CEP Technical Report No. 36 1996

CEP Technical Report No. 36 1996: Status of Protected Area Systems in the Wider Caribbean Region
Country Profiles

(1) Totals have been adjusted to avoid double counting areas that are classified in 2 or more categories.

Mexico is a representative, democratic and federal republic, comprising 31 states and one federal district. Each state is autonomous in all internal affairs (Hunter 1991).

The first protected area was created in 1876, the first forest reserve (reserva forestal) in 1898 and the first national park in 1917 (SEDUE, n.d.b). The first legal definition of a protected natural area appeared in the Forestry Law (1926), although this definition was rather ambiguous as it allowed the establishment of both forest and tourist areas.

A great increase in the number of protected areas was brought about by President Lázaro Cárdenas (1934-1940): under his presidency, 40 national parks and seven reserves (58% of the present day system) were created, and major improvements were made in administration (Alcérreca et al 1988, SEDUE, n.d.b, Vargas 1984).

In 1944, further regulations to the 1942 Forestry Law were published which provided some measures for wildlife protection. The current Forestry Law was promulgated in 1960, and it provided for the establishment of national parks for public use within suitable forested areas.

The Ministry (Secretariat) for Urban Development and Ecology (Secretaría de Desarrollo Urbano y Ecología, SEDUE) was created in 1982. Within the SEDUE, the Sub-secretariat for Ecology (Subsecretaría de Ecología) was created in 1983, and it established the national system of natural protected areas (sistema nacional de áreas naturales protegidas, SINAP) as part of the National Programme for Ecology. SINAP is an instrument to ensure the preservation, rational use and value of the natural and cultural resources, determining their management and priorities (SEDUE, n.d.a).

The current law governing protected areas is the 1988 General Law for Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection (Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente, Annex I). This regulates natural protected areas, makes legal provisions for SINAP, defining categories used and making provisions for wild and aquatic flora and fauna (SEDUE 1989). It also provides for the decentralisation of environmental management to the federal agencies and municipalities, and includes an ecology code and guidelines for environmental impact assessment (FAO, n.d.). Another positive step appears to be the publication of the General Law for Ecological Equilibrium by 19 states (SEDUE, n.d.a).

In the past, the protected areas system has been unable to protect adequately the natural richness of the country due to lack of legislation and resources for management (Vargas 1984, Alcérreca et al 1988, WCMC 1988). This has been compounded by the fact that many of the existing decrees have not been carried out (SEDUE, n.d.a). Ambiguity over management arises because areas designated as national parks often remain in private ownership (Halffter 1992, Jardel et al 1992, Aguirre, pers. comm., 1992). Subsequently SEDUE was replaced by the Ministry of Social Development (SEDESOL), and since 1995 the environmental functions have been assumed by a new Ministry (Secretariat) on Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries (SEMARN y P).

In 1992 the Federal Public Administration Law (Ley Organica de Administracion Publica Federal) was modified assigning responsibilities for protected area management as follows:

Ministry of Agriculture and Hydraulic Resources: National Parks and Forest Reserves,

Ministry of Social Development (SEDESOL): Biosphere Reserves, Special Biosphere Reserves, Natural Monuments, and Wildlife Protection Areas,

Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage, 1972)

Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention, 1983)

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, 1973)

Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere (Western Hemisphere Convention, 1940)

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar, 1971)

Latin American Network for Technical Co-operation in National Parks, other protected areas and wildlife (FAO-UNEP Protected Area Network)

Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP, 1981) and its Specially Protected Areas & Wildlife Programme (SPAW, 1990)

Latin American Network for Technical Co-operation in National Parks, Protected Areas & Wildlife (LAN-NPPAW)

Until 1976, protected area management was the responsibility of various bodies within the forestry sector. From 1976 to 1982, five government agencies were responsible for protected area management.

