Nahá–Metzabok Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in southeastern Mexico. It is located in the state of Chiapas, on the northeastern flank of the Chiapas Highlands. The reserve protects montane rain forests, pine and oak forests, and natural lakes.
Nahá–Metzabok Biosphere Reserve
Nahá Flora and Fauna Protection Area Metzabok Flora and Fauna Protection Area
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)[1][2]
The reserve encompasses two separate flora and fauna protection areas, Metzabok and Nahá, and a buffer zone around them. Metzabok Flora and Fauna Protection Area has an area of 33.68 km2.[2]
Nahá Flora and Fauna Protection Area is located to the southeast of Metzabok, and has an area of 38.47 km2.[1]
The reserve has a rugged topography, composed of parallel folded ranges of hills extending from northwest to southeast. The underlying geology is principally limestone. There are karstic plateaus atop the ridges, and narrow valleys and ravines separate the ridges. Elevations range from 840 to 1,280 meters above sea level.[4]
Water has dissolved the porous limestone, creating caverns, sinkholes, and sinkhole lakes (cenotes). Some of the lakes are isolated, while others have underground connections with each other and/or surface rivers and streams. The Nahá and Metzabok lake systems are connected to each other, and together form a closed basin.[4][5]
Lake Nahá (also known as Lake Naja) is located in the Nahá reserve, at 16°59'27.6"N and 91°35'29.6"W. The lake is approximately 1 km in diameter and 30 m deep. It is a karstic lake in a mountain basin, with the lake surface at approximately 830 meters elevation surrounded by mountains up to 1200 meters elevation. The Nahá River drains northwards from Lake Nahá towards the Metzabok lakes.[6][5]
Metzabok's lake system includes 21 lakes of different sizes, most of which are interconnected when the water level is high. The largest lakes are Lake Tzibaná (1.24 km2 and 70 m maximum depth) and Lake Metzabok (0.83 km2 and 25 m maximum depth). They are located at 17º6'30" to 17º8'30" N and 91º36'30" to 91º38'50" W, and the lake level is approximately 550 meters elevation. The Nahá River is the principal surface tributary, although the lakes may have additional subsurface inflows. There is no known surface or sub-surface outflow, and the Nahá and Metzabok lakes are considered a closed system. Lake levels typically fluctuate by about 10 meters annually with seasonal rainfall patterns. During a drought from March to August 2019, Lake Metzabok dried up completely and the water level in Lake Tzibaná dropped by 15 meters.[5]
The reserve has a tropical rain forest climate. Mean annual temperature is above 22º C. Average annual rainfall is 2500 mm, which falls mostly between May and October.[6]
40,000 plant and animal species live in the reserve. These include 48% of the Mexico's bird species, 33% of bats, 11% of reptiles, and 25% of the mammals in only 0.4% of the country's land area.[3]
The karstic sinkholes and lakes create distinctive wetland habitats, which is recognized by the reserve's Ramsar designation.[4]
ConservationEdit
Nahá and Metzabok flora and fauna protection areas were designed in 1998.[1][2] The Nahá and Metzabok flora and fauna protection areas were designated a Ramsar site (wetland of international importance) in 2004. The Ramsar site covers 72.16 km2.[3] The biosphere reserve, encompassing the two flora and fauna protection areas and a buffer zone, was designated in 2009.[4]
The Lacandon, Tzeltal, and Ch'olMaya peoples live in the reserve. Communal land tenure within the reserve's core zone is recognized by the Mexican Government. Land tenure in the buffer zone is principally ejidos.[4]
Threats to the reserve include water pollution from pesticide runoff, habitat fragmentation from forest clearance for timber and agriculture, and increased fire risk.[3]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcUNEP-WCMC (2021). Protected Area Profile for Nahá from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 26 September 2021. [1]
^ abcUNEP-WCMC (2021). Protected Area Profile for Metzabok from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 26 September 2021. [2]
^ abcdef"Áreas de Protección de Flora y Fauna de Nahá y Metzabok". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
^ abcdeUNESCO (2018). "Naha-Metzabok Biosphere Reserve, Mexico". UNESCO, December 2018. Accessed 26 September 2021. [3]
^ abcBücker, Matthias & Flores Orozco, Adrián & Gallistl, Jakob & Steiner, Matthias & Aigner, Lukas & Hoppenbrock, Johannes & Glebe, Ruth & Barrera, Wendy & Carlos, Pita & García, César & Pérez, José & Buckel, Johannes & Hördt, Andreas & Schwalb, Antje & Pérez, Liseth. (2021). Integrated land and water-borne geophysical surveys shed light on the sudden drying of large karst lakes in southern Mexico. Solid Earth. 12. 439-461. 10.5194/se-12-439-2021.
