4.  DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURAL AREA PROTECTED

4.1.  Geographic description the Reserve of the Biosphere Los Tuxtlas is located in the part
the center-south of the state of Veracruz, approximately to 1:30 hrs.  of the city and port of
Veracruz.  It is arrived by Pan-American federal highway no. 180, Veracruz - Coatzacoalcos.  
The territory or polygon of the Reserve initiates in End Finishing nails, first point on the low
coast and in Southeastern direction, following limits and some ways natural, later to border
by the north to the Lake of Catemaco, returning to take a Southeastern direction from where it
ascends to being with the coast to continue again by all the coastal strip including the limit of
the Terrestrial Marine Federal Zone to arriving at the starting point that closes the polygon.  It
occupies great surfaces of the municipalities of San Andrés Tuxtla, Catemaco, Soteapan,
Tatahuicapan de Juárez and Pajapan, in addition to small parts from Santiago Tuxtla,
Mecayapan and A'ngel R. Cabada, all of them corresponding ones to the state of Veracruz.  

The total surface of the protected natural area is of 155,122-46-90 has includes three zones
nucleus (Volcano San Martín Tuxtla with 9,805-71-57 has, Mountain range Santa Marta with
18,031-81-80 has and San Martín Pajapan with 1,883-30- 56 has) and the zone of damping
with 125,401-62-97 is (SEMARNAP, 1998;  23 DOF November of 1998).  The detail of the
coordinates of each vertex that conform the limits of the Reserve and each one of the zones
nucleus appears in the Decree of Creation of the Reserve of the Biosphere Los Tuxtlas
published in the Official Newspaper of the Federation the 23 of November of 1998 (Map 1).  

4,2,  Physical Characteristics

4.2.1.  Geomorfología
Los Tuxtlas is recognized as a mountain range whose formation initiates in Oligocene;  the
rock foldings and the intense volcanic activity present from their origins, influenced in the
formation of different structures, which demonstrates its high complexity.  Thus are high
volcanos, hills of low height, cliffs and lakes.  In some sites still manifestations of volcanic
origin can be observed, so it is the case of the thermal springs and mineral water towards
the west of the region.  Combined to this, at the present time it also exists deposition of
alluvial origin, palustre and the coast, mainly in the neighborhoods of the lakes and all along
of the coastal strip.  The geologic characteristics show that the Region of Los Tuxtlas is in
the morfotectónica province of the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico and the volcanic activity
that gave origin him it produced the tertiary one by the end of.  The most recent indications of
volcanic activity come from the eruption of the Volcano San Martín Tuxtla, in 1664, although in
1793 and 1829 it is mentioned the formation of fumarolas and ash expulsions.  

4,2,2,  Fisiografía
the area of study of the Reserve of the Biosphere Los Tuxtlas is within the fisiográfica
subprovince of the Mountain range of Los Tuxtlas, pertaining to the coastal province of the
Gulf of Mexico (ecological province 77) (SEDUVER, 1993).  Some authors consider to Los
Tuxtlas like the most Eastern area of the Axis Cross-sectional Neovolcánico, conformed by a
volcanic bulk of 80 km in length, by 18 km wide, covering a total area with 4.432 Km2
(Institute of Ecology, 199â).  In Los Tuxtlas they excel seven great volcanos approximately
and other 300 volcanic cones, with a direction diagonal in northwest-Southeastern direction,
where he emphasizes the volcano San Martín Tuxtla and towards the south the Mountain
range of Santa Marta or Mountain range of Soteapan;  in the depression that separates
these two portions is the Lake of Catemaco.  (SEDUVER, 1993;  Institute of Ecology, 199å;  
Pallares-Trujillo, ET to, 1998).  The main mountains of the Mountain range of Santa Marta
are the Volcano of the same name (with 1.720 msnm), the Mezcalapa Hill, the Sihuapan Hill,
the Platanillo Hill (1.550 msnm), the Hill of the Death, the edge Peninsula of Colored person,
Bastonal-Yohualtajapan (1.640 msnm) and the Volcano San Martín Pajapan (1.250 msnm)
and others of less than 500 ms (I stopped, ET al., 1997).  For the region four described
geomorfológicas units are recognized mainly like:  1) Of volcanic origin, the volcanic basaltic
layers like in the volcano San Martín Tuxtla, escóricos cones, the extensive lava flows and the
rocky riscos;  2) Of denudacional origin in the sides of valleys and skirts of slopes;  3) Of
fluvial origin on alluvial plains;  4) Of marine origin, coastal dunes, beaches and plains
(SEDUVER, 1993).  

4,2,3,  Edafología
the grounds in the Region of Los Tuxtlas are bound to the ecogeográficas conditions that
settle down there.  These grounds come from the alteration of the materials expelled by
three main volcanos.  The climatic conditions show that the geologic materials are put under
a tropical atmosphere alteration.  Also, the age of the materials exerts great influence in the
distribution of grounds (I of E, 1998b).  Although few studies in the area exist about the
present types of ground, recognize 9 great main groups within the Reserve:  Andosol,
Feozem, Luvisol, Acrisol, Vertisol, Cambisol, Nitosol, Regosol and Litosol INEGI (1980) and
Fields (1998), that goes from those grounds considered like young people or of recent
formation, constituted by a thin layer, to those very deep, fertile, with abundance of organic
matter and acid.  Nevertheless, the majority presents/displays problems of erosion due to
high slopes and removal of the vegetal cover and in some cases, serious problems of
contamination by the used agricultural insumos exist (I of E, op. cit.).  The area of transition
of the volcano San Martín Tuxtla, that is youngest of the region, presents/displays grounds of
the class andosol, which occupy an area of 689 km2.  These grounds play a fundamental
role in the area:  they have a high capacity to retain water, have contained stops of organic
matter, are very friables and with a very high microporosity.  Nevertheless, they are very
sensible to the erosion and the irreversible dehydration (I of E, op cit).  You purify them
occupy a 360 surface of km2.  Luvisoles km2 appears in 739 and cambisoles km2 is in 65.  
These types of grounds are located in the oldest portion of the region, mainly in the area of
transition of Santa Marta and the volcano San Martín Pajapan.  These grounds show an
alteration very tropical atmosphere outpost.  They are argillaceous grounds, of low
permeability, of pH acid and the reserve of nutrients is, generally, low.  In natural conditions
they maintain a close relationship with the forest.  The destruction of the forest is in an
accelerated process of erosion (I of E, op cit).  The South part of the Reserve
presents/displays grounds of the classes vertisol and feozem, which occupies km2 and 588
425 surfaces of km2;  they are in the flattest parts.  They are stable and they can maintain
agricultural a use intensive.  An extension small, near the coast and related to dunes and
areas with hidromorfismo, is occupied by regosol and as km2 occupies 13 (I of E, op cit).  
Next the list of present grounds in the region appears, in agreement with the nomenclature
of the FAO:  Húmico Acrisol órtico Acrisol húmico Andosol mólico Andosol órtico Andosol
chromic Cambisol vértico Cambisol háplico Feozem lúvico Feozem Litosol chromic Luvisol
ferric Luvisol Luvisol gleyíco órtico Luvisol dístrico Nitosol eútrico Regosol chromic Vertisol
pélico Vertisol

4.2.4.  Hydrology
the Region of Los Tuxtlas is included/understood within the Regions Hidrológicas no. 28
and 29 (INEGI, 1982 in Institute of Ecology, 1994b).  The Region Hidrológica 28 belongs to
the river basin of the Papaloapan river, one of three more important of the country, with an
average cost of 68,01 m3/s and an area of 57.756 total drainage of m2.  On the other hand,
the Region Hidrológica 29 includes the river basins of the rivers Coatzacoalcos, Tonalá,
Santa Ana and Seco, covering 29.802 a total area with Km2.  Los Tuxtlas is characterized by
their abundance in hydric resources, which is explained due to its location within one of the
most important river basins of the country, the one of the Papaloapan river.  The abundance
of water and the victim of its topography cause that the rivers unload towards different
slopes.  Due to the terrain featureses jumps have formed fast and, such as the one of
Eyipantla.  At the moment the zone supplies from water to the located industrial regions to
the south of the Reserve of the Biosphere.  The topography of the region originates that the
rivers that from the Reserve descend contribute their waters to different river basins (the
drainage network is basically radial due to the mountainous tops);  thus by the east and the
west they feed the Lake of Catemaco;  by the southwest to the San Juan river, affluent of the
Papaloapan;  by the south to the Coatzacoalcos river;  by the Southeastern to the Lagoon of
the Ostión, all outside the polygon of the Reserve;  by the northeast side and the northwest to
the Lagoon of Sontecomapan, and by the north, the northeast and this several small river
basins exist that empty directly to the Gulf of Mexico.  Some important permanent rivers are:  
Gold, Salt mines (towards the coast of the Gulf, North zone of the Reserve);  Two Steps, Dry,
Tajalate, Tenango, Xoteapan, Grande River (towards the River basin of the Papaloapan, to
the municipalities of San Andrés Tuxtla, Santiago Tuxtla and A'ngel R. Cabada);  
Cuetzalapan, Coxcuapan, Yohualtajapan, Reedbed, Huatzinapan, Ahuacapan (towards the
lake of Catemaco and to the Lagoon of Sontecomapan);  Osuluapan, Huazuntlan, Texizapan,
Platanillo - Acayucan (towards the municipalities of Acayucan, Minatitlán, Jáltipan and
Coatzacoalcos and others);  Pilapa, Sochapa (for the Lagoon of the Ostión and Gulf of
Mexico, it divides the south).  The lacustrine systems are equally important and excel some
water bodies like the Lagoon of Sontecomapan and outside the Reserve the Lake of
Catemaco, both of economic importance due to their fishing production and that inside feed
on the river basins and hidrológicas microriver basins located the Reserve;  particularly the
Lake of Catemaco, in addition to the indicated fishing importance, is producing of electrical
energy, when being a hydroelectric plant to little 3 km in the side the west and that is
supplied of an originating current of this one.  Smaller others are lakes (locally calls
lagoons) of the Majahual, Hidden, Pizatal, Enchanted, Zacatal, in addition to Tecolapan and
Amaxtlán.  