Within SEDUE, the Subsecretariat of Ecology was responsible for protected areas through the General Directorate for Ecological Conservation of Natural Resources (Dirección General de Conservación Ecológica de los Recursos Naturales, DGCERN), created in 1985. DGCERN was formed by the amalgamation of the former General Directorate of Reserves and Ecological Protected Areas (Dirección General de Parques, Reservas y Areas Ecológicas Protegidas, DGPRAEP) and the General Directorate for Wild Flora and Fauna (Dirección General de Flora y Fauna Silvestres) (Alcérreca et al 1988). The administration of protected areas was the responsibility of SEDUE, although this responsibility could also be delegated to states and municipalities by SEDUE (SEDUE, n.d.a).

In May 1992, SEDUE was dissolved and its functions taken over by the new Ministry for Social Development (SEDESOL) (Pérez-Gil and Jaramillo 1992, Ezcurra Real 1993). The National Ecology Institute within, SEDESOL, was responsible for overall supervision of SINAP. These SEDESOL functions are now the responsibility of SEMARN y P. The institute manages 30 areas through state level offices. A similar arrangement is used within the Ministry of Agriculture and Hydraulic Resources.

The effectiveness of the management of protected areas under the responsibility of government agencies has suffered from excessive bureaucratic centralisation, frequent organisational changes, lack of funds, and trained personnel. As a result, other national institutes such as universities and research centres have begun to manage a number of biological research centres and several NGOs have become involved in establishing and managing protected areas (IUCN 1993).

There are serious discrepancies concerning the number and coverage of protected areas in Mexico. While WCMC (1992) listed 86 areas and 14 categories, SEDESOL data for 1993 recorded 76 areas in 6 categories. Additionally, state governments and the Ministry of Agriculture protect another 8 million ha of natural areas. The listing compiled for this report (Mateo, pers. comm., 1994) includes 104 areas covering over 8.8 million ha. Twenty of these areas reportedly contain coastal or marine resources.

The differences are thought to result from the lack of political support given protected areas until recently, inter-institutional squabbling, together with the long history of establishment of areas by numerous institutions without reference to established terminology and uniform criteria (Perez Gil & Jaramillo, cited by Varzetti 1993).

Twenty percent of national territory is include within some type of protected area. Although these protected areas have not functioned in practice (Jardel 1990). Some of the problems facing protected areas include: lack of clear objectives, scientific research and management plans, appropriate legal support, and management resources; irregularities in land tenure and pressure form settlements in and around protected areas; and lack of public awareness (Alcérreca et al 1988, SEDUE, n.d.a). The following are the principal threats: deforestation, poaching, rubbish dumping, plant poaching, mineral exploitation, over-grazing and erosion. The expansion of agriculture has resulted in loss of soil, exhaustion of watercourses and pollution (Alcérreca et al 1988, SEDUE, n.d.a). More detailed analyses of the problems relating to protected areas are made by Vargas (1984) and Alcérreca et al (1988).

By the early 1980's, property rights had been left undefined in 60% of national parks (Vargas 1984). The majority of protected areas have been established on communal land or ejidales. This has led to conflicts between nature conservation and local utilisation (Jardel 1990). The legal situation is further complicated when the limits of protected areas are confused or erroneous, as is frequently the case in existing decrees (Alcérreca et al 1988).

Although a few proposals for management plans have been prepared for some individual protected areas, neither is their implementation guaranteed nor are they part of any long-term strategic plan for a national system. These management plans have been a result of justifying the establishment of new areas or to support on-going efforts in existing areas (IUCN 1993).

van't Hof (1993) reports that management in Cancun & Isla de Mujeres National Park is relatively effective. Impacts from recreational activities as well as poaching need to be resolved. Increased training and co-operation with fishermen are required.

Mexico is the third largest country in Latin America after Brazil and Argentina. It is bounded in the north by the USA, west and south by the Pacific Ocean, south-east by Guatemala, Belize and the Caribbean Sea, and north-east by the Gulf of Mexico. It is mainly mountainous, with less than 35% of its surface area below 500 m, and more than half above 1,000 m (WCMC 1988). Volcanic activity is considerable and has formed much of the topography.

The coastline extends for nearly 10,000 km (6,760 km on the Pacific and 2,900 km on the Atlantic). There are an important number of islands on both the Pacific and the Atlantic sides of the country, as well as varied and important marine and coastal habitats such as coral reefs, mangroves, and estuaries. The Usumacinta Delta (11,000 sq. km.) on the Atlantic coast is considered one of the most important wetlands in North America (Duever and Sprunt 1978).

