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Cuatro Cienegas fue declarada una Area Natural Protegida en Noviembre 1,994. Habitats que son diversos y abundantes y condiciones edaficas no usuales, combinadas con un largo aislamiento, dan al area una alta biodiversidad y endemismo (con por lo menos 77 taxa). Mientras la importancia biologica esta ampliamente documentada, temas socioeconomicos dificultan la conservacion de la biodiversidad. La agricultura y un pueblo de 10,000 habitantes requieren al agua que historicamente ha suplido los habitats natural y el acuifero. Especies exoticas, el turismo, extraccion de minerales, diversiones y modificaciones de los cauces, el sobrepastoreo, y la extraccion ilegal de la biota son otras amenazas. El minado del yeso ha tenido impactos substanciales, pero fue parado recientemente por acciones del gobierno. El siguiente discurso social a nivel local y publicidad nacional ha estimulado un debate sobre los beneficios de la conservacion, pero la ciudadania esta orgullosa de las actividades de recoleccion de basura, educacion ambiental, servicio voluntario de vigilancia y guia del turista. PROFAUNA tiene varios aĝos de estar fomentando la conservacion del area. Una nueva asociacion civil, Desarrollo Sustentable de Cuatro Cienegas, lleva a cabo actividades relacionadas con la conservacion tales como la investigacion y la diseminacion de informacion. Una pagina en el internet (http://www.utexas.edu/depts/tnhc/.www/fish/dfc/cuatroc/) apoyado por el Desert Fishes Council y Universidad de Texas provee informacion sobre la historia natural, bibliografia y fotografias. Esta pagina tambien funciona en computadoras donadas como una exhibicion en la casa de la cultura para concientizar al pblico y turista. El Nature Conservancy trabaja con ONGs, la municipalidad y el gobierno para llevar a cabo actividades prioritarias de conservacion. En parte debido a esta colaboracion el Gobernador de Coahuila acaba de proveer NP$100,000 para apoyar en la compra de un terreno donde se establecera un centro de visitantes a la reserva.
National and International Collaborations Toward Conservation in Cuatro Cienegas, Coahuila
Cuatro Cienegas was declared a Protected Natural Area in November, 1994. Abundant and diverse desert aquatic habitats and unusual edaphic conditions, combined with long isolation, endow the area with high diversity and endemism (at least 77 taxa). While biological importance is amply documented, socioeconomic issues complicate conservation. Agriculture and a town of 1(),000 require water which historically fed natural habitats and aquifers are overexploited upstream. Exotic species, tourism, diversions and modifications of water courses, livestock grazing, and illicit collecting of biota arc other threats. Gypsum mining historically had substantial impacts, but was recently stopped by government authorities. Ensuing social unrest and national publicity fueled debate about the value of conservation, but local citizens are proud of activities such as awardwinning litter control campaigns, environmental education, trash pickup, and voluntary vigilance and tourist guide services. PROFAUNA has been promoting conservation here for many years and a new local nonprofit foundation, "Sustainable Development of Cuatro Cienegas" will conduct conservationrelated activities, research, and information dissemination. An Internet page (http://www.utexas.edu/depts/tnhc/.www/fish/dfc/cuatroc/) sponsored by Desert Fishes Council and University of Texas provides natural history and bibliographic information and photographs, and runs locally as an exhibit on donated computers in the municipal museum to provide public and tourist education. Nature Conservancy works with the municipality, NGOs and government to carry out priority conservation activities. Partly as a result of such collaborations, the governor of Coahuila recently contributed one half (NP$100,000)) of the purchase price of land for a much needed visitor center.
El programa esta enfocado a promover, conjuntamente con las comunidades rurales, el enaltecimiento de nuestros valores Culturales y Naturales, valiendonos de modelos que, permiten 12 generacion de empleos y mejor nivel de vida en la comunidad, intentando coexistir en reciprocidad con el medio ambiente.