4,2,5,  Climatology
the climate in the Region of Los Tuxtlas is influenced by its orography strongly, which gives
like consequence a altitudinal gradient, thermal and of humidity.  According to the
classification of Köppen modified by Garci'a (1981) they are present the warm group of
climates To and semiwarm sub-group A(C).  First it is characterized because the annual
average temperature is greater to 22 ºC and the average of 28 the coldest month superior to
ºC, whereas in semiwarm 18 the annual average ºC is greater to.  Considering the form in
which the precipitation in the Reserve is distributed, 3 subtypes of warm climate A appear:  
Af(m), a.m. and Aw2;  and one of the semiwarm A(C):  (A)C(fm).  
Picture 1.  Climates of the Mountain range of Los Tuxtlas, in agreement with the
classification of Köppen modified by Garci'a (1981).  GROUP To SUB-group TYPE
SUBTYPES Warm warm Climate high frequency with rains all the year and precipitation of
the greater driest month of 60 mm.  Humid Warm Af(m) with percentage of winter rain, with
respect to annual, smaller of 18 %. Warm a.m. with rains of summer and the influence of
monsoon.  A.m.  Warm humid, with percentage of winter rain between 5 and 12 %. Warm Aw
with rains of subhumid Warm Aw2 summer with greater P/T of 55.3.  A(C) (A)C(fm) humid
Semicálido with rains all the year.  Temperature In the Reserve of the Biosphere Los Tuxtlas
18 lowest the 36 the highest temperatures goes from the 27 to °C and from 8 to °C.  In
general, Garci'a (1981) reports that in the area two thermal zones are identified:  warm in the
low parts of the region, semiwarm in the intermediate zone and parts high (SEDUVER, 1993;
 SEMARNAP ET to, 1997b;  Garci'a, 1988).  The following characteristics are identified within
these thermal zones:  *  Warm zone, with an annual average temperature between 22 and
26 ºC, located under the 600 msnm towards the slope of the Gulf of Mexico and under the
1.000 msnm in the continental part.  *  Semiwarm zone, with 22 values from 18 to ºC;  
located in the high parts by above of indicated the 1.000 levels of 600 and msnm for the
previous zone.  Throughout the year two maximums of temperature appear:  the first, highest
one during the months of March, April and May;  the second, attenuated by the presence of
rains, in the months of September and October.  He is interesting to emphasize that the
temporary variations of the temperature, as much daily as annual, are less extremosas in
the slope of the Gulf, due to the regulating paper of the humidity that carry originating winds
of that water body (SEDUVER, 1993;  INE, 1997d;  SEMARNAP ET al., 1997b).  Precipitation
rains appear in summer, although depending on cyclones, they extend until the autumn.  As
well, the precipitation is influenced by the exhibition to the slopes, where it is possible to find
a mosaic of variations or humidity gradients.  In the tactical mission of Los Tuxtlas, the
interval of values of precipitation goes of 1.500 mm to 4.500 mm annual, reason why Garci'a
(1974) considered it within the four rainier zones of the country.  The lowest values, with
1.500 mm, are in the southwest of the region, below the 100 msnm that corresponds to the
curtain of mountains;  towards the skirts of mountains, the values rise until an average of
2.000 mm annual, whereas in slopes of mountains the values are between the 2.500 to
3.500 mm annual with North exhibition, northeast and this, that are the zones exposed to
winds of the Gulf of Mexico.  In the exposed elevated zones more and more, the values go of
4.000 to 4.500 mm annual (SEDUVER, 1993;  INE, 1997d;  SEMARNAP ET al., 1997b).  The
maximum values of precipitation are registered in September, due to the cyclones that
appear in the zone, whereas the minimums register in April and March.  During summer
rains a precipitation reduction is registered in the month of August, that agrees with an
increase in the temperature.  This phenomenon is the "dog days" or intersummer drought
(SEDUVER, 1993;  INE, 1997d;  SEMARNAP ET al., 1997b).  Winds Predominate winds of
the north, probably which had to the position of the Mountain range with respect to winds of
the Gulf of Mexico.  The zone is influenced by three main wind trajectories:  the originating
ones of the north, the east and the south and to a lesser extent, the northeast and
Southeastern, (González, 1991;  SEMARNAP ET al., 1997b;  SEDUVER, 1993).  The winds of
North direction are more frequent in the cold months of the year (of October to February)
known like north;  these 80 winds near Km/h have the characteristic of being humid, since in
his route they pass by the Gulf of Mexico and provide near 15 % of the annual rain average.  
The direction winds this come as a result of the action of tradewinds, present in the months
of June, July and August.  By the route that makes, they are also humid winds.  As far as
winds of South direction, these are pronounced in the months of March to June;  by his
trajectory eminently continental, denominated locally like "suradas", are winds dry and I
warm up that they diminish humidity atmospheric and are causes of serious upheavals in
vegetation and in cultures, since they are pronounced in the months in that the region
receives little precipitation, before the time of rains (SEDUVER, 1993;  SEMARNAP ET al.,
1997b).  Important meteorological phenomena As it were mentioned previously, the
meteorological phenomena that appear in the region are the north, which they contribute an
important percentage of humidity in the region, and the suradas ones that on the contrary,
cause many damages in agriculture and the vegetation.  In special years, abundant rains in
prolonged periods of time, get to generate problems of displacements of lands, landslides
and floods, to surpass the normal levels of the hydric currents.  In prolonged seasons of
droughts, the greater damages are reflected in the hydric currents, the low levels in springs,
the greater water shortage in cities and rancherías and the agricultural cultures and the cattle

4.3.  Biological Characteristics

4.3.1.  Vegetation the Secretariat of Natural Medio.ambiente Resources and Pesca
(SEMARNAP) through the National Institute of Ecology made in 1997 to preliminary work
denominated Los Tuxtlas, in which 9 types of vegetation plows recognized, based in the
classification made by Sousa (1968).  Ace well, the Institute of Ecology A.C.  (I of E, 1994c)
integrated for Ecological Bases an Ordering of the region and the Project Mountain range of
Santa Marta, for A.C. (PSSM, a.c., 1996b), made to study the Ecological Ordering of the
Mountain range of Santa Marta.  In this last sample to correlation of the types of vegetation in
agreement with the propose classifications by:  Miranda, ET to (1963), Ross (1967), Beard
(1944,1955) 1971, Sousa (1968), Sarukhán (1968), Flowers, ET al. (s.f.)  and Rzedowsky
(1978).  From this exercise, the 11 categories were defined that were used in this work.  
Finally, in the book Natural History of Los Tuxtlas (González ET to, 1997), 9 types of
vegetation for the Region of Los Tuxtlas plows reported, which plows based on the
classification made by Sousa (1968).  Possible It is to make mention that in this work is
indicated to variants of to type of vegetation (high Forest perennifolia) in the Station of Biology
of Los Tuxtlas of the UNAM and its environs, which plows in picture 2 with an asterisk (*).
Picture 2.  Types of vegetation defined by different institutions.  Institute of Ecology, A.C.  
Compilation PSSM, A.C.  Sousa 1968 Compilation UNAM 1997 (Sousa 1968) Forest
mesófilo of mountain Forest caducifolio Forest caducifolio Forest caducifolio Acahual of
Forest mesófilo of mountain warm Encinar Encinar Encinar Encinar semiwarm Encinar
Manglar Manglar Acahual of encino Manglar Pine Manglar tropical Pine Pine Savannah
Savannah Savannah Savannah high Forest perennifolia SAP of the mountain tops * high
Forest perennifolia high or medium Forest perennifolia low Forest perennifolia SAP on
Young grounds * Acahual of Forest low Forest perennifolia medium Forest subcaducifolia
SAP, on deep grounds * medium Forest perennifolia medium Forest subperennifolia
coastal Vegetation high Forest perennifolia low floodable Forest perennifolia fog Forest or
Forest low Forest perennifolia coastal Pine Vegetation medium Forest subcaducifolia
Vegetation of dunes coasts Vegetation  of inundables zones coastal Vegetation Pastizal
Vegetation of insane zones * * for Type of vegetation reported the station of Biology of the
UNAM.  With bases in the experience that is had in the area and considering the different
works from investigation ace well ace the work of field, next the listing of types of vegetation
indicating some of its particular characteristics appears, that will be taken like representative
from the area, for aims of the characterization and diagnosis of the same one.  