Mexico ranks fourth in the world after Indonesia, Brazil, and Colombia in terms of biodiversity (Toledo 1988). It is also among the top ten countries in the world for the number of restricted-range bird species and endemic bird areas it supports (ICBP 1992). It has the highest diversity of reptiles in the world, the second greatest mammal diversity and holds 8.7% of the worlds amphibian species, 11% of reptile, bird and mammal species and 14% of fish species. Furthermore, 32% of Mexico's terrestrial vertebrates and 40-50% of her plant species are endemic (Alcérreca et al 1988, Flores-Villela and Gerez 1988).

This biological richness results from great habitat variation and diverse ecological regions, complex topography, climate, geology and geographical location. Ecosystems range from deserts, rain forests, and mangrove swamps. In addition, Mexico, like Indonesia, bridges two major biogeographic realms, the Nearctic and the Neotropical, which provide exchanges between elements of northern temperate and tropical origins (Rzedowski 1978). Reviews of Mexico's terrestrial biodiversity have been undertaken by Toledo (1988), Flores-Villela and Gerez (1988) and WCMC (1988).

Vegetation can be divided into three approximately equal areas: the tropical/subtropical, temperate, and semi-arid/arid. The tropical/subtropical region includes tropical rain forests originally covering 6% of the country, but half of which has been destroyed. The vegetation of the temperate region occupies the main cordilleras and about 15% of the country; the principal forest consists of a wide diversity of pines Pinus spp. and oaks Quercus spp.; 80% of plants found in the pine forests are endemic (Rzedowski 1978). In addition, pine forests supply 80% of national timber production (Jardel, pers. comm., 1992). In the higher parts of the cordilleras, to 3,300m, forests of silver fir (Abies spp.) occur. The semi-arid/arid zone is found mainly in the north and centre (Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts and central altiplano) and includes mostly open shrubland (matorral), cacti, and xerophytic monocotyledons (Davis et al 1986).

Until recently, the majority of existing protected areas have represented temperate ecosystems. SINAP intended to include areas representative of all the ecosystems found in the country (SEDUE, n.d.a). However, at present national biosphere reserves are the only protected areas to have been selected using biological criteria; they are also the only ones which fulfil the minimum management requirements for conservation (Jardel, pers. comm., 1992). In terms of biological diversity, ecological value and vulnerability, conservation priorities are: montane broad-leaved forest, mangroves and coastal wetlands, moist tropical forest, dry tropical forest and arid zones (Jardel, pers. comm., 1992).

Secretaría de Medio Ambiente, Recursos Naturales, y Pesca (SEMARN y P), Subsecretaría de Ecología (Directora General), Dirección General de Aprovechamiento Ecológico de los Recursos Naturales, Lateral Anillo Perferico Sur No. 4209, Piso 4, Fracc. Jardines de la Montana, CP 14210, MEXICO DF.

Centro de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Aptdo. Postal 70-275, MEXICO 04510, D.F.

Fundación Chiapaneca Miguel Alvarez del Toro para la Protección de la Naturaleza (FUNDAMAT), A.C. Apartado Postal No. 970, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, CHIAPAS CP 29000

Laboratorio Natural Las Joyas de la Sierra de Manantlán, Universidad de Guadalajara, Aptdo Postal 1-3933, 44100 GUADALAJARA (Tel. 268655) Mariposa Monarca, Avenida Constituyentes 345-806, Colonia Daniel Garza, 1 183 0 MEXICO, DF (Tel: (525) 515-9910

PRONATURA, A.C., Apartado Postal 14, 53160 NAUCALPAN, Estado de México Tel: (525) 545-1776

Coordinacion de Asuntos Internacionales SEMARN y P, Lateral Anillo Periferico Sur, No. 4209, Piso 4, Fracc. Jardines de la Montana, CP 14210, MEXICO DF Tel: (525) 628-0650 (525) 515-2132 Fax: (525) 628-0653

Alcérreca, C., Consejo, J.J., Flores, O., Gutiérrez, D., Hentschell, E., Herzig, M., Pérez-Gil, R., Reyes, J.M., y Sánchez-Cordero, V. (1988) Fauna silvestre y áreas naturales protegidas. Universo Veintiuno. 193 pp.

