Mapimí Biosphere Reserve (Mexico)

Mapimí Biosphere Reserve (Mexico)

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The Mapimí Biosphere Reserve in northern Mexico is located in the Bolson de Mapimí of the central Chihuahuan Desert. It contains three core areas: Sierra de la Campana, Laguna de las Palomas (a salted lagoon), and a desert habitat called Dunas de la Soledad.

Mapimí Biosphere Reserve

The Mapimí Biosphere Reserve is located in the state of Durango in northern Mexico. It contains three core areas: Sierra de la Campana, Laguna de las Palomas (a salted lagoon), and a desert habitat called Dunas de la Soledad.

The core areas and buffer zones of the Biosphere Reserve have a total surface area of 342,387 ha (846,056 acres).

Situated in the Bolson de Mapimí, an internal drainage basin at an elevation of 1,150 m (3,770 ft), the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve comprises fragile warm desert and semidesert ecosystems, with rich, highly adapted but vulnerable plants such as xerophytic matorral.

The Mapimi Biosphere Reserve includes the desert ecosystems of the central part of the Chihuahuan Desert, where there is dominant xerophyllus microphyllus scrubland and chaparral with various compositions forming mosaics of halophyte vegetation in the lower regions.

Biologically rich, the Mapimi Biosphere Reserve provides a habitat for 403 plant species, including 39 cactus species, scrubs, and desert grasslands.

Identified endemic species of desert plants include nine in the Cactaceae family, one in the Cochlospermaceae family, and one in the Fouqueriaceae family.

There are approximately 200 species of birds, five species of amphibians, 36 species of reptiles, and 28 species of mammals.

Animal species include the puma (Puma concolor), venado bura (Odocoileus hemionus), grullas (Grus canadensis), and the kit fox (Vulpes macrotis).

Other important species include the Bolson Tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus), the Mexican Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma paraphigas), the Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus), the American Badger (Taxidea taxus), the Puma (Puma concolor); and birds such as the Golden Eagle (Aquila crhysaetos).

Approximately 72,600 inhabitants (1997) live in the Biosphere Reserve, mainly engaged in extensive cattle raising, salt exploitation, and agriculture. Mostly ranchers and farmers, the local population is involved in conservation and management efforts.

The municipalities of Tlahualillo and Mapimí administer the site in Durango, Jiménez in Chihuahua and Sierra Mojada in Coahuila.