1) high Forest perennifolia;
it is located in the zones with abundant rains and originally it predominated in the low zones.  
Within this type of vegetation three layers, the arboreal one with dwells dog be observed than
30 ms of stop;  the second, also recognized like arboreal, you have between 15 and 22 ms
of stop and third measure 6 to 15 ms of stop.  Examples of this type of vegetation we located
towards slopes of the Volcano San to them Martín Pajapan and in the margins of the rivers in
Palm and Montepío.  Its impressive diversity is one of its dwells characteristic attributes and
than it distinguishes it of any to other type of habitat, because in her 32 species to
amphibians have been located in addition, 99 of reptiles and 83 species of mammals.  The
high Forest is, along with the low Forest, the richest area in species of amphibians, reptiles
and mammals.  In both types of vegetation they plows represented 85 % of the species
reported for the area.  The presence of this type of vegetation is very important by its
contribution to the hidrológica network of the main to water bodies of the region (I of E, 1998).
 

2) the medium Forest perennifolia
is in slope slopes to greater in volcanos of San Martín and San Martín Pajapan and in the top
of the volcanic cones located to the north and the northeast of the Lake of Catemaco, from
the 650 to the 1,000 ms of altitude, in narrow relation with the Forest High Perennifolia.  

3) the low floodable Forest perennifolia
is in inundables zones of brackish to water to the northwest of the Lagoon of Sontecomapan
and presents/displays to high degree of modification.  This community is very important to
protect the dynamics of the lagoon and to maintain the habitat of feeding and anidación of
the migratory birds and to protect the habitat of egg-laying of the marine species.  It
constitutes to habitat of high specificity;  the Forest that settles down in inundables zones,
consists of species that protect and enrich the for habitat and create propitious conditions
the reproduction of aquatic species (I of E, op cit).  

4) the Forest mesófilo of mountain
is located in the top of three to higher volcanos, by above of the 1,000 msnm.  One is in a
good state of conservation and in this ecosystem 17 species of amphibians, 43 species of
reptiles, 32 species of mammals have been located.  Florística She is very variable in his
structure, originated by the altitude and the topographical conditionses, where to diver
microhabitats form, that plows characterized by the dominancia of different species.  Some
of these plows characterized in the to lower middle to layer by populations of arborescentes
ferns in valleys of the humidity ravines to greater, which get to reach up to 10 ms of stop, this
is characteristic mainly in the Mountain range of Santa Marta and San Martín Pajapan.  
Arboreal The to layer also is clears heterogenous by the arboreal dominancia of the species;
 it is to type of vegetation of great wealth by surface unit and is extremely to diver itself;  it
there are to biomass and surprising diversity of epifitas and presents/displays to mixes of
subspecies neotropical (of the Forest) in underbrush and tempered in the canopy (I of E, op
cit).  

5) to encinar, divided in two types:
semiwarm and warm (Sousa, 1968).  
The semiwarm one we found associate or like part of the Forest mesófilo of mountain, to the
south of the Volcano Santa Marta between the 700 and 1,200 ms of altitude, reason why one
does not imagines in the cartography.  
Warm to encinar is located between the 100 to 600 ms of altitude towards the south and the
west of the Mountain range of Santa Marta, appearing like property left AT death of vegetation
between pastizales with cultures, cultures of cane or simply like isolated trees.  

6) the pine is located in the South slope of the Volcano Santa Marta, between the 500 to the
900 ms of altitude and limits in its to higher part with the Forest mesófilo of Mountain.  Along
with encinares, constitutes characteristic ecosystems by to their geographic location in
conjunction with to other present ecosystems in the Mexican tropic.  It is characterized by to
single species of pine:  Pinus oocarpa.  

7) the Savannah is characterized by to herbaceous to layer of grass and stocky and
distanced trees and plows located towards the South and southwestern end of the Reserve.  

8) to manglar it is to arbustiva community of 3 to 25 ms of height, located in the borders of
coastal lagoons, inundables rivers and zones, where the to water is brackish.  Manglares
integrates to community florísticamente uniforms, composed by few arboreal or arbustivas
species.  In the Region of Los Tuxtlas, is manglares in the Southeastern of the Lagoon of
Sontecomapan, occupying to surface of 523 you have, and dwells towards the south, outside
the polygon of the Reserve, surrounding the Lagoon by the Ostión.  Accidental This
community presents/displays and secondary Roots, that serve under much to him to pay
attention to the muddy ground, like for the oxygen pick up.  For Manglares is of great
importance the aquatic and terrestrial organisms, since they serve for ace refuge numerous
species and plows sites of for anidación the aquatic birds.  Commercial Many of the species
have importance.  Manglares of the region of the Mountain range of Los Tuxtlas constitutes
one of the last redoubts of this type of vegetation in the Gulf of Mexico (I of E, op cit).  

9) the coastal dunes plows to vegetable community characterized by arbustivas and arboreal
species inland on sandy lands.  Simple coastal The dune systems have to topography
formed by to narrow beach, coastal cord of two to four meters of height that descends inland
towards zones that had to be in favor originally occupied of high Forest perennifolia and
medium Forest.  Several movable The and semimobile sands have penetrated kilometers
inland.  The dunes of the North zone of Los Tuxtlas plows sand accumulations of high
altitude, reason why only in some parts the phreatic mantle to the surface you emerge.  
Several species in extinction to danger have like only habitat to dunes.  The native species
that grow on them plows adapted for the fixation of the sand of the dunes, whose movement
usually inflict casualties in cultures, highways, others.  (I of E, op cit).  

10) the acahuales represent different types from secondary vegetation, that in the region
mainly derives from the forests, followed by the Forest mesófilo of mountain and the Forest
of encino, which indicates the degree of fragmentation for these communities.  

11) the pastizales plows those that characterize mainly to the Reserve.  They plows possible
to be presented/displayed without trees, with isolated and associated trees with culture
area.  Possible It is to be considered like to poor community in species, since 15 8 studies
and investigations have entered between and spp/m2.

4.3.2.  Flora

the Region of Los Tuxtlas has been considered traditionally like an area of great
biogeográfica importance by peculiar of its fauna and flora, fundamentally in which it talks
about to the concurrence of taxa of austral affinity, boreal and endemic.  The flora of Mexico
has three fundamental geographic elements:  the boreal one, the meridional and the
endemic one.  At the level of sorts, the austral affinity of the flora is clearly superior to the
northern one and the native one, although it would vary significantly if it becomes in the
specific level.  In general the flora of the Region of Los Tuxtlas belongs to Neotropical the
Biogeográfico Kingdom and within this one to the Caribbean Region and the Province of the
Coast of the Gulf of Mexico.  An important component of its flora must have originated in
Centro and South America and its distribution seems to have played a preponderant role in
the processes of especiación of the Mexican flora.  According to Ibarra ET al., (1997), is
necessary to mention that the variation as far as the composition of the vascular flora in the
Region of Los Tuxtlas obeys to the different considered criteria of classification for its
adjustment and like consequence, appear classifications that old organization secrete two
more or families in, like for example:  Leguminosae in Caesealpiniaceae, Fabacea and
Mimosaceae.  In the following picture the florística composition of the Region of Los Tuxtlas
reported in the different consulted sources appears, that it reflects the great florística
diversity of the zone.  

Picture 3.  Florística composition of Los Tuxtlas.  SOURCE FAMILY I GENERATE SPECIES
Ramirez R. F., 1999 210 952 2.383 Ibarra ET al., 1997;  Ibarra and Sinaca, 1997;  Riba and
Perez Garci'a, 1997 137 545 943 Ine-semarnap/Institute of Ecology To C., 1998 74 162 206
Project Mountain range Santa Marta, To 1.300 C.s 1991 143 607 Sousa 1968 - - 1.300 the
listing of the Annexed I, obtained of Ramirez, R. F. (1999) are from the consultation of
different sources of intelligence on the flora of Los Tuxtlas, that indicate that they exist
described around 2.697 species, subspecies and varieties of plants, to 43 subspecies and
102 varieties that represent 215 families and 6 classes of plants.  

