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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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SIERRA LA LAGUNA |
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| General Description |
Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve is located in the State of Baja California Sur, close to the southern tip of Baja California Peninsula. This semi arid to temperate subhumid climate area represents highly important and contrasted ecosystems, including arid zones, matorrales, low deciduous forest type, evergreen oak: Quercus devia (“encino”) woods, pine-evergreen oak mix woods and oases with palms and “guerivos” situated throughout the gallery forest following the long river basins. The variety of ecosystems leads to a very rich biodiversity with 974 higher plant species reported of which 23.2% endemic species, including 5 endemic geneva. Higher degrees of endemic species are found in the core area zone mainly in the pino-encino ecosystem. Within its 11,600 hectares Sierra La Laguna represents not only a diversity of natural habitats, but also of land cover derived from human activities such as profitable use of timber and non-timber forest products, extensive farming including cattle raising, which is practised by 90% of the communities living within the Biosphere Reserve. Moreover, this area is vital for ensuring the water supply of the main adjacent settlements. The Biosphere Reserve is set up by Presidential Decree of 6 June 1994, which under Mexican law establishes core areas and buffer zones only. The transition area corresponds to the “zona de influencia” covering the communities of Todos Santos, El Pescadero, El Triunfo, San Antonio, San Bartolo, Buena Vista, Los Barriles, Las Cuevas, Santiago and Miraflores, where 9.716 people live (2002). With regard to research and monitoring, a planning programme “el Programa Operativo Annual (POA)” defines issues, actions and priorities for the coming year: research subject, awareness building programme, management strategies. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Tropical dry deciduous forest and semi-desert | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types |
Matorrals scrubs Low deciduous and sub-deciduous forest Evergreen oak (encino) woods Pine and evergreen oak woods Natural pasture and pine vegetation Gallery forests |
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| Location |
23°42’S - 23°20’ S; 109°46’ - 110°11’ W |
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| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 112,522 | |||
| Core area(s) | 32,519 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 80,003.5 (of which 600 for ecotouristic activities) | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | N/A | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | 400 - 2,080 | |||
| Year designated | 2003 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP) through the direction of the Reserva de la Biosfera Banco Chinchorro. CONANP is attached to the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) | |||
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| Brief description |
Hydrological basin research and monitoring Water quality research of main springs Erosion dynamics and the impact of erosion on plant cover and aquifer recharge Simulation and patterns of forest fires and their consequences Taxonomy of plants and animals plant cover Identification and impact evaluation of pests and forest diseases Studies on population dynamics of commercially important species Monitoring of natural regeneration and dynamics in degraded areas and in the pino-encino ecosystem Monitoring population of rare and endangered species Human population: dynamics, activities and production techniques Impact of grazing on the flora and fauna Quantitative and qualitative inventory of sites with exotic fauna in order to establish new adapted control programmes Carrying capacity studies in very frequented areas Modelling in order to evaluate the impacts of productive activities and ecotourism Development of methodologies to assess economical value of natural resources. |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Climate, erosion, geology, geomorphology, hydrology, soil, water quality/chemistry. | |||
| Biodiversity | Birds, fauna, fires/fire ecology, flora, forest systems, monitoring/methodologies, pests/diseases, phytosociology/succession, plants, population genetics/population dynamics, species inventorying/inventory, taxonomy, tropical dry forest, vegetation studies/plant cover. | |||
| Socio-economic | Demography, economically important species, livestock and related impacts/overgrazing, mining, resource use, social/socio-economic aspects. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Carrying capacity/Sustainability, environmental change, land use/land cover, management issues, modelling, monitoring/methodologies. | |||
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| Contact address |
Jesús Eleazar Quiñónes Gómez Dirección de la Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra La Laguna Melchor Ocampo No. 1045 E/Lic. Verdad y Marcelo Rubio 23000 La Paz, Baja California Sur Mexico |
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| Telephone | (52) 612 1226890 (52) 612 1239300 |
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| Fax | (52) 612 1226890 | |||
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lalaguna@conanp.gob.mx jquinonez@conanp.gob.mx |
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| Last updated: 3/8/2011 |
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