| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.43 |
| Liaison | YOLANDA MENDOZA CAVAZOS |
| Submission Date | Nov. 27, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Yolanda
Mendoza MSc. Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance?:
Yes
A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:
"El Cielo" is a Biosphere Reserve with a land of 144,530 hectares and it is located in Tamaulipas, Mexico. This biosphere is recognized by the United Nations since 1987 and it is the most protected area in northeastern México. In 1985, the government of Tamaulipas declared this land as a protected area. It is also part of the UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere Program" and of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas of México.
Even though the University does not own the property of the biosphere land, it is part of the "El cielo" research commitee and is one of the responsible institutions of any foreign or local research within the reserve, being UAT through IEA (Institute of Applied Ecology) the one who coordinates all research activities held in the reserve since 1985.
Besides, UAT has several properties near the reserve in order to develop research projects of the site including an equiped lab available for any foreign and local studies. These projects or research correspond to a many different species in that region.
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes
If yes to either of the above, provide the following:
Three methods were used in order to identify environmentally sensitive areas:
1) The first is descriptive and presents a scenario in all issues related to the reserve, since the justification for its establishment, the main physical characteristics and biological elements, the fundamental biological processes, reaching the major actions taken after its decree.
2) The second section relates to a diagnosis of the environmental situation including a description of the social, economic and natural environment as well as the diagnosis of its problematic.
3) The third is the description of the subprograms and components conservation, management, restoration, knowledge, culture and management. They define all the objectives, activities and operational actions, from the inspection and surveillance to the merely administrative, including those related to research, education, social development and the needs of knowledge generation, among others. They also include the analysis of the detected problems and management proposals in order to solving them. Management units and administrative rules were established which give legal certainty to any conservation and management activity. Further comprising monitoring mechanisms, which will allow to continue its application.
The steps of the methodology utilized to identify endangered and vulnerable species are the following:
1) Monitoring the species of a protected area
2) Training environmental promoters for location and preservation
3) Development of updated census
4) Diagnosis of the state of conservation of the wild population
5) Development of education and outreach materials
6) Training environmental conservation promoters
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The reserve " El Cielo" has 4 ecosystems that have not been altered by humans, representing unique species of flora and fauna in the world.
Including 743 plant species, 430 bird species, 99 mammals, 60 reptiles and 21 amphibious.
Some of the diverse identified vulnerable species are:
*Leopardus Wiedii,
*Panthera Onca Veraecrucis,
*Eira Barbara Senex,
*Ursus Americanus Eremicus,
*Ara Ambiguus
*Stanhopea tigrina
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
Through the scientific project "Instruments of Environmental Management for Sustainable Development in the Biosphere Reserve of El Cielo", UAT University developed a set of defence mechanisms focused on this protected natural area.
This multidisciplinary project involved national and foreign researchers and resulted in 4 management tools:
1. An environmental impact study focused on tourism
2. Community management plans for major local authorities
3. Land planning for ecotourism
4. An Overall Management Program of the Biosphere "El Cielo "
This "Overall Management Program of the Biosphere "El Cielo" has six sub-programs:
+Protection
+Handling
+Restoration
+Knowledge
+Culture
+Management
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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