Picture 4.  Flora of Los Tuxtlas:  taxonomic composition, state of protection and
endemismos.  TAXA Nom-059-2001 Class Family Species You raise to pecie Variety P Pr
LYCOPODIOPSIDA (Licopodios and Selaginelas) 2 25 1 FILICOPSIDA (Helechos) 27 262 4
11 4 1 10 CYCADOPSIDA (Cícadas) 1 4 1 3(2 *) 1 * PINOPSIDA (Gimnospermas
arborescentes) 2 2 MAGNOLIOPSIDA (8 Dicotiledóneas) 148 1845 30 62 9(2 *) 6(1 *)
LILIOPSIDA (5 15 Monocotiledóneas) 35 557 9 28 5(3 *) 21 102 TOTAL 6 215 2.697 43 30(2
*) 17(6 *) (1*) A:  Threatened species, P:  Species in extinction danger, Pr:  Subject species
to special protection, (*) endemic Species Although around 75 % of the species of plants
they share with Central America, Los Tuxtlas is one of the five areas with greater
endemismo of trees in Mexico and it has been indicated that near 10 % of the trees of the
superior canopy, they are endemic of the warm-humid zones of Mexico (Wendt, 1993) and
approximately 5 % of endemismos belong to the flora of the perennifolios forests of the
country (Rzendowski, 1991a).  It is mentioned that in Los Tuxtlas some species exist that
could be considered like endemic, although this definition must be considered like attempt.  
To date the following species are only known in the region and considered like endemic,
according to Ibarra, ET al. (1997) and Ramirez (1999):  Rachyflexuosa Thelypteris (fern),
Solenophora tuxtlensis, Inga sinacae, Mormodes tuxtlensis, Begonia sousae, according to
Ibarra op. cit.:  Pouteria rhynchocarpa, Ruellia tuxtlensis;  Ramirez, op. cit. indicates a:  
Tridimeris tuxtlensis, veracruzana Aristolochia, Inga lacustris, Parathesis calzadae,
Parathesis neei, Parathesis tuxtlensis and Rondeletia tuxtlensis.  Also Ramirez, op. cit.
considers that the species:  Impudica Aristolochia, Dichapetalum mexicanum, Salvia
tuxtlensis, Parathesis pajapensis and hooperiana Chamaedorea are endemic of the
Mountain range of Santa Marta.  The Costus species dirzoi, Daphnosis megacarpa, Eugenia
sotoesparzae and Miconia ibarrae, considered like (Ibarra op. endemic cit.), but they are
excluded from this category, since they have been registered in other localities of Veracruz,
like other 15 species reported by Ramirez, op. cit.  Finally, Ramirez, op. cit mentions to 23
species like endemic to the Region of Los Tuxtlas, the south of Veracruz, north of Oaxaca
and this of Tabasco, between which they emphasize:  Adenocalymma sousae, Amphitecna
tuxtlensis, tuxtlana Erythrina, Ocotea uxpanapa, Robinsonella mirandae, Eugenia
uxpanapensis and Psychotria veracruzensis.  The families with greater number of species
are:  Leguminosae, Orchidaceae, Asteracea, Rubiaceae, Poaceae and Euphorbiaceae.  
This pattern is indicated by Ibarra ET al. (1997) and Ramirez (1999), whom they indicate as
well that these same ones are between ten diverse in other tropical forests (Gentri, 1990 in
Ibarra ET al., 1997).  Group important to mention is Cicadaceas, since she is the only family
(Zamiaceae) present in the zone that contains to four species that are under a protection
status, three of them are threatened, like Mexican Ceratozamia to var.  Robust, furfuracea
Zamia and Zamia loddigesii, and miqueliana Ceratozamia is in extinction danger.  In
addition to which Mexican C., miqueliana C. and Z. furfuraceae are catalogued like endemic
species.  The stem of Zamia loddigesii, is used as external medicine during the childbirth
and anticancerigenic properties are attributed to him.  Other 6 species of different families,
also are considered endemic, but 5 are in extinction danger such as:  Chamaedorea
tuerckheimii, Chamaedorea tenella, Aporocactus leptophis, straight Olmeca and Olmeca
reflexa and only Chamaedorea alternans is a threatened species.

4.3.3.  Mastofauna fauna

For the Region of Los Tuxtlas a total of 139 species is reported (30 % of the national total),
including in 11 orders, 31 families and 19 subfamilies.  (Martinez and Sanchez, 1997;  
Coates-Estrada and Estrada, 1986;  GEF/PSSM, A.C./CIMMYT, 1996;  Ine-ieac, 1994c).  (

Annexed II) the Nom-059-2001 considers under a status of protection to 30 species of the
located ones for the Region of Los Tuxtlas.  1 endemic species, 11 threatened species is
reported;  12 species in extinction danger, and 7 defined like special protection.  
According to other international organizations, like the IUCN (1996), they report to 17 species
under estatus of risk, because in (Nom-59-2001) they are not contemplated, between which
we found:  puma (concolor Puma) that is a species critically in danger (CR);  the mouse
(Oryzomys melanotis) that does not exist sufficient information (DD);  the bat (Leptonycteris
nivalis) that this in danger (IN);  serete (Mexican Dasyprocta) and the bat (aurita
Lonchorhina) that is species under risk (LR);  and the bat (Bauerus dubiaquercus) that is a
vulnerable species (VU) (Annexed II).  Also it has been indicated that most of the mammals
(> 70 %) they have nocturnal habits (Coates-Estrada and Estrada, 1986).  This is more
evident if we considered that according to the number of species, the most abundant groups
in the region are the bats and represent 56 % of the mammals (78 species), the rodents
with 16 % (22 species) and the carnivores with 13 % (18 species).  
To date, the information is little on the ecology and basic Biology of most of the mammals of
Los Tuxtlas and its state of conservation is critical, since most of them they are associate in
some degree to the primary vegetation and the acahuales, on which is continued exerting a
strong pressure of deforestation.  In fact great part of them happens in low densities and
they are on the brink of to disappear;  so it is the case of some of the members of the orders
of Primates, Xenarthra, Carnivore (Canidae, Felidae, Mustelidae), Perissodactyla and
Artiodactyla (Martinez and Sanchez, 1997;  Coates-Estrada, op.  cit.;  GEF/PSSM,
A.C./CIMMYT 1996;  Ine-ieac 1994c).  Bird population For the Region of Los Tuxtlas reports to
565 species of birds, considering navy.  

These species are included in 99 taxa and represent 21 orders, a suborder, 71 families and
7 subfamilies (Annexed II).  In the Region of Los Tuxtlas two endemic species are reported,
the fandanguero colibrí long tail (Campylopterus excellens) and the dove-perdi'z tuxtleña
(Geotrygon carrikeri) and five endemic subspecies, Empidonax flavescens imperturbatus,
Myioborus miniatus molochinus, Atlapetes brunneinucha apertus, Cholorospingus
ophthalmicus wetmorei and Vireolanius pulchellus ramosi (Escalante, op. cit.;  Arizméndi,
op. cit.;  Escalante, op. cit.).  Geotrygon carrikeri is in the Volcano of San Martín Tuxtla,
although the Mountain range of Santa Marta considers the only site with a viable population
of this species (Diaz Islands com. pers.).  

According to the criteria used in the designation of areas of Importance for the Conservation
of the Birds in Mexico (AICAS), Los Tuxtlas is considered in the "Category 1", that is defined
as:  site in where significant numbers of species appear that have been catalogued like
threatened, in extinction danger or declining numerically and is located in one of its
components.  "G-1" is defined as:  the site that a population of a species considered
contains like globally threatened, in vulnerable danger or (according to the red book of
BIRDLIFE) (Arizmendi, ET al., 2000).  Particularly Los Tuxtlas is AICA 151 and is left in the
category "G-1" by the presence of the two species of Geotrygon doves carrikeri and Claravis
mondetoura (Arizmendi, op. cit.).  Escalante, ET al. (2000) indicates that 30 species of birds
locally in danger and 55 exist threatened, whereas in the Official Norm for the protection of
the flora and fauna (Nom-059-2001) they report 107 species in the different categories, 26
are threatened, 70 are subject to special protection and 11 is in extinction danger (Annexed
II).  With a global criterion the IUCN (1996) reports that a species is in extinction danger
(Amazon ochrocephala oratrix), one is vulnerable (Charadrius melodus) and 4 are under risk
(Harpyhaliaetus solitarius, Spizastur melanoleucus, Harpya harpyja and Campylopterus
excellens).  In the region three species have disappeared, the buzzard king (Sarcoramphus
Pope), the eagle harpía (Harpya harpyja) and guacamaya red (Altar macao) (Escalante, ET
al., 1997).  It is evident that the migratory birds, like the residents, work like an integral part of
the tropical ecosystems considering that of the total of the species of birds reported for Los
Tuxtlas, near 40 % are migratory species of North America.  Rappole, ET al., (1993)
indicates that the migratory birds as well as many resident species, can also be in different
types from secondary vegetation, had partly to that the availability of the nutritional resources,
temporarily is abundant and easily colectables.  

