Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve (REBIOSH) is located in Balsas Basin and constitutes a rich reservoir of endemic species to Mexico. Its rough topography allows an altitudinal variation from 700 to 2,240 m.a.s.l. (metres above sea level) It presents a broad of ecosystem representativity, from which we can highlight due to their coverage, the following: low deciduous forest, gallery vegetation, pine-oak forest.
Designation date: 2006
Networks
Regional network: Red de Comités y Reservas de Biosfera de Iberoamérica y el Caribe (IberoMAB)
Ecosystem-based network: Global Change in Mountain Regions (GLOCHAMORE) and Global and Climate Change in Mountain Sites (GLOCHAMOST)
Description
Map
Surface : 59,031 ha
- Core area(s): N/A
- Buffer zone(s): N/A
- Transition zone(s): N/A
Location: N/A
Administrative Authorities
Municipalities of Amacuzac, Puente de Ixtla, Jojutla, Tlaquiltenango y Tepalcingo, State of Morelos
David Valenzuela Galván
Director RB Sierra de Huautla
Centro de Educación Ambiental e Investigación
Sierra de Huautla, Universidad Autónoma de Morelos,
Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa,
Cuernavaca, C.P. 62209, Morelos
Mexico
Tel.: 52 (777) 329 70 19
Email: huautla@conanp.gob.mx,
dvalen@conanp.gob.mx,
cmontes@conanp.gob.mx and
vizcaino@conanp.gob.mx
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Ecological Characteristics
The Biosphere Reserve is located in the Basin of the River Balsas and is a rich reserve of Mexican endemic species. Its rugged topography gives rise to variations in altitude ranging from 700 to 2,240 m above sea level with a wide representation of ecosystems. Low deciduous forests, gallery vegetation and Pine and Oak forests are noteworthy for their land cover.
The low deciduous forests harbour a high percentage of life forms exclusive to Mexico and the number of endemic species is higher than in other types of vegetation. Nine hundred and thirty-nine species of native vascular plants have been recorded out of the 3,345 reported for the State of Morelos. Relict populations of 44 species of butterflies, representative of a warm humid geological stage in this region are to be found here.
Seventy-one species of mammals, 208 species of birds, 53 species of reptiles, 18 species of amphibians and 14 species of fish have been recorded. Relevant species of fauna are present such as the Short-horned Baronia butterfly (Baronia brevicornis brevicornis), the Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum), the Military Macaw (Ara militaris), the Rufus-backed Robin (Turdus rufopalliatus), the Balsas Screech Owl (Otus seductus), the Pileated Flycatcher (Xenotriccus mexicanus), the Puma (Puma concolor), the Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), the Margay (Leopardus wiedii), the Bobcat (Linx rufus) and the Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi). Various species of wildlife endemic to the Balsas basin, Mesoamerica and Mexico are represented in the Sierra de Huautle Biosphere Reserve: 7 species of mammals, 34 species of birds, 28 species of reptiles and 6 species of amphibians.
Socio-Economic Characteristics
Agriculture and livestock raising are the Biosphere Reserve's main activities. Most of it is for subsistance.
There is a trend among the population of looking for jobs in bigger cities or to migrate to the United States. Because of the latter, a big share of the local economy come from money transfers from abroad.
In the past few years, many projects to promote the sustainable production of fruits, like pitaya, or promote ecotourism have been carried out. The goal is to improve life conditions, retain inhabitants and ensure the conservation of habitats.
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Last updated: October 2018