Mexico Los Volcanes Ecological characteristics: The importance of this site arises from the fact that it is located within the Transverse Volcanic Axis in its centre – east part, making it the biogeographical boundary between the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. It includes a very Declaration date: 2010 marked ecosystem gradient deriving from the variations in Surface area: 171,774.4 ha altitude, favouring enormous specific wealth and the pres- Administrative division: ence of endemic species. Its diverse ecosystems consist of Iztaccíhuatl Popocatépetl Zoquiapan National Park pine, Sacred Fir (Abies religiosa, Oyamel in Nahuatl) for- ests and high-mountain prairies. Its geological formations, Human activities: (hills, volcanic cones and slopes) are of volcanic origin with a predomination of basalt and andesitic rocks. The Within the reserve, the core zone comes under federal ju- altitude varies between 2,589 m above sea level and 5,452 risdiction, the buffer zone under each State’s land planning m above sea level. and a combination of ejido, communal and small landown- ers. The transition zone is the property of the ejidos, com- munities and small landowners. The transition zone is the only part with human settlements, including 31 480 inhabi- tants and land given over to farming, stock-raising, for- estry, harvesting or other uses. The Ecological Planning Programme for Popocatépetl Vol- cano and its Area of Influence covers a surface area of approximately 283,192,53 hectares involving 34 munici- palities in three States, namely: Ixtapaluca, Tlalmanalco, Cocotitlán, Temamatla, Tenango del Aire, Ayapango, Amecameca, Ozumba, Tepetlixpa, Atlautla and Ecatzingo, in the State of Mexico; Acteopan, Atlixco, Atzizihuacan, Calpan, Cohuecan, Chiautzingo, San Nicolás de los Ran- chos, San Salvador El Verde, Santa Isabel Cholula, Tian- guismanalco, Tlahuapan, Tochimilco, Domingo Arenas, Huaquechula, Huejotzingo, Nealtican, San Felipe Teot- lancingo and San Jerónimo Tecuinapan, in the State of Puebla; Ocuituco, Temoac, Tetela del Volcán, Yecapixtla and Zacualpan de Amilpas in the State of Morelos. Contact information: Miguel Angel Rodríguez Trejo Plaza de la Constitución Nº 9 B planta baja C.P. 56900 Amecameca de Juárez, Estado de México Mexico Email: [email protected] [email protected] .