These migratory species like members of the tropical communities, affect the structure and
the function of the community in diverse forms and at several levels.  One of the effects better
documented is related to the periods of fruition of tropical trees, some of which mature their
fruits during the periods of migration.  Herpetofauna the Herpetofauna of the Region of Los
Tuxtlas is remarkably diverse, because it includes an important percentage of I number total
of species in Mexico (14,8 % of amphibians and 16,5 % of reptiles;  16 % altogether) (To see
picture 5) (Flores-Villela, the 1991, 1993 in Ramirez and Nieto 1997).  The diversity probably
must the own characteristics of the region (geographic location, complex fisiografía, habitats
and types of vegetation) (Sousa 1968, in Ramirez and Nieto, 1997).  Only the tropical forest
perennifolio is characterized by a great structural complexity, of humidity and high
temperature and a great climatic stability, that allows him to lodge to 137 species, with
representatives of all the present families in the region.  (Ramirez and Nieto, 1997).  

For the Region of Los Tuxtlas, according to Vogt ET al., (1997), herpetofauna total includes
for the amphibians 9 families, 22 sorts and 45 species and for the reptiles are 25 families,
75 sorts and 117 species.  For Ramirez and Nieto, op. cit., the amphibians includes 3
orders, 9 families, 21 sorts and 43 species, whereas the reptiles are represented by 3
orders, 24 families, 75 sorts and 116 species.  With base in the information of
Morales-Mavil, ET al., (1995), Vogt, op. cit., and Ramirez and Nieto, op. cit., the reported
Herpetofauna total includes to 166 species represented by 6 orders and 33 families.  Of
these species they indicate that 24 are endemic for Mexico and of these, 19 are exclusive of
Los Tuxtlas.  Only Hemidactylus frenatus is reported like introduced species of the
Philippines.  (Annexed II).  

The number of endemic species to Los Tuxtlas is relatively high (Vogt, op. cit.;  Ramirez and
Nieto, op. cit.)  and according to the Nom-059-2001 they mention to 10 species of
amphibians and 12 of reptiles (SEDESOL, 1994).  Most of these taxa inhabits in the forest
mesófilo of mountain of the Mountain range of Los Tuxtlas, in the 850 greater elevations to
msnm (Ramirez and Nieto, op. cit.), like for example Abronia chiszari, Abronia reidi, Anolis
duellmani, Pseudoeurycea werleri (Annexed II).  Of the 46 species of amphibians, 19 they
are under a category of special protection in agreement with the norm of Nom-059-2001
protection.  With regard to the reptiles, 33 species are under special protection, 7 are in
extinction danger, and 10 are threatened.  They are the 10 endemic species of reptiles.  
According to the IUCN (1996), 2 species are denominated like critically in danger 2 (CR), 4 in
extinction danger (IN), 4 under risk (LR), and 1 with insufficient information (DD).  Most of the
amphibians of the region they are arborícolas or terrestrial (19 and 15 taxa, respectively) and
the rest is riparios (5) and fosoriales (4).  The terrestrial and arborícolas habitats also are
commonly used by the reptiles (55 and 39 species, respectively);  the dulceacuícolas and
marine habitats (12 and 5 taxa, respectively) are occupied exclusively by turtles, snakes and
crocodiles.  Picture 5.  Number of families, sorts and species of amphibians and reptiles of
Los Tuxtlas.  ORDERS FAMILIES SORTS SPECIES Tuxtlas Mexico % Tuxtlas Mexico %
Tuxtlas Mexico % AMPHIBIANS Gymnophiona 1 1 100 1 1 100 1 2 50 Caudata Anurous 1 4
25 4 18 22 6 91 7 1 9 78 16 28 57 39 195 20 REPTILES Testudines 6 10 60 12 18 67 14 41
34 Squamata:  Sauria 11 16 69 20 48 42 40 339 12 Serpentes 6 8 75 42 86 49 64 + 1
subesp.  321 20 Crocodilia 1 2 50 1 2 50 1 3 33 Modified of Ramirez and Nieto, 1997.

Ictiofauna
the wealth of the íctica fauna in the Region of Los Tuxtlas includes the species of fish that
distribute themselves in continental waters and that include/understand to the Lagoon of
Sontecomapan, the Lake of Catemaco, the Hidden Lagoon, the temporary Lake of the
Zacatal and the rivers of the Palm and Machines (Thorny, 1997).  For estuarinos and
freshwater fishes in the Region of Los Tuxtlas 109 species and 78 sorts are reported that
represent 36 families) (Annexed II).  Of the fish that have registered in fresh waters of rivers
and lakes, are species of the Poeciliidae family to whom like topotes belong the locally
denominated small fish.  Another family of important fish in the region is the Characidae,
where the pepescas calls, of which Bramocharax caballeroi is endemic of the Lake of
Catemaco and Astyanax fasciatus is of South American origin, widely distributed in the
neotropic of Mexico are included.  Of the Atherinidae family within the group known like
charales, Atherinella ammophila is endemic of the region in the river the Palm.  Of the
Cichlidae family several species have been reported of I generate Cichlasoma, which
abundant and are appreciated like food in the region (Thorny, op. cit.).  

The marine Ictiofauna that penetrates to continental waters in Sontecomapan and the
Maquinas river includes/understands a high diversity of species and represents 73 % of the
total, with 63 sorts and 33 families Of the 109 species of fish reported for the Region of Los
Tuxtlas, 80 species are of marine origin, 14 secondary species (dulceacuícolas with
tolerances to changes of salinity), 11 vicarious species (of marine origin bordered at the
moment to continental waters) and 4 primary strict ones of fresh water, 4 species of marine
origin are you register accidental, 8 species are endemic, 2 species are exotic and 5
species are threatened.  According to the Nom-059-2001 only Rhamdia guatemalensis this
contemplated like species in special protection, Priapella olmecae like threatened species,
whereas Xiphophorus milleri this in extinction danger, besides to be endemic species
(Annexed II).  

In González And ET al., (1997) presents/displays a listing of fish and mentions the localities
in where they have been registered, with the intention of indicating the typical habitats for
certain species, being excellent information for an adapted handling of this resource Insects
and other groups In general, for the insects of the Region of Los Tuxtlas, 72 families, 46
subfamilies, 88 tribes, 507 sorts and 1.117 species report themselves.  In addition, 861
species of hespéridos butterflies are reported and.  It is possible to emphasize that 24 new
registries for Mexico are mentioned, of flies of the flowers (Syrphidae) and 4 new species to
describe of this family.  The group of insects of the Odonata order (libélulas) is represented
in Los Tuxtlas with 133 species contained in 56 sorts and 12 families.  It turns out
interesting to mention that they represent 40,3 % of the species, 68,2 % of sorts and 80 % of
the families of odonatos of Mexico (González, op. cit.).  On the other hand, when comparing
the diversity of odonatos of Los Tuxtlas with other tropical areas of America, is the high
diversity of this site.  In the National Park of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, 86 species have been
registered;  in Island Colorado the Mud, Panama 90 species have been registered and in
the Reserve of Tambopata in Peru 151 species are reported.  In this section, the information
of the wealth of species of butterflies, can be observed of synthetic way in the picture 6, in
which the number of species for Los Tuxtlas, Costa Rica and North America appears (North
of Mexico).  

Picture 6.  Comparison between butterflies of Los Tuxtlas, Costa Rica and North America
(North of Mexico).  FAMILY NUMBER OF North America SPECIES Los Tuxtlas Costa Rica
PAPILIONOIDEA Papilionidae 30 31 40 Pieridae 58 44 71 Lycaenidae 122 152 275
Riodinidae 20 80 300 Nymphalidae 184 216 428 Subtotals 414 513 1114 HESPERIOIDEA
Hesperiidae 263 339 353 861 Totals 677 1467 Source:  González, ET to.  Natural history of
Los Tuxtlas.  UNAM.  1997.  

As far as the endemismo of the butterflies in the zone, 4 species and endemic subspecies
in the high elevations of the Region of Los Tuxtlas exist.  (Raguso, etal., 1997).  

