Biosphere Reserves in Mexico

The Alto Golfo de California and El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve comprise the Pinacate area, Gran Desierto de Altar and Bahía Adair on the Gulf of California’s border in northeastern Mexico. Geological volcanic formations and the diversity of plant associations create its unique landscape.

The Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve is a protected natural area in Hidalgo, Mexico. It is known for its dramatic scenery of steep cliffs, deep winding canyons, and distinctive flora and fauna.

The Calakmul archaeological site in Campeche, Mexico, is both a World Heritage site and a Biosphere Reserve. The largest forest mass in Mexico and the second largest remnant forest left in Latin America is the heartland of the area where the Maya civilization reached its climax.

The Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve in Jalisco, Mexico, hosts a wide variety of ecosystems that make up one of the most diverse landscapes on the Pacific coast of the Americas. It is essential for conserving the vast dry and deciduous tropical forests, among the world's most threatened ecosystems.

The Cuatro Ciénegas Biosphere Reserve is located in the Cuatrociénegas Valley of Coahuila, Mexico, and includes the Cuatrociénegas Flora and Fauna Protection Area. It is considered the most critical wetland within the Chihuahuan Desert and one of the most important in Mexico.

El Cielo Biosphere Reserve is situated in the southern part of Tamaulipas state, within the Sierra de Cucharas, a mountain range derived from the Sierra Madre. It protects the northernmost extension of tropical and cloud forests and is one of Mexico's most ecologically rich and diverse places.

The El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve is Mexico's most diverse evergreen cloud forest and one of the most important sites for bird migration. Its cloud forest is reported to be one of the most extensive remnants in the country and contains the greatest diversity of tree species in North and Central America.

The Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino, a World Heritage site, is located on the Pacific Coast of the central part of the Baja California Peninsula and is embedded in the much larger El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, encompassing desert, mountain, coastal, and marine ecosystems.

Nestled off the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico lies a marine marvel that captivates the imagination and embodies the richness of biodiversity—the Arrecife Alacranes National Park and Biosphere Reserve. This protected area encompasses a sprawling reef complex and a group of small islands and stands as a beacon of conservation and ecological significance in the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Nestled along the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, Mexico, lies the stunning Huatulco National Park and Huatulco Biosphere Reserve. Bays, cliffs, and rocky escarpments characterize these protected areas. The reserve's terrestrial portion comprises rounded hills, isolated hills, dunes, escarpments, cliffs, mangroves, wetlands, savannas, and lowland deciduous and riparian vegetation. The marine part features bays, beaches, islands, kelp, and coral communities.