UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory

			Biosphere Reserve Information
			Mexico CUATROCIÉNEGAS


	General Description		The area de Protección de Flora y Fauna de Cuatrociénegas is an arid zone, with around 500 water bodies of varied shapes and shades of blue, surrounded by mountains where unique species of this region have developed. The Directorate of the Area, promotes and develops projects for the conservation of wetlands, habitats and soil conservation among others. In these water bodies, pozas, there are 33 endemic species and stromatolites, and the colour of the water varies from deep blue to turquoise. Moreover, the site hosts important resources such as gypsum outcrops, which forms the second largest dune field in the Americas and provides habitat for endemic species of the site. In the site, conservation projects are developed and promoted in the context of sustainable development which strives at preserving the environment and enhancing the quality of life of the rural communities living in and around the site.
	Major ecosystem type		vegetation of the gypsum dunes
	Major habitats & land cover types		vegetation of the gypsum dunes, Aquatic and subaquatic vegetation
	Location		26º 31’ 00’’ and 27º25’24’’ latitud N and 101º46’04’’ and 102º33’47’’ longitud W
	Area (hectares)
	Total		84,347
	Core area(s)		2,592.67
	Buffer zone(s)		81,754.33
	Transition area(s) when given		329,111.00
	Altitude (metres above sea level)
	Year designated		2006
	Administrative authorities		Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas

	Brief description		Geohydrological studies, forestry programmes related to mezquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and monitoring of endemic species such as soft-shelled turtle (Apalone ater) endemic to the Cuatrociénegas Valley are carried out to determine the site’s potential as for ecotourism. Control of alien species like the reed (Arundo donax).
	*Specific variables...*
	Abiotic		Habitat, hydrology, indicators.
	Biodiversity		Birds, community studies/communities, endemic species, fishes, indicators, rare/endangered/threatened species, species inventorying/inventory.
	Socio-economic		Agriculture/Production systems, indicators, livestock and related impacts/overgrazing, non-timber forest products/ntfp, pastoralism/pastoralists/grazing, role of women/gender, tourism.
	Integrated monitoring		Carrying capacity/Sustainability, geographic information system/gis, impact and risk studies/environmental impact, indicators, interdisciplinary studies, land tenure, land use/land cover, planning and zoning measures/zonation.

	Contact address		Ivo García Gutiérrez Presidente Carranza No. 120, Zona Centro 27640 Cuatrociénegas, Coahuila Mexico
	Telephone
	Fax
	E-mail		cienegas@conanp.gob.mx ivogarcia@conanp.gob.mx

			n.a.

Last updated: 3/8/2011