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Mayan Forest

The variation in climate of the Yucatan Peninsula, from its driest zone in the north until it's most humid zones in the south, together with the climatic variables as precipitation, geology, topography and edaphology, makes this region rich in natural characteristics.

The confluence of all these factors leads to different types of ecosystems and associations of vegetation. That is how there is a mix of dry forests in the north of the Peninsula, and the medium to high jungles in the south.

In the past forty years, the demographic and economic tendencies of the region have had an evident impact on the reduction of the jungle areas in the Yucatan Peninsula. However, there are still important areas of jungle in good state of conservation.

The Program is directed towards two zones of the Peninsula: the region of Calakmul and the Otoch Ma’ax Yetel Kooh reserve, located 18 km from the archaeological zone of Cobá.

The municipality of Calakmul, located south of the state of Campeche, is especially important because it still possesses an extraordinary biological diversity, a wide variety of ecosystems in good state of conservation, a high degree of endemism and the existence of charismatic species, added to it’s great archaeological and cultural riches. Today, 77.38% of its extension is under some status of protection, what represents 47% of the protected areas of Campeche.

The great extension of the area and its connection with other protected areas of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, represents the second largest forest mass of America. It provides habitat for animal populations that require big extensions of territory to survive, such as the jaguar and other felines, mammals and birds. It is constituted by different types of vegetation in good state of conservation and contains particular habitats that are not present in other areas of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is the region with most precipitation, feeds the subterranean aquifers of the eastern slope (Caribbean) and the western slope (Line of Campeche), that feed the most important fresh water systems and wetlands of the states of Campeche and Quintana Roo (Flora and Fauna Protection Area “Lagunas de Términos” and Biosphere Reserve of “Sian Ka’an” (García- Gil 2004). This is why the cities located in the lower areas of the Peninsula (Campeche, Mérida, Chetumal and Cancún) are benefited by the conservation of the forest masses of the region. In this sense, the region can be considered a great natural patrimony at a regional, national and international level.

The Natural Protected Area, Otoch Ma’ax Yetel Kooh, puts together a series of characteristics that justify its declaration as a Flora and Fauna Protected Area. In it there is a great animal and plant biodiversity, as well as a great cultural richness.

The Flora and Fauna Protected Area covers different types of vegetation, as are the Tropical semideciduos forest, low waterlogged forest and waterlogged savanna, that depend on the existence and development of flora and fauna species that live in them.

These zones also possess one of the most important superficial hydrological systems in the Yucatan Peninsula, constituted by a network of lagoons variable in sizes.

In the Tropical semideciduos forest as in the secondary vegetation in different states of recuperation, there is a population of 380 to 800 spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), a species that is currently in danger of extinction (NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2001), and who’s importance for conservation as an umbrella species has been widely demonstrated (Symington, 1990 y McDaniel, 1994). Besides, the presence of a population of spider monkeys constitutes a very important resource for the locals, for they obtain economic benefits from guided visits to tourists interested in observing the monkeys in their natural conditions.

This is the site in America that registers the largest continuity on studies about the patterns of distributions, abundance and conduct aspects of the spider monkeys, in a Project that is still active (Ramos-Fernández et al. 2003). The information derived from these studies is a basic tool for the management and conservation of this species in the Yucatan Peninsula.

The Mayan Jungle Program is designed to attend conservation priorities, and sustainable management and use of these two important areas. Maintaining their connectivity and flora and fauna proportions are great challenges.

The Program manages the following themes:

•Conservation of public and private lands.
•Community work.
•Environmental education.
•Regional planning.
•Alternative tourism.

For further information, please consult: Angélica Padilla (apadilla@pronatura-ppy.org.mx).

Our Projects

Reinforcing Local Organized Groups in the Protected Area of Otoch Ma’ax Yetel Kooh

Preliminary Project for the Conservation and Management Program of the Flora and Fauna Protection Area of “Otoch Ma´ax Yetel Kooh” (Home of the Monkey and the Panther)

Ecological Diagnose of a New Protected Area, Otoch Ma'ax Yetel Kooh

Acquisition of Property Rights for the Amplification of Forests in the Biosphere Reserve of Calakmul (BRC), Campeche

Integral Program for Alternative Tourism in the Municipality of Calakmul, Campeche.

Reinforcing the Reserves of Balam-kú and Balam-kin, Campeche.

Bases for the Organized Use of Natural Resources in Conhuas, municipality of Calakmul, Campeche.