Anaya, A., De la Maza, J., Consejo, J.J., García, J.M. (1985) Conservación del patrimonio natural de México. World Forestry Congress. Unpublished. (Unseen)

Beltrán, E. (1973) Los Parques Nacionales y la Semana de los Cinco Días. Instituto Mexicano de Recursos Naturales Renovables, A.C. México. (Unseen)

Davis, S.D., Droop, S.J.M., Gregerson, P., Henson, L., Leon, C.J., Villa-Lobos, J., Synge, H., and Zantovska, J. (1986) Plants in Danger - What do we know? IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. 461 pp.

Duever, M.J. and Sprunt, A. (1978) Ecosystem analysis of the Usumacinta Delta, Tabasco and Campeche, Mexico 1978-1981. A proposal to IUCN. 123 pp.

FAO (n.d.) La Red Latinoamericana de Cooperación Técnica en Parques Nacionales, Otras Areas Protegidas, Flora y Fauna Silvestres. Oficina Regional de la FAO para América Latina y el Caribe, Santiago, Chile. 8 pp.

Flores-Villela, O. and Gerez, P. (1988) Conservación en México: sintesis sobre vertebrados terrestres, vegetación y uso del suelo. INIREB, Conservation International. 302 pp.

Gómez-Pompa, A. (1987) On Maya silviculture. Mexican Studies (31):1-17. (Unseen)

Gómez-Pompa, A. and Kaus, A. (1990) Traditional management of tropical forests in Mexico. In: A.B. Anderson (Ed.) Alternatives to Deforestation: Steps toward Sustainable Use of the Amazon Rain Forest. Columbia University Press, New York. p.45-p.64.

González, A. and Sánchez L., V.M. (1961) Los parques nacionales de México. Instituto Mexicano de Recursos Naturales Renovables, A.C. 149 pp.

Halffter, G. (1984) Las Reservas de la Biósfera: Conservación de la Naturaleza para el Hombre. Acta Zool. Méx. 5:4-48.

Halffter, G. (1991) El concepto de la reserva de la biósfera. Memorias del Seminario sobre Conservación de la Diversidad Biológica de México 1:1-25.

Halffter, G. (1992) Areas naturales protegidas de México: una perspectiva. Instituto de Ecología. (Unpublished). 12 pp.

Hunter, B. (1991) The Statesman's Year-Book 1991-1992. The Macmillan Press Ltd, London.

ICBP (1992) Putting biodiversity on the map: priority areas for global conservation. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, UK. 90 pp.

IUCN (1985) Status of multilateral treaties in the field of environment and conservation. IUCN Environmental Policy and Law Occasional Paper 1:1-6.

IUCN (1993) Parks and Progress - Protected Areas and Economic Development in Latinamerica. IUCN Cambridge, UK. p.110-p.122.

Jardel, E.J. (1990) Conservación y uso sostenido de recursos forestales en ecosistemas de montaña. In: Rojas, R. (Ed.) En busca del equilibrio perdido: el uso de los recursos naturales en México. Editorial Universidad de Guadalajara. p.209-p.235.

Jardel, E.J., Aguirre, G., Santana, E., and Halffter, G. (1992) Desarrollo de las reservas de la biósfera en México. Paper presented at Workshop III.3 of IV World Parks Congress, Caracas, Venezuela.

Melo, G.C. (1977) Balance analítico de la operación del sistema mexicano de parques nacionales. Instituto de Geografía, UNAM. Serie Varia 1(3):155-231. (Unseen)

Ormazábal, C. (1988) Sistemas nacionales de áreas silvestres protegidas en América Latina. Basado en los resultados del taller sobre Planificación de Sistemas Nacionales de Areas Silvestres Protegidas, Caracas, Venezuela, 9-13 junio 1986. Proyecto FAO/PNUMA sobre manejo de areas silvestres, areas protegidas y vida silvestre en America Latina y el Caribe. Oficina Regional de la FAO para América Latina y el Caribe, Santiago, Chile. p.20-p.23.

