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.
Designation date: 2010
Networks
Regional network: Red de Comités y Reservas de Biosfera de Iberoamérica y el Caribe (IberoMAB)
Ecosystem-based network:
Description
Map
Surface : 171,774.4 ha
- Core area(s): N/A
- Buffer zone(s): N/A
- Transition zone(s): N/A
Location: N/A
Administrative Authorities
Iztaccíhuatl Popocatépetl Zoquiapan National Park
Miguel Angel Rodríguez Trejo
Plaza de la Constitución Nº 9 B planta baja
C.P. 56900 Amecameca de Juárez, Estado de México
Tel.: 045 (961) 17-77-576
Email: mrtrejo@conanp.gob.mx and iztapopo@conanp.gob.mx
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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 marked ecosystem gradient deriving from the variations in altitude, favouring enormous specific wealth and the presence of endemic species. Its diverse ecosystems consist of pine, Sacred Fir (Abies religiosa, Oyamel in Nahuatl) forests and high-mountain prairies. Its geological formations, (hills, volcanic cones and slopes) are of volcanic origin with a predomination of basalt and andesitic rocks. The altitude varies between 2,589 m above sea level and 5,452 m above sea level.
Socio-Economic Characteristics
Within the reserve, the core zone comes under federal jurisdiction, the buffer zone under each State’s land planning and a combination of ejido, communal and small landowners. The transition zone is the property of the ejidos, communities and small landowners.
The transition zone is the only part with human settlements, including 31 480 inhabitants and land given over to farming, stock-raising, forestry, harvesting or other uses.
The Ecological Planning Programme for Popocatépetl Volcano and its Area of Influence covers a surface area of approximately 283,192,53 hectares involving 34 municipalities 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 Ranchos, San Salvador El Verde, Santa Isabel Cholula, Tianguismanalco, Tlahuapan, Tochimilco, Domingo Arenas, Huaquechula, Huejotzingo, Nealtican, San Felipe Teotlancingo and San Jerónimo Tecuinapan, in the State of Puebla; Ocuituco, Temoac, Tetela del Volcán, Yecapixtla and Zacualpan de Amilpas in the State of Morelos.
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Last updated: December 2018