UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory

			Biosphere Reserve Information
			Mexico LA MICHILÍA


	General Description		Michilía is located 75 km to the south of the town Durango in the Sierra de Michis, a branch of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The Sierra de Michis consists of igneous rock of the tertiary period. In the reserve, the topography is marked by a high degree of relief. There are several ephemeral streams and lagoons, besides the two permanent streams, Laurel to the west and Temascal to the southeast. There are also marshy meadows in the core area. Pine and Holm oak forests cover the greater part of the reserve. Two species of native fauna have become rare, the black bear (Ursus americanus) and wolf (Canis lupus). More than 500 inhabitants live in the buffer zones and 30,000 (1998) in the transition areas, engaged in agriculture, forestry and cattle ranching. They have traditionally maintained their authority of decisions related to the management of resources in their grazing and farming activities. The reserve’s management plan considers external pressures for the use of natural resources in the area, as well as local knowledge of resource management. An association is being formed under the control of the government of the State of Durango and the scientific direction of the Institute of Ecology, to coordinate the activities of the communal farm and small graziers, in order to protect the fauna and flora and to test new systems for the management of natural resources.
	Major ecosystem type		Mixed mountain and highland systems
	Major habitats & land cover types		Oak forest; oak-pine forest; pine forest; Juniperus communities; grasslands; semiarid scrub
	Location		23°25' to 23°30'N; 104°15' to 104°21'W
	Area (hectares)
	Total		35,000
	Core area(s)
	Buffer zone(s)
	Transition area(s) when given
	Altitude (metres above sea level)		+2,000 to +2,985
	Year designated		1977
	Administrative authorities		Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP); Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) Camino al Ajusco 200, 3er piso, Jardines en la Montaña, Tlalpan, C.P. 14210, México, D.F. Tel.: (618) 825 62 33 Fax: (618) 812 51 37 E-mal: michilia@conanp.gob.mx; rb.lamichilia@mejico.com Instituto de Ecología, A.C. This is a Federal Natural Protected Area. By an agreement, this Biosphere Reserve was transfered to the Institute of Ecology for its management.

	Brief description		Forest ecology Animal ecology: Odocoileus virginianus and Meleagris gallopavo Fire ecology Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) conservation project
	*Specific variables...*
	Abiotic		n.a.
	Biodiversity		Birds, conservation, ecology, fires/fire ecology, forest systems, mammals, wildlife.
	Socio-economic		n.a.
	Integrated monitoring		n.a.

	Contact address		Julio Alberto Carrera Treviño Vivero Forestal del Parque Guadiana s/n, Fracc. Los Remedios, Durango 34100 Durango Mexico
	Telephone		(52.618) 825 62 33
	Fax		(52.618) 812 51 37
	E-mail		rmichilia@conanp.gob.mx jcarrera@conanp.gob.mx
	Web site		www.conanp.gob.mx

			n.a.

Last updated: 3/8/2011