Pérez, R., and Jaramillo, F. (1992) Natural Protected Areas in Mexico. Report by PG7 Consultores, S.C. for IUCN-BID. 21 pp. (unpublished)

Rzedowski, J. (1978) Vegetación de México. Editorial LIMUSA, México DF. 432 pp.

SEDUE (n.d.a) Reseña de la conservacion de áreas naturales protegidas en México. 23 pp.

SEDUE (n.d.c) Sistema nacional de áreas naturales protegidas (SINAP), México. 9 pp.

SEDUE (1989) Información básica sobre las áreas naturales protegidas de México. Subsecretaría de Ecología. Dirección General de Conservación Ecológica de los Recursos Naturales (DGCERN). SINAP. 82 pp.

Toledo, V.M. (1988) La diversidad biológica de México. Ciencia y Desarrollo 14(81):17-30 (Unseen)

Vargas, F. (1984) Parques nacionales de México y reservas equivalentes. Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas, UNAM. 266 pp.

Vargas, F. (1990) Las áreas naturales "protegidas" en México; una utopía, basada en simulaciones, mitos, demagogia y autoritarismo. II International Symposium on Protected Areas in Mexico. Centro de Ecología UNAM. 22-26 October 1990.

WCMC (1988) Mexico - Conservation of biological diversity. World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK. 19 pp.

Definitions of protected area designations, as legislated, together with authorities responsible for their administration.

Title: Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente (General Law for Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection).

Brief description: The backbone of ecological regulation in the country and is an integrated approach to the ecology issue and the commitment to tackle the related problems through the combined efforts of the state and society. The first seven categories are federal while the remaining two are of local interest.

Administrative authority: Secretaría de Desarrollo Urbano y Ecología (SEDUE)

Reserva de la Biósfera (Biosphere Reserve) Area no less than 10,000 ha containing relevant biogeographic representative areas at the national level, of one or more ecosystems not significantly altered by human action, with at least a pristine area inhabited by endemic, threatened or endangered species.

Reserva Especial de la Biósfera (Special Biosphere Reserve) Representative area of one or more ecosystems not significantly altered by Man, inhabited by endemic, threatened or endangered species. Their smaller size and ecosystems are the main differences with the above.

Parque Nacional (National Park) Biogeographic representative area at a national level of one or more ecosystems which are significant as a result of their scenic beauty, their scientific, educational, recreational or historic value, their nationally important flora and fauna, and their suitability for tourist development.

Monumento Natural (Natural Monument) Area with one or more natural elements of national importance, consisting of natural places and objects that due to their unique or exceptional character, aesthetic interest, historic and scientific value are incorporated into a system of absolute protection.

Parque Marino Nacional (Marine National Park) Marine areas, beaches and federal maritime - terrestrial neighbouring areas, dedicated to the preservation of the aquatic ecosystems and elements, ecological research and the rational use of their resources under specific norms of ecological protection.

Area de Protección de Recursos Naturales (Natural Resource Protection Area) Areas destined to preserve and restore forested areas and to the conservation of the soil and water. The following areas are further found within this category: (a) forest reserve, (b) national forest reserve, (c) protective forest area, (d) area of forest restoration and propagation and (e) protection area for rivers, springs, deposits and in general, sources for urban water replenishment.

Area de Protección de Flora y Fauna Silvestre y Acuática (Wild and Aquatic Flora and Fauna Protection Area) Areas containing critical habitats for the existence, transformation and development of species of wild and aquatic flora and fauna.

Parque Urbano (Urban Park) Areas for public use with natural, artificial ecosystems or nature elements dedicated to protect a healthy environment for recreation of the population and for the protection of artistic and historical values and natural beauty of regional or local significance.

Zona Sujeta a Conservación Ecológica (Ecological Conservation Zone) Areas with one or more ecosystems in good conservation state, destined to preserve natural elements indispensable for ecological equilibrium and general welfare. Urban parks and areas subject to ecological conservation are the responsibility of state governments and municipalities.

Title: Regulation of National and International Parks (Reglamento de Parques Nacionales e Internacionales).

