Mexico Región de

Ecological characteristics:

The Biosphere Reserve is characterized by its size, good state of conservation and continuity with other regions in the Yucatán Peninsula, Chiapas, and Belize. It is considered to be the largest forest mass in and, together with the forests of Guatemala and Belize, the sec- ond largest remnant forest left in Latin America after the Amazon. Its great diversity of species responds to regional heterogeneity, where in spite of its scant land forms, high and medium altitude sub-evergreen (moist) forests, me- dium altitude sub-deciduous (dry) forests (with a predomi- nance of Holywood Lignum-vitae ( Guaiacum sanctum )); lowland deciduous forests and savannahs can be found. Declaration date: 2006 This group of forests harbours Mexico’s largest popula- Surface area: 1,371,766 ha tions of fauna and flora, comprising charismatic or flag- Administrative Division: ship species of biological and ecological importance for of Calakmul, Candelaria, Champotón, the region, such as the Jaguar, the Puma, the Tapir, the Escárcega and Holpechén in ; José Ma. Morelos White-lipped Pecary, the Howler Monkey and the Spider and Othon P. Blanco in ; Tekax in Yucatán Monkey, the King Vulture, the Ornate Hawk together with Mahogany, Cedar and Ciricote trees. There are also en- Human activities: demic species of economic and ecological importance for the region such as the Ocellated Turkey ( Meleagris ocel- Reforestation, recreation, ecotourism, agriculture, animal lata ) Gray Brocket Deer (Galindo-Leal, 1999). Ninety per- husbandry, bee-keeping, forestry, fishing, hunting and cent of the amphibian species and over 50% of the reptile farm-forestry species reported for the Peninsula are to be found in the region. The land area is very important for birds with over 360 species recorded and it is also considered to be an im- portant geographical area for Neotropical migratory spe- cies. (Galindo-Leal, 1999; Berlanga and Wood, 2001).

Protection classification:

Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Balam Kú State Reserve, Balam Kin State Reserve

Contact information:

José Adalberto Zúñiga Morales Director RB Región de Calakmul Calle Puerto Rico SN, frente al panteón municipal, Xpujil, Municipio de Calakmul, Estado de Campeche C,P 24640 México Tel: 983 871 6147, 998 887 1997 Email: [email protected]