^ abcdDomínguez-Vázquez, Gabriela and Gerald Alexander Islebe (2008). "Protracted drought during the late Holocene in the Lacandon rain forest, Mexico". Vegetation History and Archaeobotany Vol. 17, No. 3 (May, 2008), pp. 327-333. [4]
October 19, 2023
nahá, metzabok, biosphere, reserve, biosphere, reserve, southeastern, mexico, located, state, chiapas, northeastern, flank, chiapas, highlands, reserve, protects, montane, rain, forests, pine, forests, natural, lakes, biosphere, reservenahá, flora, fauna, prot. Naha Metzabok Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in southeastern Mexico It is located in the state of Chiapas on the northeastern flank of the Chiapas Highlands The reserve protects montane rain forests pine and oak forests and natural lakes Naha Metzabok Biosphere ReserveNaha Flora and Fauna Protection AreaMetzabok Flora and Fauna Protection AreaIUCN category VI protected area with sustainable use of natural resources 1 2 Naha LakeLocationOcosingo Chiapas MexicoCoordinates17 03 N 91 36 W 17 050 N 91 600 W 17 050 91 600 3 Area134 53 km2 51 94 sq mi DesignationUNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve 2009 Ramsar WetlandOfficial nameAreas de Proteccion de Flora y Fauna de Naha y MetzabokDesignated2 February 2004Reference no 1331 3 Contents 1 Geography 2 Climate 3 Flora and fauna 4 Conservation 5 ReferencesGeography EditThe reserve encompasses two separate flora and fauna protection areas Metzabok and Naha and a buffer zone around them Metzabok Flora and Fauna Protection Area has an area of 33 68 km2 2 Naha Flora and Fauna Protection Area is located to the southeast of Metzabok and has an area of 38 47 km2 1 The reserve has a rugged topography composed of parallel folded ranges of hills extending from northwest to southeast The underlying geology is principally limestone There are karstic plateaus atop the ridges and narrow valleys and ravines separate the ridges Elevations range from 840 to 1 280 meters above sea level 4 Water has dissolved the porous limestone creating caverns sinkholes and sinkhole lakes cenotes Some of the lakes are isolated while others have underground connections with each other and or surface rivers and streams The Naha and Metzabok lake systems are connected to each other and together form a closed basin 4 5 Lake Naha also known as Lake Naja is located in the Naha reserve at 16 59 27 6 N and 91 35 29 6 W The lake is approximately 1 km in diameter and 30 m deep It is a karstic lake in a mountain basin with the lake surface at approximately 830 meters elevation surrounded by mountains up to 1200 meters elevation The Naha River drains northwards from Lake Naha towards the Metzabok lakes 6 5 Metzabok s lake system includes 21 lakes of different sizes most of which are interconnected when the water level is high The largest lakes are Lake Tzibana 1 24 km2 and 70 m maximum depth and Lake Metzabok 0 83 km2 and 25 m maximum depth They are located at 17º6 30 to 17º8 30 N and 91º36 30 to 91º38 50 W and the lake level is approximately 550 meters elevation The Naha River is the principal surface tributary although the lakes may have additional subsurface inflows There is no known surface or sub surface outflow and the Naha and Metzabok lakes are considered a closed system Lake levels typically fluctuate by about 10 meters annually with seasonal rainfall patterns During a drought from March to August 2019 Lake Metzabok dried up completely and the water level in Lake Tzibana dropped by 15 meters 5 The reserve is in the transition between the foothill Lacandon rainforest Selva Lacandona and the montane cloud forests and pine oak forests of the Chiapas Highlands 3 Climate EditThe reserve has a tropical rain forest climate Mean annual temperature is above 22º C Average annual rainfall is 2500 mm which falls mostly between May and October 6 Flora and fauna EditFlora in reserve ranges from pine oak forest to montane evergreen cloud forest foothill rain forest and wetlands Lower montane rain forest grows between 400 and 800 meters elevation including around Lake Naha Characteristic trees include Brosimum alicastrum Guatteria spp Hirtella americana Licania hypoleuca Spondias radlkoferi Terminalia amazonia Virola koshnii and Guarea spp 6 Pine oak forest grows on the ridges characterized by species of pine Pinus and oak Quercus with Carpinus tropicalis Myrica cerifera Styrax argenteus and species of alder Alnus and walnut Juglans 6 40 000 plant and animal species live in the reserve These include 48 of the Mexico s bird species 33 of bats 11 of reptiles and 25 of the mammals in only 0 4 of the country s land area 3 The karstic sinkholes and lakes create distinctive wetland habitats which is recognized by the reserve s Ramsar designation 4 Conservation EditNaha and Metzabok flora and fauna protection areas were designed in 1998 1 2 The Naha and Metzabok flora and fauna protection areas were designated a Ramsar site wetland of international importance in 2004 The Ramsar site covers 72 16 km2 3 The biosphere reserve encompassing the two flora and fauna protection areas and a buffer zone was designated in 2009 4 The Lacandon Tzeltal and Ch ol Maya peoples live in the reserve Communal land tenure within the reserve s core zone is recognized by the Mexican Government Land tenure in the buffer zone is principally ejidos 4 Threats to the reserve include water pollution from pesticide runoff habitat fragmentation from forest clearance for timber and agriculture and increased fire risk 3 References Edit a b c UNEP WCMC 2021 Protected Area Profile for Naha from the World Database of Protected Areas Accessed 26 September 2021 1 a b c UNEP WCMC 2021 Protected Area Profile for Metzabok from the World Database of Protected Areas Accessed 26 September 2021 2 a b c d e f Areas de Proteccion de Flora y Fauna de Naha y Metzabok Ramsar Sites Information Service Retrieved 26 September 2021 a b c d e UNESCO 2018 Naha Metzabok Biosphere Reserve Mexico UNESCO December 2018 Accessed 26 September 2021 3 a b c Bucker Matthias amp Flores Orozco Adrian amp Gallistl Jakob amp Steiner Matthias amp Aigner Lukas amp Hoppenbrock Johannes amp Glebe Ruth amp Barrera Wendy amp Carlos Pita amp Garcia Cesar amp Perez Jose amp Buckel Johannes amp Hordt Andreas amp Schwalb Antje amp Perez Liseth 2021 Integrated land and water borne geophysical surveys shed light on the sudden drying of large karst lakes in southern Mexico Solid Earth 12 439 461 10 5194 se 12 439 2021 a b c d Dominguez Vazquez Gabriela and Gerald Alexander Islebe 2008 Protracted drought during the late Holocene in the Lacandon rain forest Mexico Vegetation History and Archaeobotany Vol 17 No 3 May 2008 pp 327 333 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Naha Metzabok amp oldid 1106042079, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
