Procnias nudicollis); and Saffron Toucanet (Pteroglossus bailloni). The “Cerrado” gives shelter to one of only three known populations in the world of the enigmatic and endangered White-winged Nightjar (Eleothreptus candicans).
In the MFNR the mammals of Paraguay are well represented, since it is possible to observe a large part of the Paraguayan fauna.
The reserve protects 89 species of mammals, of which 19 are at risk of extinction, like the Jaguar (Panthera onca), Puma (Puma concolor), Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrestris), Bush Dog (Speothos venaticus), and Manned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus).
In 2000, BirdLife International, an international organization dedicated to the promotion of bird conservation, has designated the MFNR an Important Bird Area (IBA), which means it has been declared a site of international importance for bird conservation. The MFNR presently forms part of a network of 147 areas in 21 countries in the Americas of extreme importance for the conservation of endangered, rare, or endemic birds.
