Patrimonio vivo de México: un diagnóstico de la diversidad biológica; resumen ejecutivo
Mexico's exceptional biodiversity is found in communities which span the ecological spectrum -from lowland tropical rain forests to natural grasslands and alpine meadows. This report provides the first systematic and integrated review of the conservation status of Mexico's biological resources. The report views three major issues -biological richness, land use, and protected areas - from both an ecological and a sociopolitical perspectives. Due to lack of data on insects and other invertebrates, discussion of the country's faunal biodiversity is limited to terrestrial vertebrates (i.e., mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians). According to the report, roughly 194 vertebrate species, or 8 percent of Mexico's fauna, are believed to be threatened. With respect to floristic biodiversity, at least 477 plant species (1.9 percent are known to be endangered, although given the lack of comprehensive botanical inventories, this is surely a substantial underestimate. Land use practices have had a significant negative impact on Mexico's ecological systems. For example, tropical evergreen forests and tropical dry forests have been reduced to half their original size by extensive pasture development. Unfortunately, the most biologically diverse areas are those most likely to be converted to pastureland. Parks, reserves, and other protected areas currently cover just 1.6 percent of Mexico's national territory. Moreover, states with high vertebrate endemism contain few of the protected areas. A recurrent theme in the review is the lack of data on the country's natural diversity. The report therefore identifies key knowledge gaps and presents guidelines for further research.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
México, DF (México)
1989
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| Subjects: | BIODIVERSIDAD, UTILIZACION DE LA TIERRA, AREAS SILVESTRES PROTEGIDAS, FLORA, FAUNA, CONSERVACION DE LOS RECURSOS, MEXICO, |
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| Summary: | Mexico's exceptional biodiversity is found in communities which span the ecological spectrum -from lowland tropical rain forests to natural grasslands and alpine meadows. This report provides the first systematic and integrated review of the conservation status of Mexico's biological resources. The report views three major issues -biological richness, land use, and protected areas - from both an ecological and a sociopolitical perspectives. Due to lack of data on insects and other invertebrates, discussion of the country's faunal biodiversity is limited to terrestrial vertebrates (i.e., mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians). According to the report, roughly 194 vertebrate species, or 8 percent of Mexico's fauna, are believed to be threatened. With respect to floristic biodiversity, at least 477 plant species (1.9 percent are known to be endangered, although given the lack of comprehensive botanical inventories, this is surely a substantial underestimate. Land use practices have had a significant negative impact on Mexico's ecological systems. For example, tropical evergreen forests and tropical dry forests have been reduced to half their original size by extensive pasture development. Unfortunately, the most biologically diverse areas are those most likely to be converted to pastureland. Parks, reserves, and other protected areas currently cover just 1.6 percent of Mexico's national territory. Moreover, states with high vertebrate endemism contain few of the protected areas. A recurrent theme in the review is the lack of data on the country's natural diversity. The report therefore identifies key knowledge gaps and presents guidelines for further research. |
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