El proyecto se estructuro optando por la actividad Cinegetica, coaccionando con el ncleo de la comunidad, al proponer un trabajo conjunto, donde intervienen la mayoria de los miembros de la familia, siguiendo los calendarios de trabajo participativo en los cuales se aprende a valorar, cuidar y respetar a] Medio Ambiente que, le da sentido a la actividad.
El proyecto piloto: "La Preciosita", situado en las faldas del volcan Iztaccihuatl, en el estado de Puebla, se fortalece al ser validado por Universidades, Gobierno e Iniciativa Privada Mexicana, asi como por Universidades, Instituciones y Gobierno de los Estados Unidos de Norte America quienes han donado el pie de cria necesario. Otras Organizaciones Internacionales no Gubernamentales, apoyan la creacion de nuevas reservas tambien, capacitando personal y donando ejemplares para mas comunidades interesadas.
Por lo menos ocho reservas proyectadas, se incorporan al programa a esta fecha, originandose la iniciativa en diferentes estados de la Repblica Mexicana, siendo el estado de Texas el principal benefactor.
Supporting International Program for Environment
The program is focusing to promote with the rural communities, the improvement of our cultural and natural values, with the help of models, that let the improvement of employment and get better the life level in the community, trying to live with the environment.
The project was built looking for the game activity, working with the main part of the community, proposing a joined job, where take part the majority of the family members, following the participate work schedules where is learned to valve, care and respect the environment that make sense to the activity.
The main project: "La Preciositaî situated at the edge of Izztacihuatl vulcano in the state of Puebla is hardened to be valued by Universities, government and Mexican Initiative, such as Universities, Institutions and United States government organizations support the creation of new resources, also preparing personal and glumg book materials for more interested communities.
At least eight reserves giving. projected are joined to the program update, coming with the initiate of different states in the Mexican Republic, being the states of Texas the main sponsor.
Por su gran riqueza natural y diversidad, Mexico esta realizando grandes esfuerzos para la implementacion de areas naturales protegidas. A pesar de que el nmero de estas ha aumentado recientemente aun es insuficiente. Ademas, para aquellas que han sido decretadas se han tenido serios problemas en la implementacion de programas adecuados de manejo. Esto se debe, entre otras cosas, a la dificultad de valorar correctamente los beneficios economicos que los sistemas naturales aportan en su estado no modificado. En este contexto no solo es importante estimar el valor economico de los bienes ambientales (madera, pesca, etc.) que son aprovechados directa o indirectamente y que tienen valor de mercado. Tambien, existen bienes y servicios ambientales que no tienen valor de mercado pero proveen importantes beneficios a la sociedad. Estos ltimos beneficios pueden ser beneficios por el uso recreativo como beneficios por el uso pasivo tales como mantenimiento de la biodiversidad y otros funciones ambientales. El valor economico de los bienes ambientales sin mercado puede ser estimado a traves de metodos economicos especificos tales como el metodo de costo de viaje, el metodo de valoracion contingente entre otros metodos. La aplicacion de estos metodos de valoracion economica en Mexico es incipiente. El valor economico de los beneficios generados por estas areas naturales protegidas debe ser incorporado evaluar las propuesta de manejo, incluyendo las decisiones de inversion pblica o privada para su mejoramiento o el efecto economico de un impacto ambiental indeseable en esta areas. El presente trabajo tiene el proposito de resaltar la importancia de realizar estudios de valoracion economica en las areas naturales protegidas de Mexico, asi como promover la cooperacion internacional en este campo.
Due to its natural richness and diversity, Mexico is making efforts for the implementation of protected natural areas. In spite of these efforts, the extent of area protected is still insufficient. Even more, for those that have been established, implementation of adequate management actions has result very difficult. Among other causes, these difficulties are due to the lack of proper valuation of the economic benefits provided by unmodified natural systems. In this context, it is not only important to estimate the economic value of the environmental goods (wood, fish, etc.) that have market value. It is also necessary to value the nonmarketable goods and services such as biodiversity and other environmental functions. The economic value of nonmarket goods can be estimated by means of specific economic techniques such as contingent valuation, the travel costmethod and others. The use of these economic tools in Mexico is still incipient. The economic value of the benefits associated to protected natural areas must be incorporated into management considerations including and public investment decision for improving or assessing environmental impacts in these areas. The purpose of this work is to emphasize the importance of economic valuation studies in Mexico's natural protected areas, and to promote international cooperation in this field.