In the case of the escarabajos (Coleoptera:  Lamelicornia), the data of the present work
come from the Station of Tropical Biology of the UNAM and the Park of the Flora and Fauna
"Pipiapan" of the U.V. and of some localities bordering to Catemaco, Sontecomapan, Hill of
the Watch, Volcano of San Martín Tuxtla and the Bastonal.  The preliminary results indicate
the existence of 4 families, 14 subfamilies, 28 tribes, 86 sorts and 218 species (BEOTRT
op. cit.).  
Picture 7.  Taxonomic composition of the escarabajos in Los Tuxtlas.  FAMILY SUBFAMILY
TRIBES SORT SPECIES 4 14 28 86 218
Picture 8.  Taxonomic composition of the ants of the Volcano San Martín Tuxtla and the
Station of Tropical Biology of the UNAM.  SITE FAMILY SUBFAMILY SORT ENDEMIC
SPECIES NRM VSMT 1 6 47 137 EBT 1 7 48 103 1 3 * NRM = New registry for Mexico;  * = in
revision for endemismos.  
Picture 9.  Taxonomic composition of the flies of the fruit in Los Tuxtlas.  FAMILY SORT
SPECIES SPECIES NEW NRM 1 14 14 7 5 NRM = New registry for Mexico.  
Picture 10.  Taxonomic composition of the lombrices of earth in Los Tuxtlas.  NATIVE FAMILY
SPECIES EXOTIC DANGER EXTINCTION P.H.  1 19 10 9 5 8 indicating P.H. = of human
disturbance.  

Among other groups 3 families report themselves, 84 sorts and 111 species of parasitic
helmintos, annelids and protozooarios, that enrich the number of species of the zone.  Also,
for the Atyidae groups, Cambaridae, Palaemonidae, Pseudothelphusidae and
Trichodactylidae report 5 families, 9 sorts and 19 species.  It is possible to mention that
within the cambáridos ones, 2 endemic species and for the case of the
Pseudothelphusidae group are reported, 4 endemic species.  For the greater groups, within
which they emphasize the continental moluscos register 26 families, 55 sorts, 15
subgenera, 90 species and 9 subspecies;  in addition to 8 new registries for the area.

4.4.  Archaeological, Historical and Cultural context

the Region of Los Tuxtlas is a sociocultural mosaic, in which native ethnic groups with
mestizos and Creoles of different origin coexist, which is in a complex sociocultural
combination, of forms of production, religious practices and traditions.  In this region great
slumses pertaining to the Olmeca culture existed.  The inheritance of this culture is present
in the zone, as much in the material vestiges of the establishments, like in the agricultural
production techniques.  

To the northwest of the city of Catemaco are the Hispanic ruins of Matacapan, planned and
big affluent city that was constructed around 500 year d.C.  As of the year 700 A.C. and during
1.000 years were a superiority in the region of Mixe-zoques groups, from which they descend
the Zoques-Popolucas that lives at the moment in the region.  Probably these groups
maintain some continuity of the Olmeca culture and also they have influences of other
cultures like the Teotihuacana, Totonaca and Maya.  In addition to the Zoques-Popolucas, in
the region they inhabit Nahuas.  Both groups have a deep knowledge on the multiple use of
the resources, as well as conceptions magician-nuns who govern the advantage of these
resources.  Nevertheless, the changes that impose the new economic and demographic
conditions, with their results in the changes in the use of the ground (change of forests and
cattle or occupied earth forests with new agricultural systems), cause that this knowledge
has the risk of disappearing.  At the moment in the region still the wizards have important
presence, wizards and hierberos.  The ceremonies of invocation and celebrations that the
wizards make in the city of Catemaco have local and national fame.  

4,5,  Demographic, Economic and Social context
4.5.1.  Demography the demographic factor is one of the most complex subjects of the
Region of Los Tuxtlas, as much by its characteristics of distribution, composition and
diversity, like by the dynamic aspects associated them.  If we restricted ourselves to analyze
the demographic factor to the limits of the protected natural area, would be in an incorrect
knowledge of the demographic phenomena that affect the same Reserve.  Suitable analysis
of aspects demographic of area (including the territory of the 8 municipalities which they
integrate the Reserve and other that has influence in her), it requires of a variable
consideration of the territory in that the population distributes itself.  For that reason in this
section we will also talk about to the ample regional space of Los Tuxtlas defined according
to the limits of the municipalities with significant territorial representation in the region.  

In the census of 1990 and the Count of Population 1995 seven municipalities are only
registered, since Tatahuicapan de Juárez were created in 1997.  For the Census of the 2000
partial data of this one last one are considered because it was constituted from the
municipalities of Soteapan and Mecayapan.  The municipalities to Angel R. Cabada and
Hueyapan de Ocampo are considered in addition for the analysis.  In the following picture
are the excellent demographic data for each one of the municipalities of the Region of Los
Tuxtlas.  The 8 municipalities are considered in which the Reserve of the Biosphere is
based, in addition to the Municipality of Hueyapan de Ocampo by the reasons before
exposed.  

Picture 11.  Population and rates of growth in the region.  
MUNICIPALITY TOTAL POPULATION (1990)1 TOTAL POPULATION (1995)2 TOTAL
POPULATION (2000)3 SURFACE (it has) RATE OF GROWTH (average annual) 1990 -
20003 % POPULATION DENSITY hab/km²
ANGEL R. CABADA 33.731 34.312 32.119 49.763 -0,49 64,54
CATEMACO 40.585 44.321 45.383 71.067 1,13 63,86
HUEYAPAN OF OCAMPO4 38.272 40.396 39.795 82.418 0,39 48,28
MECAYAPAN 18.357 22.764 15.210 52.396 NA 29 45,98
PAJAPAN 11.432 13.073 14.071 30.598 2,11
SAN 154,92 ANDRES TUXTLA 124.634 137.435 142.343 91.877 1,35
SANTIAGO TUXTLA 51.476 54.522 54.539 62.184 0,58 87,7
SOTEAPAN 23.181 28.888 27.486 52.807 NA 52,04
TATAHUICAPAN OF JUÁREZ5 12.488 24.000 60,21 ND
TOTAL STATE REGION 341.668 375.711 383.434 517.110 52,04 6'228,239 6'737,324
6'908,975 7'281,500 1,05 94,88
Sources:  1INEGI, 1991;  ÌNEGI, 1996;  3 INEGI 2001.  

4 data of the Municipality of Hueyapan de Ocampo because it is cobeing contiguous with the
Municipality of Catemaco and Soteapan, with great demographic influence in the region are
mentioned;  the polygon of the Reserve of the Biosphere does not consider east
municipality.  
5 the Municipality of Tatahuicapan de Juárez was created in the year of 1997, taking territory
from the municipalities of Soteapan and Mecayapan, therefore, the population of those
municipalities diminished in the total count and is from the census of the 2000 that in
Tatahuicapan de Juárez registers population.  NA:  It does not apply, because the surface of
the municipality is not comparable between 1990 and 2000, by the creation of the
Municipality of Tatahuicapan de Juárez.  
ND:  Nonavailable, because the municipality was created in 1997 (state decree, March 20
1997).  For period 1995 - 2000 in the municipalities of Mecayapan and Soteapan, the
SEDESOL respectively registers rates of annual growth of -7,8 % and -0,99 %.  The
diminution in the rate of annual average growth in the municipalities of Mecayapan and
Soteapan, must to the creation of the Municipality of Tatahuicapan de Juárez, towards which
they passed populations complete (SEDESOL. 2001a, 2001b, 200ç, 2000e).  One of the
propose conclusions fundamental by PSSM, A.C. (1998), is that in demographic terms,
dynamic conditions and differentiated clearly between the two subregions are recognized.  

Picture 11 shows the general characteristics of the municipalities in which the great
differences are perceived partly:  population, rates of growth and population density.  These
differences will become clearer in later paragraphs, in where specific aspects of the
municipalities and the Reserve are approached.  Next the general indicators of the
population contained within the polygon of the Reserve appear, for year 2000 (INEGI, 2001).  
Picture 12.  Sociodemográficos data within the Reserve of the Biosphere Los Tuxtlas.  
LOCAL MUNICIPALITY No. POB TOT MEN WOMEN POB 5HLI POB15 ANALF ANGEL R.
CABADA 7 103 50 35 0 15 CATEMACO 202 11.151 5.168 5.166 172 1.627 MECAYAPAN 42
2.634 1.281 1.169 1.024 496 7 PAJAPAN 2 38 19 16 17 SAN 1.156 ANDRES TUXTLA 56
7.299 3.646 3.557 45 SANTIAGO TUXTLA 14 1.528 709 758 6 252 SOTEAPAN 40 3.307
1.611 1.560 1.839 723 TATAHUICAPAN OF 935 JUÁREZ 36 5.600 2.840 2.708 2.469 TOTAL
399 31.660 15.324 14.969 5.572 5.211 Source:  INEGI 2001.  POB5 HLI:  5 more year and
population hablante of Indigenous language.  POB15 ANALF:  Population of 15 years and
more, illiterate.  The population within the polygon of the Reserve, has basically rural
characteristics;  for year 2000 399 localities with a total population of 31.660 inhabitants
were registered who represent 8,25 % of the regional total population solely (9
municipalities) or 9,21 % of the total population of the 8 municipalities in which the Reserve
is located.  The Municipality of Catemaco contains the greater number of localities within the
Reserve and, therefore, the greater percentage of the population.

