| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.83 |
| Liaison | YOLANDA MENDOZA CAVAZOS |
| Submission Date | June 30, 2022 |
Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Yolanda
Mendoza MSc. Sustainability |
Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, or regions of conservation importance?:
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 to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution?:
A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
List of some mammals that are in some category of risk in NOM 059 SEMARNAT 2010 in the state of Tamaulipas.
Currently, work is being done on studies of population monitoring, ecology, and predator/prey interactions, with the aim that the results of these analyzes can contribute to understanding the conservation status of these species, so that later conservation strategies can be proposed.
Currently, the UAT works with the monitoring of these species in the El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, Sierra de Tamaulipas Biosphere Reserve, in Altas Cumbres, in Ocampo, Miquihuana and Cd. Victoria, Tamaulipas.
Especie Nombre común NOM-059
Ursus americanus Oso negro In danger of extinction
Panthera onca Jaguar In danger of extinction
Leopardus wiedii Tigrillo o Margay In danger of extinction
Leopardus pardalis Ocelote In danger of extinction
Galictis vittata Gran Grisón threatened
Eira barbara Cabeza de Viejo In danger of extinction
Potos flavus Mico de noche, kinkajou Subject to Special Protection
Glaucomys volans Ardilla voladora del sur threatened
Leptonycteris nivalis Murciélago hocicudo mayor threatened
Diaemus youngi vampiro ala blanca Subject to Special Protection
Choeronycteris mexicana murciélago trompudo threatened
Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:
A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
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
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
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 the scope of the assessment(s):
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.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
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
Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :
Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.