As a National Park Service site, Palo Alto Battlefield is required to conduct a broad range of research activities designed to identify and evaluate historic properties, advance knowledge of ethnographic resources, provide background data on park issues, contribute to interpretive programs, help avoid adverse impacts to resources, and develop technologies for treating, monitoring, and protecting cultural resources. However, as the only unit of the NPS specifically dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of resources from the War between Mexico and the United States, Palo Alto assumes additional research responsibilities. According to its establishing legislation, Palo Alto must provide not only for the interpretation and preservation of Palo Alto Battlefield, on which the first major battle of the war was fought, but it will also seek to assist research, preservation, and interpretation of the battle and the war, with equal attention given to the war's related political, diplomatic, military, and social causes and consequences. Therefore the scope of the research program can be large. Additionally, the park is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements, not only with property owners in the United States, but also with Mexico, to conduct joint research and interpretive planning for the battlefield and other warrelated sites. The ensuing discussion will explain how the different projects completed, scheduled, or ongoing at the park arise out of the four basic centers of interest: a) resource protection and management, b) source retrieval and dissemination, c) thematic studies, and d) regional dynamics.
El Plan De Investigacion Para El Sitio Historico Nacional Del Campo De Batalla De Palo Alto
Como un sitio en el Servicio Nacional de Parques, el Campo de Batalla de Palo Alto tiene que seguir un alcance muy amplio de actividades de investigacion como la identificacion y evaluacion de bienes inmuebles historicos, el estudio de recursos etnograficos, dar informacion sobre asuntos del parque, contribuir al programa de interpretacion, evitar impactos adversos a los recursos, y desarrollar tecnicas para el tratamiento y proteccion de recursos cultural. De cualquier modo, como el nico sitio del SNP dedicado especificamente a la preservacion y interpretacion de recursos de la guerra entre Mexico y los E.U.A., esta obligado Palo Alto con obligaciones de investigacion aun mas amplio. Por su legislacion de fundacion, Palo Alto tiene que proveer para la interpretacion y preservacion del campo de batalla y ademas para la investigacion, preservacion, e interpretacion de sitios y recursos de la guerra y sus causas y consecuencias politicas, diplomaticas, y militares. Tambien, el parque esta autorizado para celebrar acuerdos cooperativos con Mexico para los efecto de realizar, en forma conjunta, investigaciones y planificacion interpretativa del sitio historico y de otros sitios que tiene una relacion a la guerra. La discusion que sigue demostrara como los proyectos ya acabado planeado, o en marcha representan las cuatros areas de concentracion: a) la proteccion del recursos y su manejo, b) el rescate de los fuentes de investigacion, c) estudios tematicos, y d) aspectos regionales de la guerra y sus causes y consecuencias.
Wildland Fire Management would include needs for a regime, history/overview of existing mechanism and an update of a proposed U.S./Mexico binational agreement.
The U.S. Department of Interior has proposed to establish a cooperative regime for wildland fire management with U.S. Forest Service and the Mexican Secretariat of Environment Natural Resources, and Fish (SEMARNAP). The proposal is to create a legal framework to provide authority for standard cross border operating plans for fire suppression and to provide assistance to the requesting agency during emergencies. This agreement would promote cooperation and the exchange of information to help prepare and implement fire management activities along the border. It would also be a mechanism for coordination, communication, and joint response between federal, state, local, and tribal entities in United States and Mexico.