Space and urban-rural distribution the great majority of the regional population is
concentrated fundamentally in two nuclei:  most important in the western zone, particularly in
the three great cities and other distributed towns around and very next to them.  The other
nucleus of concentration is located in a strip to the south of the region.  It is possible to
emphasize that both nuclei of population concentration are located in the environs of the
Reserve;  in fact its location was taken into account to elaborate the general polygon.  Picture
11 allows us to appreciate the concentration of the population in the municipalities of the
region.  

Three municipalities (San Andrés Tuxtla, Santiago Tuxtla and Catemaco), concentrate more
of 63 % of the total population of the nine.  On the other hand, these three municipalities
have the highest levels of density of population, in where San Andrés Tuxtla is the one that
presents/displays the highest value (154,92 hab/km2).  Nevertheless, the municipalities of
the Subregion Mountain range of Santa Marta, for period 1990 - 1995 presented/displayed
the elevated rates of growth more:  Mecayapan 4.40;  Pajapan 2.72;  Soteapan 4,50, reason
why is anticipated that a similar tendency is had.  In most of the territory a great amount of
small localities is distributed, with smaller populations to the 600 inhabitants.  All of them
are distributed of a uniform way in the area, with exception of lands of greater altitude.  It is
possible also to observe that in the high parts of great volcanos still great spaces can be
found practically vacated, in which distribute very little populations (around five) smaller to the
50 inhabitants.  This indicates the tendency of rural populations.  For the region, is the
following distribution of the population:  

Picture 1á.  Distribution of the population in the region.  TOTAL MUNICIPALITY POB
DISTRIBUTION OF The POPULATION BY MUNICIPALITY ACCORDING TO SIZE OF
LOCALITY (INHABITANTS) 1 - 499 % 500 - 2.499 % 2.500 - 14.999 % > 15.000 % ANGEL R
CABADA 32.119 8.781 27,34 12.508 38,94 10.830 33,72 0 CATEMACO 45.383 7.858 17,31
13.894 30,61 0 23.631 52,08 HUEYAPAN OF OCAMPO 39.795 7.989 20,08 17.514 44,01
14.292 35,91 0 MECAYAPAN 15.210 1.923 12,64 5.538 36,41 7.749 50,95 0 PAJAPAN
14.071 2.669 18,97 4.099 29,13 7.303 51,90 0 SAN 38,54 ANDRÉS TUXTLA 142.343 17.028
11,96 55.111 38,72 15.351 10,78 54.853 SANTIAGO TUXTLA 54.539 16.649 30,53 19.162
35,13 3.380 6,20 15.348 28,14 SOTEAPAN 27.486 4.423 16,09 7.574 27,56 15.489 56,35 0
TATAHUICAPAN OF JUAREZ 12.488 5.248 42.02 517  4.14 6.723 53,84 0 TOTAL 383.434
72.568 18,92 135.917 35,45 81.117 21,16 93.832 24,47 Source:  INEGI 2001

Picture 13b. Distribution of the population by subregion (considering 7 municipalities that
have greater influence in the Reserve).  MUNICIPALITY POB.  TOTAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE
POPULATION BY MUNICIPALITY ACCORDING TO SIZE OF LOCALITY (INHABITANTS) 1 -
499 % 500 - 2.499 % 2.500 - 14.999 % > 15.000 % CATEMACO 45.383 7.858 17,31 13.894
30,61 0 23.631 52,08 SAN 38,54 ANDRÉS TUXTLA 142.343 17.028 11,96 55.111 38,72
15.351 10,78 54.853 28,14 SANTIAGO TUXTLA 54.539 16.649 30,53 19.162 35,13 3.380
6,20 15.348 SUBTOTAL 242.265 41.535 17,14 88.167 36,39 18.731 7,74 93.832 38,73
MECAYAPAN 15.210 1.923 12,64 5.538 36,41 7.749 50,95 0 PAJAPAN 14.071 2.669 18,97
4.099 29,13 7.303 51,90 0 SOTEAPAN 27.486 4.423 16,09 7.574 27,56 15.489 56,35 0
TATAHUICAPAN OF JUAREZ 12.488 5.248 42,02 517 4,14 6.723 53,84 0 SUBTOTAL 69.255
14.263 20,59 17.728 25,60 37.264 53,81 0 TOTAL  311,520 55.798 17,91 105.895 33,99
55.995 17,97 93.832 30,13 Source:  INEGI the 2001

previous pictures show a tendency to us of rural populations.  The Picture 1á sample that
54,37 % of the regional population lived in 2.500 localities smaller to hab.  24,47 %
concentrated in localities greater 15.000 inhabitants and correspond to population of the
three great cities.  The populations between 2.500 and 15.000 inhabitants correspond to
municipal heads (Subregion Santa Marta) or, populations near them (including again to the
three great cities).  The picture 13b indicates to us that 77,76 % of the population were in the
Subregion of San Martín Tuxtla.  Of the total of the population of that subregion, 53,53 % were
in 2.500 localities smaller to hab. but only 3 presented/displayed 15.000 populations greater
to hab. (three great cities), showing the tendency of rural populations again.  For the
Subregion of Santa Marta (22,23 % of the total population of both subregions), 46,19 % of the
population were in 2.500 localities smaller to hab. and populations of more did not appear
than 15.000 hab.;  the populations between 2.500 and 15.000 minors to hab. correspond to
the municipal heads or great populations near them.  The previous thing also shows a
tendency of rural populations.  Within the polygon of the Reserve diverse ranks of localities
appear, as it shows the following picture to it:  

Picture 14.  Ranks of population by localities within the Reserve of the Biosphere Los
Tuxtlas.  T
OTAL POPULATION WITHIN the RESERVE OF the BIOSPHERE Los Tuxtlas Rank of
inhabitants Number of localities total Population by rank of hab.  1 - 10 hab.  238 1.239 11 -
250 hab.  115 7.709 251 - 500 hab.  32 10.913 501 - 1.000 hab.  12 8.367 1.001 - 2.000 hab.  
1 1.044 2.001 - 3.000 hab.  1 2.388 TOTAL 399 31.660 Source:  INEGI, 2001.  The previous
picture shows to a tendency of rural populations and a dispersion to us of the characteristic
population:  397 localities with less than 1.000 inhabitants;  solely Sinapan with 1.044
inhabitants and Sontecomapan with 2.388 inhabitants.  238 localities (houses or
rancherías) between 1 and 10 inhabitants, doing a total of 1.239 people, who could be
dedicated to take care of cattle farms.  The greater percentage of the population is located in
159 localities between 11 and 1.000 hab.;  only 32 localities contain 34,47 % of the total
population of the Reserve.  It is important to mention that 4 populations of more exist than
2.000 inhabitants than they are located in the immediate outside of the South limit the
Reserve:  Soteapan (4.052 hab.), Mecayapan (4.899 hab.), Tatahuicapan (6.723 hab.)  and
Pajapan (7.303 hab.).  To the west of the Reserve, as already it were mentioned previously,
are three cities, each one with more than 15.000 inhabitants;  these are:  San Andrés Tuxtla
(54.853 inhabitants), Catemaco (23.631 inhabitants) and Santiago Tuxtla (15,348)
inhabitants), who lodge the greater number of inhabitants (SIG;  INE/I of E, 1994;  INEGI,
2001).  

All the previous one allows us to conclude that Los Tuxtlas is a densely inhabited region,
whose population unequally is distributed, is mainly of rural characteristics and in which still
exist ample spaces relatively without population, but which also they are put under some
degree of humanización.  On the other hand, the Reserve is a protected natural area that is
put under an intense pressure derived from the great amount of inhabitants in the region
and that it requires of the resources that the Reserve offers.  Within the limits of the protected
natural area 31.660 inhabitants, amount live that speaks to us of the intense pressure that is
exerted on the resources of the same one, but also such number gives to idea more as
large as the challenge us than it implies to demonstrate the viability to tie the objectives of
protection and conservation of the resources, with those of the development of a population
very marginalized, that it requires to satisfy ample necessities.  