Brief description: Provides the clearest national parks concept in the Mexican park legislation.

Parque Nacional (National Park) Areas destined to ensure the protection of natural scenic beauty and flora and fauna of national importance, which the public may better enjoy by being placed under official surveillance.

Name of area	IUCN & National Mgmt. Categories		Presence of Marine or Coastal Zones	Area ha	Year Established
El Triunfo	I	NBR		119,177	1990
Isla Cedros	I	FR		1,000	1978
Lagunar Ojo de Liebre Complex	I	CS		40,000	1972, 80
Cerro de la Silla	I	NM		6,045	1991
Isla Contoy	I	SBR	YES	176	1961
Isla Guadalupe	I	SBR	YES	25,000	1922
Islas del Golfo de California	I	SBR	YES	150,000	1978
Mariposa Monarca	I	SBR		16,110	1980
Subtotal	8		3	357,508
Benito Juarez	II	NP		2,737	1937
Bosencheve	II	NP		15,000	1940
Cañón del Río Blanco	II	NP		55,690	1938
Cañón del Sumidero	II	NP		21,789	1980
Cascada de Bassaseachic	II	NP		5,803	1981
Cerro de la Estrella	II	NP		1,100	1938
Cofre de Perote	II	NP		11,700	1937
Constitución de 1857	II	NP		5,009	1962
Cumbres de Majalca	II	NP		4,772	1939
Cumbres de Monterrey	II	NP		246,500	1939
El Chico	II	NP		2,739	1982
El Cimatario	II	NP		2,447	1982
El Gogorrón	II	NP		25,000	1936
El Potosí	II	NP		2,000	1936
El Tepozteco	II	NP		24,000	1957
El Veladero	II	NP		3,160	1980
Insurgente Jose María Morelos y Pavon	II	NP		1,813	1939
Insurgente Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla	II	NP		1,751	1936
Isla Isabela	II	NP	YES	194	1980
Iztaccihuatl Popocatépetl	II	NP		25,679	1935, 48
La Malinche	II	NP		45,700	1938
Lagunas de Chacahua	II	NP	YES	14,187	1937
Lagunas de Montebello	II	NP		6,022	1959
Lagunas de Zempoala	II	NP		4,669	1936, 47
Los Mármoles	II	NP		23,150	1936
Nevado de Colima	II	NP		22,200	1936, 40
Nevado de Toluca	II	NP		51,000	1936
Pico de Orizaba	II	NP		19,750	1937
Pico de Tancitaro	II	NP		29,316	1940
Sierra de San Pedro Mártir	II	NP		63,000	1947
Zoquiapán y Anexas	II	NP		19,418	1937
Balneario Los Novillos	II	NP		42	1940
Cumbres del Ajusco, DF	II	NP		920	1936
El Teyepac, DF	II	NP		303	1937
Tula, Hidalgo	II	NP		99	1981
Desierto del Carmen o de Nixcongo	II	NP		529	1942
Molino de Flores, Netzahualcoyotl	II	NP		55	1937
Los Remedios	II	NP		400	1938
El Sacramonte	II	NP		45	1939
Cerro de Garnica	II	NP		968	1936
Lago de Camecuaro	II	NP		9	1941
Rayón	II	NP		34	1952
El Sabinal	II	NP		8	1938
Tulum	II	NP	YES	664	1981
Dzilbilchaltun	II	NP		539	1987
Omiltemi	II	P		3,600	not avail.
Subtotal	46		3	765,510
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa	III	NP		1,600	1936
Cascadas de Agua Azul	III	SBR		2,580	1980
Subtotal	2		0	4,180
La Blanquilla	IV	MR	YES	66,868	1975
Alacranes Reef	IV	MR	YES	333	1994
Veracruz Reef System Faunal Reserve	IV	MR	YES	52,238	1992
La Mojonera	IV	RE		9,201	1981
La Primavera	IV	RE		30,500	1980