No international agreement currently exists between the government of the United States of America and the government of the United Mexican States concerning cross-border wildfire suppression and management. There are several border-related "operating plans" (eg. local firefighting, search and rescue, etc.) between government agencies of the two countries, but these arrangements do not address basic issues such as liability, reimbursement for costs incurred, visa requirements, immunity from legal actions, etc. While an increasing number of wildland fire suppression issues have arisen in recent years, government responses in the form of cross-border assistance remain constrained.
Wildfires pose a threat to public lands, rural communities, ranches and farms, all of which make up the majority of the approximately 2000 mile international boundary. On the U.S. side of the border, the Department of the Interior manages 602 miles adjacent to the border, the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture administers about 60 miles of the border and the Department of Defense administers 91 miles of the border. Three of North America's four desert types are found in this region, and have been disrupted by fires and may never recover from repeated burning. Riparian areas, which provide habitat to 70% of desert dwelling animal species, are also very intolerant of wildfire.
Wildfires that have started on one side of the border and spread to the other side might not have caused as much damage if the fires were suppressed while they were still small. For example, a two acre fire that started 1/2 miles south of the U.S. border burned into San Pedro National Conservation Area in Arizona and became a 800 acre fire. It would have cost less than $2,000 to suppress while it was small. Instead, the U.S. fire crew had to wait until it burned into the U.S. and the final suppression costs were $18,000.
An agreement between the U.S. and Mexico will facilitate more prompt responses to small fires by providing an avenue for one country to request wildfire protection resources from the other country. This would include border crossings for emergency personnel, contract aircraft, vehicles, supplies and specialize machinery. Additionally, there will be provisions to handle issues of liability, medical treatment in the event of an accident, billing and reimbursements. Overall, the agreement will serve as a mechanism for coordination, communication, and joint response of U.S. and Mexican firefighters from federal, state, local, and tribal entities.
Environmental concerns in border parks and reserves transcend the international boundary, and present special challenges to those interested in its protection and management. The Chihuahuan Desert, an ecosystem of over 2.4 million acres in Texas, Coahuila and Chihuahua, has been the focus of community meetings and concerted environmental action. As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Border XXI program, The National Parks and Conservation Association is working closely with the National Park Service, Sedesol of Coahuila, the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, the Red de Educadores Ambientales de Chihuahua, and citizens of both sides of the border to promote crossborder cooperation on parks and protected areas along the border. Areas involved include Big Bend National Park, Black Gap, Big Bend Ranch State Park (all in Texas), the Maderas del Carmen in Coahuila and El Canon de Santa Elena in Chihuahua. The first phase of the Santa Elena Environmental Program has been a joint work that meant much more than the financial support for Mexican programs but also an approach for cultural exchanges, a necessary step toward the achievement of an integrated management of ecosystems. From the community perspective, the workshops fulfilled the information objectives and motivated the people to know more and participate in the management planning process. Now the question is, " how to continue these efforts with cooperation mechanisms that allow long term programs and strategies to improve the conditions and well being of the communities and preserve the natural, and cultural resources."
Cooperacion en El Caĝon de Santa Elena: Acercando Dos Mundos Contiguos
La preocupacion por los parques y las reservas de la frontera trasciende los limites internacionales y presenta retos especificos para aquellos que estan interesados en la proteccion y el manejo de las areas. El Desierto Chihuahuense, un ecosistema de mas de 2.4 millones de acres, a sido el foco de acciones ambientales y reuniones comunitarias. Como parte del Programa de la Agencia de Proteccion Ambiental Frontera XXI, el National Parks and Conservation Association ha estado trabajando en coordinacion con el National Park Service, Sedesol de Coahuila, la Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua y la Red de Educadores Ambientales de Chihuahua y ciudadanos de ambos lados de la frontera para promover la cooperacion transfronteriza y entre organizaciones en las areas protegidas en la frontera. Estas areas incluyen el Big Bend National Park, el Big Bend Ranch, la Black Gap, Maderas del Carmen y el Caĝon de Santa Elena en Chihuahua. La primera fase del Programa de Educacion Ambiental en Santa Elena, ha sido un trabajo compartido que significo mucho mas que el establecimiento de apoyos financieros a los programas mexicanos, significo un proceso de acercamiento e intercambio cultural, pasos necesarios para lograr un manejo mas integral de los ecosistemas. A nivel comunitario, los talleres cumplieron con el objetivo de informar y lograron despertar la motivacion de la gente para conocer mas y participar en el plan de manejo del Area. Ahora la pregunta es como continuar con estos esfuerzos mediante mecanismos de cooperacion a mas largo plazo que cumplan con estrategias y programas de largo aliento que nos lleven a mejorar las condiciones de vida de las comunidades y la preservacion de los recursos naturales y culturales de la region.
