PARK HISTORY
Sian Ka'an was established as a reserve in 1982 thanks to studies
conducted by the Centro de Investigaciones de Quintana Roo (CIQRO).
The region received full status as a biosphere reserve in 1986.
The park continues to grow. In 1994 the Bahia de Espiritu Santo,
a large bay in the southern part of the reserve, was declared
a wilderness refuge of 89,000 hectares (219,830 acres).
Within the park there unusually high levels of biodiversity.
There are 318 species of butterflies and 345 (and counting!)
species of birds, including roseate spoonbills, white-fronted
parrots, egrets, belted kingfish, blue and boat-billed herons,
frigate birds, and the jabiru stork, the world's largest flighted
bird.
The park is home to a list of endangered species including
jaguar, puma, tapir, manatee, and the spider monkey. The loggerhead,
hawksbill, and green turtles come ashore to nest between June
and August.
There are 1,200 plants and 230 species of trees found in the
reserve, 14 percent of which are endemic to the peninsula.
GEOLOGY AND ARCHAEOLOGY
The reserve rests on the youngest geological segment of the peninsula,
having emerged from the sea less than 2 million years ago. The
marshes are younger than the forests. The park is roughly divided
into thirds by tropical forests, wetlands, and marine environments.
There are three core zones, Muyil in the north, Cayo Culebras
in Ascension Bay, and Uaimil, the largest core area. The highest
areas are only 20 meters above sea level. There are nearly 30
archaeological sites in the reserve, most from the late post-classic
period (A.D. 1200-1500).
Because of its natural and cultural wonders, UNESCO declared
the reserve a World Heritage Site in 1987.
DIVERSIFYING PARK SUPPORT
Sian Ka'an has links with other environmental reserves, both public
and private. The reserve receives financial and technical support
from the Amigos de Sian Ka'an, an environmental group created
at the same time as the reserve.
Unlike parks in the United States, which are mostly uninhabited,
Sian Ka'an is a lively home to more than 5,000 people, 80 percent
of whom depend on lobster harvests. The population is a mix
of wealthy landowners and poor campesinos.
SPORTFISHING IN SIAN KA'AN
The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve boasts two exceptional bays,
Ascension Bay and Espiritu Santo Bay. The vast estuary system
and adjacent reefs enclose the bays and provide shelter for a
large number of species. The reef provides shelter to small fish
and crustaceans, which in turn attract larger predators.
When the reserve was created, landholders were permitted to
remain in the park. Catch-and-release fishing was promoted and
the hotel owners have worked to eliminate gill nets in Ascension
Bay. You can book a trip from local lodges, such as Boca Paila,
Casa Blanca or Ana y Jose's
An environmentally benign sport, catch-and-release fishing
allows anglers to go after the most challenging of fish -- bonefish,
permit, and tarpon -- without depleting the stock. Critics,
however, dismiss the sport and call it "torture-and-release."
Bonefish prefer shallow water because the flats provide the
crabs, shrimp, and mollusks it eats. In addition, bonefish find
protection in the shallow water from sharks and barracuda. Fish
as large as 33 inches have been caught and released. Permit
are found in the shallow as well as deeper waters and are more
difficult to catch than bonefish. Tarpon are the largest fish
found in the bay. They prefer brackish water, which the mangrove
coasts of the reserve provide.
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