Sierra de Alvarez	IV	RE		16,900	1981
Sierra del Pinacate	IV	RE		28,660	1979
Valle de los Cirios	IV	NM		3,500,000	1980
La Encrucijada	IV	NTB		30,000	1972
Selva El Ocote	IV	SBR		48,140	1982
Río Celestún	IV	SBR	YES	59,130	1979
Ría Lagartos	IV	SBR	YES	47,840	1979
Corredor Biológico Chichinautzin	IV	PA		37,302	1988
Chan-Kin	IV	PA		12,184	1992
Laguna de los Términos	IV	PA		705,016	1994
Yum Balam	IV	PA		154,052	1994
Subtotal	16		5	1,298,364
Palenque	V	NP		1,772	1981
Calakmul	V	NP		732,189	1989
El Pinacate y el Gran Desierto de Altar	V	NP		714,556	1993
El Vizcaíno	V	NP	YES	2,546	1988
Mapimí	V	NP		123,000	1977, 79
Michilía	V	NP		35,000	1979
Sierra de Manantlán	V	NP		139,577	1987
Subtotal	7		1	1,748,640
Isla Tiburón	VII	SBR	YES	120,800	1963
Sierra de Santa Martha	VII	SBR	YES	20,000	1980
Volcán de San Martín	VII	SBR		1,500	1979
Bavispe	VIII	FR		198,164	1939
Centenario	VIII	FR		3,000	1949
El Gavilán	VIII	FR		9,682	1923
Mesa del Pitorreal	VIII	FR		4,900	1923
Papigochic	VIII	FR		172,480	1939
Porción Boscosa de San Luís Polotsí	VIII	FR		29,885	1923
San José de los Molinos	VIII	FR		2,995	1942
Sierra de Juarez	VIII	FR		140,000	1951
Sierra de Los Ajos, Buenos Aires y Purica	VIII	FR		21,494	1936
Sierra de Pedro Mártir	VIII	FR		74,000	1951
Sierras de Hansen y San Pedro Mártiry Mesa Pinal	VIII	FR		1,249,000	1923
Tequixquipan	VIII	FR		32,000	1935
Terenos de Puebla y México	VIII	FR		18,215	1926
La Laguna San Ignacio	VIII	CS	YES	0	1979
Bonampak	VIII	CS		4,357	1992
Yaxchilan	VIII	CS		2,621	1992
Isla Rasa	VIII	SBR	YES	7	1964
Cajón del Diablo	VIII	SBR	YES	0	1937
Campo Verde	VIII	FR		0	not avail.
Tutuaca	VIII	FR		364,952	1937
Subtotal	23		5	2,470,052
BIOSPHERE RESERVES
El Cielo	IX	BR		144,530	1986
Montes Azules	IX	BR		331,200	1979
Reserva de Mapimí	IX	BR		123,000	1977
Reserva de la Michilía	IX	BR		35,000	1979
Sian Ka'an	IX	BR	YES	528,148	1986
Sierra de Manantlán	IX	BR		139,577	1988
Lacantun, Chiapas	IX	BR		6,833	1992
Pantanos de Centla	IX	BR	YES	302,706	1993
Alto Golfo de California y Delta del Rio Colorado	IX	BR	YES	934,756	1993
Chamela-Cuixmala	IX	BR		13,142	1993
Archipielago de Revillagigedo	IX	BR	YES	636,685	1994
Sierra La Laguna	IX	BR		112,437	1994
Sierra del Abra Tanchipa	IX	BR		21,464	1994
Subtotal	13		4	3,329,478
RAMSAR SITES
Ría Lagartos, Yucatán	XI	RW	YES	47,480	1986
Subtotal	1		1	47,480
WORLD HERITAGE SITES
Sian Ka'an	X	WH	YES	528,000	1987
El Vizcaíno	X	WH	YES	2,546	1988
Subtotal	2		2	530,546

IUCN MANAGEMENT CATEGORY	No. of Protected Areas (PAs)	PAs with Marine or Coastal Zones	Extension
Category I	8	3	357,508
Category II	46	3	765,510
Category III	2	0	4,180
Category IV	16	5	1,298,364
Category V	7	1	1,748,640
Categories VI-VIII	23	5	2,470,052
Biosphere Reserves	13	4	3,329,478
World Heritage Sites	2	2	530,546
Ramsar Sites	1	1	47,480
Total (1)	110	20	8,816,807