El control del flujo rio arriba en el Rio Grande y sus tributarios presenta un problema especial al Parque Nacional Big Bend y a las areas de proteccion recientemente designadas en los estados vecinos de Coahuila y Chihuahua, Mexico. Los rasgos geologicos nicos, flora y fauna comunes a este area de la frontera se desarrollaron durante un periodo cuando el regimen fluvial del Rio Grande era diferente de lo que es hoy. Tanto Mexico como los Estados Unidos reconocieron los valores singulares de estos rasgos. Para que los Estados Unidos y Mexico continen protegiendo estas caracteristicas, es importante comprender mejor los regimenes fluviales actuales e historicos, la infraestructura rio arriba y los arreglos institucionales que influyen el flujo del Rio Grande en la vecindad de nuestras areas protegidas comunes. Es importante adquirir un mejor entendimiento de los efectos de estos flujos alterados sobre nuestros recursos nicos. Es importante buscar oportunidades y alternativas disponibles para establecer un regimen fluvial a traves de estas areas protegidas que asegure la viabilidad ecologica y economica del area. El analisis de las anotaciones geomorfologicas de las condiciones historicas del flujo del Rio Grande contribuira a identificar un regimen fluvial necesario para el mantenimiento de la geomorfologia del cauce y su funcion. La evaluacion del habitat rio adentro de los peces nativos y los macroinvertebrados se requiere para identificar los flujos necesarios para la proteccion de especies acuaticas en varias etapa de vida. La investigacion de flujos y de flujos hidraulicos se necesitan para identificar un regimen fluvial necesario para el uso recreativo continuo en el Rio Grande.
Proposal for Analysis of Flow Requirements of Resources of the Rio Grande Through the US and Mexico Border Protected Areas
Upstream control of flows in the Rio Grande and its tributaries present a special problem for Big Bend National Park in Texas and the newly designated protected areas in the neighboring states of Coahuila and Chihuahua, Mexico. The unique geologic features, flora, and fauna common to this border area developed during a period when the flow regime of the Rio Grande was very much different than it is today. Both Mexico and the US recognize the unique values of these features. In order for the US and Mexico to continue to protect these features it is important to gain a better understanding of the current and historic flow regimes, upstream infrastructure, and institutional arrangements influencing the flow of the Rio Grande in the vicinity of our common protected areas. It is important to gain a better understanding of the effects of these altered flows on our unique resources. It is important to seek opportunities and available alternatives to establish a flow regime through these protected areas which ensures the ecological and economic viability of the area. Analysis of geomorphologic records of the Rio Grande's historic flow conditions will contribute to identification of a flow regime necessary for maintenance of channel geomorphology and function. Instream habitat assessment of native fish and macroinvertebrates is required to identify flows necessary for the protection of aquatic species at various life stages. Investigation of flows and flow hydraulics are needed to identify a flow regime necessary for continued recreational use of the Rio Grande.
Reserva de la Biosfera El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar
La reserva de la biosfera de El Pinacate y Gran desierto de Altar fue creada el 10 de junio de 1993 por decreto presidencial en respuesta al interes del sector social, pblico y privado tanto nacional como internacional de proteger y conservar una parte importante del Desierto Sonorense en el extremo noroeste del estado de Sonora, Mexico.
