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Area Information - Biosphere Sian Kaan

Description  (click on photos for larger view)

Sian Ka'an was established as a Biosphere Reserve on January 20th, 1986, with 528 000 hectares. In December 1987, it was declared World Heritage Property by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) because of its characteristics and natural importance.

How to get there

It is located in the central coastal area of the State of Quintana Roo, in the municipalities of Solidaridad and Felipe Carrillo Puerto. The access to the reserve is through Highway 307.
Ecotourism (Activities, volunteering, operators and accommodation)
Sian Ka'an is a bird watchers´ paradise. By 1995, over 350 bird species had been identified in the Reserve, from tiny little birds to giant birds the size of a short man’s statue. There is a huge amount and variety of water birds, among them over seventy species of herons and pedretes, cormorants, storks, playeritos, sparrow-hawks and eagles, plovers, coots and moorhens, chocolateras, garganeys, ibis, zambullidores and other varieties.
 

To spend the night near Sian Ka'an we recommend the Flyfishing Condos.
To take a tour of the reserve, please contact Raga Tours, an association of tourist service providers inside the Sian Ka´an Reserve.

Ecosystem

The karstic limestone ground of Sian Ka´an is located in the youngest part of the Yucatan Peninsula; it seems to have emerged from the bottom of the ocean less than two million years ago, and apparently it keeps emerging. The area is flat and less than 30 meters above sea level. It boasts a 120 km coral reef barrier, a zone of marine grass, inlets, mangroves, coastal lagoons, swamps, freshwater savannas, interior lagoons, marshes and flood forests. There are about 150 000 hectares of deciduous and semi evergreen forests.

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The marine part includes large meadows of underwater grass that provide a refuge and food to a great number of animals. It also includes more than 100 kilometers of the Great Mayan Reef, a divers´ paradise and the second longest coral reef barrier in the world, second only to the Australian Great Barrier.
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Over seventy species of corals have been identified in Sian Ka´an, such as the enormous brain corals, which can reach up to six or seven meters in diameter. There are also hundreds of fish species, sometimes in tight schools, and a huge variety of crustaceans, such as the spiny lobster and mollusks, some of them very big, like the pink conch or the flamingo tongue. The shore, with its coastal dunes, white sand beaches and thick vegetation is home to an amazing variety of fauna: about one hundred birds plus some marine birds.
The plants, some of them bearing beautiful flowers, are really amazing.
Behind the coastal dunes lies a strip of lagoons, swamps, marshes, savannas and mangroves. These areas are covered by water all year long or part of the year, and are known as marshes.

Although hey are usually considered as inadequate for any human activity, there has been a growing awareness of their huge ecological and economic importance. The fact that Sian Ka´an covers such a vast extension of marshes was one of the reasons for creating the reserve.

Flora

The flora is very similar to the vegetation of the Gulf of Mexico and the Antilles. There are up to 1048 species, among marine algae, moss, ferns and superior plants.
Typical flora species include mahogany, cedar, rosewood, jícaro, pucté and other trees resistant to periodical flooding.
The flora of the coastal dunes is made of 58 species such as the chit palm, kuka, despeinada, siricote de playa, uva de mar, chacá or palo mulato, riñonina and water lily, among others.

Wildlife

The fauna of the area is made up of 103 species of mammals, 339 species of birds, 219 of them resident and 120 migratory, 90 species of native bees, 47 of dragonflies, 74 species of beetles, 310 of mosquitos and 318 of butterflies. Among the marine invertebrates, we can mention 84 species of corals, and 276 of crustaceans. New species of edaphic fauna, that bear the name of Sian Ka´an, have recently been described.

In Mexico, this seems to be the area with the higher incidence of elements of Antilles characteristics. It is a famous nesting zone for turtles, water and marsh birds and for its unique life in underground flooded galleries. It is an important route for migratory birds, and also for the monarch butterflies on their way to an unknown destination.
Among the species protected by the Mexican norm, we can mention jaguars, pumas, ocelots, jaguarundis, tapirs, manatees, spider monkeys, saraguato monkeys, curassows, jabiru storks, pink flamingos, toucans, three species of marine turtles and two of crocodiles. Among the Antilles species, one can mention butterflies, such as Urania boisduvali and Anaea echemus, from Cuba or Hypolimnas missipus, from various islands.

Attractions

The petens are a very peculiar ecosystem in the marshes of Sian Ka´an. They are a mass of trees that can be up to thirty meters high and grow among the grass of the swamps. These vegetal forms are almost a unique feature in the world. Apart from the Yucatan peninsula, they can only be found in the North American state of Florida where they are known as hammocks, and in Cuba, where they are called hill cays. They are mostly oval or round and their size varies from a few dozens meters to almost two kilometers in diameter. They appear thanks to the presence of fresh water sources that come up in the middle of the swamps of salty water and allow the big trees to grow.

Climate

Hot sub humid climate with an average rainfall of 1050 mm all year long.

Population

The inhabitants come mainly from other parts of the state and Yucatán. There are no indigenous groups within the reserve; they are settled in communities around the area. The main economic activity of the area is lobster fishing. Other species captured in the area are moro crab, scale fish and sharks.

Another activity that is getting increasingly popular is light sport fishing, also known as fly fishing. The coastal lagoons and bays are home to a variety of fish: macabí, shad, bass, and palometa. Fishing these species together can be totally challenging or the big slam of this specialty, with world records for size and number of catches. In order to avoid the over exploitation of this resource, all fish you catch must be released, using the techniques and arts of fishing, such as lure and flies to attract the fish instead of bait and hook that are harmful for the fish.


The marine part is home to species such as barracuda, dorado, wahoo and marlin. Fishing these species is an alternative option in the handling of marine resources.

The area welcomes around 17000 visitors every year .The local residents have created three cooperatives for tourist services. They are being trained as tour guides and tourist service providers; they work together with the authorities for research, planning and regulation of the recreational activities that have been allowed in order to benefit their communities and the local natural resources.

The communities in this area use products and sub products of the forest, such as wood, firewood, leaves for roofing, wild animals meat, medicinal and artisanal plants, among others. The current participation of non governmental organizations, such as Amigos de Sian Ka´an, and research institutions aiming at the conservation and sustainable development of these resources, will yield greater benefits in the long term.

Local communities

Most of the population is gathered in the fishing villages of Javier Rojo Gómez, Punta Allen and Punta Herrero, with over 1000 inhabitants. The rest is scattered along the coast in small ranches and tourist developments.

Culture and history

The Maya occupation took place during the late Post classic (1200-1500 A.D.). Among the most important sites are Muyil and Chac Mool, also known as Santa Rosa, as well as several temples such as Xamach, San Miguel, and San Juan, Xlahpak or Vigía del Lago and Tupak, that were probably maritime ports. 

During the colonial era, there were no fixed settlements because of the pirates, who settled in Belize and devastated the nearby areas. The Molas sea charts from 1817 mention a first description of the area, with emphasis on the bays of Ascensión and Espíritu Santo. The war of Castes allowed the English to exploit this section of the territory. Chan Santa Cruz (today Felipe Carrillo Puerto), was left uninhabited when the forces supporting General Bravo entered through the Bahía de la Ascensión. Vigía Chico was consolidated during the first two decades of this century.

In 1915 the capital city was transferred to Payo Obispo, today Chetumal. The chicle and forest products were the main production of this territory until the seventies, when fishing and copra production caused deep changes in the area. The production of copra later decreased because of the lethal yellowing of the coconut tree.

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