Mexico establishes 13 new nature reserves
Flora and fauna in Mexico are to breathe a sigh of relief and be better protected. Pumas, swamp crocodiles and parrots will find a habitat in the six new national parks and seven protected areas.
The total area is just under 18,000 hectares. These include coastal, wetland, jungle and desert areas - all of which are to be better protected, according to the Ministry of the Environment.
The new national parks and protected areas for flora and fauna were designated by corresponding decrees in the Official Gazette.
The Parque Nacional Loreto II in the northwest of Mexico with an area of 6,217 hectares on the Gulf of California is one of the largest.
The Huatulco II National Park on the Pacific coast and several protected areas on the Yucatán Peninsula, which is visited by many tourists, have also been created.
These regions have a high ecological value.
Mexico now has 200 protected natural areas. A national park was last established in 2017 with the Pacific Revillagigedo archipelago.
What are nature reserves?
The definition of a nature conservation area (NSG) is clearly regulated.
These are "legally binding areas" in which nature and landscape are to be protected in a special way.
This special protection applies if three conditions are met:
- to preserve, further develop or restore wild animal and plant species and biotopes
- it has scientific, natural history or regional history reasons
- for particularly rare or unique areas of "outstanding beauty"
Furthermore, it is clearly stipulated that destruction, damage or alteration of the nature reserve by humans is prohibited.
Visitors are only permitted to enter if sufficient protection is guaranteed.