La reserva forma parte del Sistema Nacional de ¡reas Naturales Protegidas de Mexico (SINAP), asi como de la red internacional de reservas de la biosfera del programa MAB de la Unesco. Junto con otras areas naturales de la region, forma parte del area incluida en la reciente propuesta de reserva internacional del Desierto Sonorense hecha por los gobiernos de Sonora y Arizona.
La reserva abarca una extension de 714,556.5 has. de terrenos ejidales, pequeĝa propiedad y terrenos nacionales que tienen gran importancia por sus valores geomorfologicos, biologicos, antropologicos, historicos y esteticos.
Dentro de sus programas prioritarios tiene, ademas de la proteccion y conservacion de sus recursos naturales y elementos culturales, la integracion de las comunidades locales a proyectos de reconversion economica para el desarrollo de actividades productivas compatibles con los objetivos de conservacion y que promuevan el desarrollo sustentable.
El Pinacate y Gran Desierto De Altar Biosphere Reserve
The El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve was declared on June 10, 1993 through a presidential decree in response to both national and international social, public and interests to protect and preserve an important part of the Sonoran Desert located at the northwestern corner of the state of Sonora, Mexico.
The reserve is part of the Natural Protected Areas National System (SINAP for its initials in spanish), as well as part of the International Biosphere reserves network of UNESCO's MAB program. Together with other national parks of the region it is part of the area included in the recent International Sonoran Desert Reserve proposal put forward by the Sonora and Arizona governments.
The reserve covers an area of 1,765,644.8 acres of ejido lands (communal property), small property, and federal lands very important because of their geomorphologic, biologic, anthropological, historic and aesthetic values.
Among its primary programs, aside from the protection and conservation of its natural and cultural resources, it has the local communities involvement in economic reconvertion projects for the development of productive activities compatible with the conservation objectives that try to foster sustainable development.
La zona conocida como Sierra de Alamos-Arroyo Cuchujaqui fue declarada el 5 de Junio, Dia Mundial del Ambiente, como Area de Proteccion de la Flora y la Fauna Silvestres y Acuaticas, en esta region se encuentran varios tipos de vegetacion bien diferenciados como la Selva Baja Caducifolia, Matorral Espinoso Sinaloense, Bosque de Encino y Bosque de Pino. Se han registrado mas de 1200 especies de plantas, (cerca del 50% de las familias de plantas que hay en Mexico estan representadas aqui).
Se estima que habitan mas de 480 especies de animales de las cuales 300 son aves. Es area de distribucion de aproximadamente 100 especies con status poblacional critico (Rara, Endemicas, En Peligro de Extincion, Vulnerable, Proteccion Especial, etc), segn listados estatales, nacionales e internacionales. Comprende tres subcuencas hidrologicas entre las cuales destacan Rio Fuerte y Rio Mayo, importantes para la actividad agricola. Ademas de considerarse de alto potencial Farmaceutico, tiene potencial turistico, entre otras caracteristicas.
Esta Area de Proteccion es una de las pocas del pais que protegen las selvas secas, consideradas en grave peligro de desaparecer. La iniciativa e interes de proteccion fue de gente local, autoridades municipales, y posteriormente de Instituciones Gubernamentales y No Gubernamentales. An cuando sus objetivos estan enfocados a la proteccion de sus recursos naturales, es primordial el mejoramiento del nivel de vida de los pobladores. Desde antes de su declaratoria se han llevado a cabo algunas actividades en la zona como educacion ambiental, inspeccion y vigilancia y extension rural.
This Natural Protected Area is one of few reserves that protect the tropical dry forest, which are in most endangered to vanishing. The local people and municipalities authorities, were the firsts in proposed it like Natural Protected Area, later OG's and NOG's auditioned to the effort. The goals of this Natural Protected Area are focusing in take protection and conservation of the naturals resources and improvement of the level economic of the local people.
Centro Ecologico de Sonora 1997 Border Conference Announcement
1997 Border Conference Index
Eco Travels in Mexico Borderlands Guide Centro Ecologico de Sonora 1997 Border Conference Announcement
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