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MEXICO
has exceptional climactic diversity. Its mountain ranges divide
the territory into tropical, cold, humid, and arid regions. In addition
to these topographic characteristics, Mexico is located at the confluence
of two great realms: the Nearctic and the Neotropical. Therefore,
one finds species characteristic of both great realms, making Mexico
a country of great diversity of natural resources, compared with
that of other Latin American countries, such as Guatemala, Brazil,
Bolivia, and Peru.
There are between 20 and 30 thousand different vascular plants
in Mexico - comparable to the number of plants found in Canada and
the United States together. Less than three thousand are endemic
(comprising about 238 genera), but this represents approximately
14 percent of endemism worldwide. (Sources: Rzendowsky, 1978; Flores
Villela, 1988.)
LOCAL FAUNA
The region stretching from Mexico to Panama is known as Mesoamerica.
There are 1,922 species of endemic vertebrates in this region. Of
these, more than 65 percent are found in Mexico. Mexico is home
to 520 species of mammals; 1,424 species of birds (16 percent of
the world's ornithofauna; and 900 species of reptiles. (Sources:
Hall and Kelson, 1959; Eisemann, 1955; Smith and Taylor, 1950; Flores
Villela, 1988.)
GUANAJUATO
The state of Guanajuato
encompasses 3,049,100 hectares (1,233,954 acres) in the central
region of the Republic of Mexico, including the southern part of
the central plateau and a portion of the neovolcanic axis or transversal
mountain range.
Climate in Guanajuato's mountain ranges and extensive plains ranges
from semiarid temperate to semiwarm subhumid.
The hydrographic region, "Lerma-Chapala-Santiago," includes six
watersheds and comprises 83 percent of the state. The Santa Rosa
Mountain Range is a part of this region.
SANTA ROSA MOUNTAIN RANGE
The Santa Rosa Mountain Range is the site of one of the most important
forests in the state. Around it, important cities were established:
Guanajuato, Leon, Irapuato, and Celaya,
all still depending on its natural resources.
The Santa Rosa Mountain Range extends over 80,000 hectares (32,376
acres), including the municipalities of Guanajuato, San Felipe,
and Dolores Hidalgo. It is located 5 kilometers (.3 miles) north
of the state's capital, less than 70 km (43.5 miles) average from
other main cities.
The main population within the mountain range is found in Santa
Rosa de Lima. Other than this town, there are a few dispersed communities
whose productive activities revolve principally around charcoal
manufacturing, firewood, mining, clay extraction, fruit-growing,
cattle-raising (minor), and tourism.
LA ESPERANZA DAM
At the end of last century, La Olla and San Renovato Dams were
insufficient to supply water to the city of Guanajuato. In 1894,
the government built La Esperanza Dam. Since then, the dam holds
the water that most of the city of Guanajuato and other towns need.
FUNDACION ECOLOGICA
The Fundación Ecologica de Guanajuato A.C. is a non-governmental
organization established in March 1988. It promotes and initiates
projects, cooperative programs, and investigations, and provides
information and education about the state's biological resources.
The Fundacion supports the concept of ecodevelopment and works to
implement it. Our plan is to achieve sustainable development --
the foundation of a new relationship between humankind and nature.
We believe conserving biological diversity and achieving sustainable
management of resources must involve local inhabitants, land owners,
and both direct and indirect users of the ecosystems. Therefore,
since the beginning we have worked alongside the ONG Desarrollo
Rural de Guanajuato A.C. (Rural Development Agency), which provides
social services to inhabitants of rural areas such as those encompassed
by the Santa Rosa Forest of Guanajuato.
In 1988, with the support of Desarrollo Rural A.C. and the International
Institute for Environment and Development (IIED-WRI), we completed
the initial survey of the ecology and socioeconomics of the Santa
Rosa Mountain Range.
The same year, the Fundacion, together with "Friends of Santa
Rosa Range and Guanajuato Forests A.C.," began to create the State's
System for Protected Natural Areas for SEDUE.
COOPERATIVE VENTURES
The Fundacion welcomes the interest of organizations and individuals.
Scientific collaboration, community service, and professional exchange
are important to achieving the goals of conserving biological diversity;
achieving sustainable management of resources; and involving inhabitants,
local land owners, and others in learning "el secreto del bosque." |