Ethnic composition
Exists in the region four municipalities with a predominantly indigenous population, although
in Hueyapan de Ocampo it exists to a lesser extent but that the previous ones;  first they
contain more of 60 % of hablante population of indigenous language whereas the second
near 20 %. the following picture allows us to appreciate the relative importance that has the
indigenous population in each municipality.  In Mecayapan and Pajapan, the predominant
ethnic group is the Nahua, whereas in Soteapan and Hueyapan de Ocampo it is the
Zoque-Popoluca.  

Picture 15.  Hablante regional population of indigenous language in 2000.  MUNICIPALITY
TOTAL POPULATION POB 5 POB 5 HLI1 CANT % ANGEL R. CABADA 32.119 28.719 181
0,56 MECAYAPAN 15.210 13.046 10.442 68,65 PAJAPAN 14.071 12.239 8.517 60,52
SOTEAPAN 27.486 23.143 19.841 72,18 HUEYAPAN OF OCAMPO 39.795 34.902 7.676
19,28 392 CATEMACO 45.383 39.868 0,86 SAN 877 ANDRES TUXTLA 142.343 124,548
0,61 SANTIAGO TUXTLA 54.539 48.256 297 0,54 TATAHUICAPAN OF 62,48 JUÁREZ 12.488
10.518 7.803 TOTAL 383.434 335.239 56.026 16,712 Source:  INEGI, 2001,

1 POB5 HLI hablante Population of 5 years and of indigenous language.  2 Percentage with
respect to the total population of 5 years and Is more possible to mention that according to
the data of the census, in almost all the municipalities is a reduction in the percentage of the
indigenous population;  only Mecayapan registers a relative increase of this indicator.  On
the other hand, such censales data demonstrate that in the municipalities of the Mountain
range of Santa Marta a high relative predominance of the indigenous population exists,
whereas in Hueyapan de Ocampo exists a progressive tendency of diminution in its relative
presence.  In the case of the municipalities of Angel R. Cabada, Santiago Tuxtla, San Andrés
Tuxtla and Catemaco, the little natives who exist correspond basically to the Nahua ethnic
group.  Although in last decades the indigenous presence in this zone was greater,
historically has been less excellent than in the Mountain range of Santa Marta.  
Nevertheless, demographic dynamics has been in a virtual disappearance from the same
one.

Picture 16.  Indigenous population within the Reserve.  LOCAL MUNICIPALITY No. POB TOT
POB 5 POB 5 HLI % ANGEL R. CABADA 7 103 75 0 0 CATEMACO 202 11.151 8.979 172
1,91 MECAYAPAN 42 2.634 2.077 1.024 49,30 56,66 PAJAPAN 2 38 30 17 SAN 45 ANDRES
TUXTLA 56 7.299 6.210 0,72 SANTIAGO TUXTLA 14 1.528 1.314 6 0,45 SOTEAPAN 40 3.307
2.606 1.839 70,56 TATAHUICAPAN OF 53,44 JUÁREZ 36 5.600 4.620 2.469 TOTAL 399
31.660 25.911 5.572 21,50 Source:  INEGI 2001 To the interior of the Reserve the previous
numbers show a similar behavior:  the indigenous population is present in the 4
municipalities and represents an important percentage with respect to the total population
by municipality:  between 49 and 70 %. Nevertheless, in all the territory of the Reserve the
indigenous population only represents 21,50 % of the total of the population of 5 years and
more, prevailing the Creole population.  The localities of the Reserve of the Biosphere in
their majority are catalogued like of very high or high marginalization, according to the
National Council of Population and House (CONAPO, 2000) Dynamic demographic Between
the demographic processes more notables in the region we can mention the population
increase and the densificación of the population.  The migration is a phenomenon that
recently intensifies and tends to be very important.  Population increase For 1995, the
municipalities of the Mountain range of Santa Marta (Mecayapan, Soteapan and Pajapan) is
those that presented/displayed the highest rates of growth in the region, with a rate average
of 4,09, whereas the rate regional average was of 2.08.  Picture 11 shows the determined
rates of growth for the region, in period 1990 - 2000.  It is precise to indicate that the high
registered rates of growth in period 1990 - 1995, they were product of the combination of the
growth of natural and social type of the populations.  Towards the last quinquennium of the
decade of 90's, like product of the cancellation of thousands of uses in the cities near the
region (more than 60.000 unemployed workers in the south of the state of Veracruz), derived
from the crisis that affected the regional industrial sector, a process of return of several
hundreds or thousands of inhabitants was registered towards the Mountain range, who
were been working in the bordering big cities.  

For year 2000, it is appraised that in the municipalities of Angel R. Cabada, Santiago Tuxtla,
San Andrés Tuxtla and Catemaco, they showed rates of growth smaller or similar to the
state one, whereas the one of the Municipality of Pajapan had a rate of more of the double
the zone;  for the municipalities of Mecayapan, and Soteapan, the behavior went to the loss
and for Tatahuicapan de Juárez, an annual average growth of 0,8 % between years 1995
and 2000 (SEDESOL, 200ç).  The behavior of the rates of growth is influenced directly by the
phenomenon of the migration, that in general for the region, is having a more well-known
growth in the Subregion Santa Marta, as more ahead it is indicated.  4.5.2.  Social urban
Densificacio'n-concentration On the other hand, the natural growth of the population of the
cities and the great towns, in addition to the diminution of opportunities of occupation like
primary producers in the smallest communities, is in a growth of the localities with urban
characteristics and in a concentration of the population in them.  As it were mentioned
previously, in 2000 54,37 % of the total population of the region, inhabited in localities
smaller 2.500 inhabitants.  This process of concentration of the urban population is
registered in the localities established to the south of great volcanos.  

The three cities and other great localities, like Soteapan, Tatahuicapan, Pajapan, Mecayapan
and Sontecomapan also concentrate an increasing amount of population.  
Migration-expulsion a recent phenomenon of which a detailed knowledge does not exist, is
the one of the emigration towards the north of the country or to the United States.  In the big
cities of the region recruiting offices of migrantes have settled, that offer uses in different
places.  Although precise data do not exist, diverse testimonies indicate that at least a truck
leaves every week with people the Mountain range (young in its great majority), in search of
better opportunities of use;  the period of absence is of at least 6 months.  This must be
observed in the context of the state situation, since at the moment Veracruz is one of the
states with greater rural expulsion, occupying the fourth place behind Oaxaca, Guerrero and
Zacatecas (Contreras, 1999).  

The migration temporary and permanent form simply divides integral of the productive
systems of some communities, given to the seasonal shortage, the lack of productive
opportunities or as complement to the familiar economy during the seasons in which
agricultural activity does not exist.  An important originating temporary migration of the four
municipalities exists that conform the Mountain range of Santa Marta, where excel the
communities of the Municipality of Soteapan that in 1995 got to contribute 52 % of the total of
regional emigrants (PSSM, 1996).  The displaced manual labor temporarily is caught mainly
by the municipalities of Coatzacoalcos, Minatitlán and Tatahuicapan de Juárez and by the
colony the Per it of the Gulf, in which, up to 1996 they attracted around 100 workers for the
cultural activities of Chile xalapeño and for the cattle ranch.  For 1995, an important migration
did not exist towards the United States or to the capital of Mexico (PSSM, A.C. 1996).  The
most important activities in those than contracted the emigrants are:  like day laborers in the
basic production, for activities of chapeadores, laborers, sowings machine, cattle tenders
and others;  secondly in importance, laborers and bricklayers contract themselves for the
construction like;  thirdly he identifies himself to that they contract themselves like workers in
the industrial runner Coatzacoalcos - Minatitlán, in activities related to petroleum mainly
(SEMARNAP. 1997).  For the Municipality of Mecayapan, for example, due to the lack of use
and opportunities to the interior of the municipality, he presents/displays a degree of
emigration very elevated;  although the phenomenon is mainly of young people, does not let
hit to the other layers of the society.  

Esteem that between 4.000 and 5.000 people of the municipality emigrates to the year;  of
them 10 % do it completely.  In the locality of Huazuntlán a "travel agency" exists that
promotes packages towards the states of Chihuahua and Baja California (SEDESOL,
2001b).  This phenomenon has brought like sequel that the population of the third age sees
increase its vulnerability and diminish its quality of life still more, since traditionally they
depend on the support that can offer the family them;  with the east emigration group is
being abandoned For the Municipality of Soteapan, esteem that around 4.500 people of the
municipality emigrates to the year;  only of the locality of Soteapan one calculates that 1.200
people leave annually;  of them 10 % emigrate definitively.  In high season of emigration they
leave up to three daily trucks.  A special form of emigration is the list to I exercise of the
young people who finish the secondary one, which has brought like one of its sequels, that
the women, children and population of the third age see increase their vulnerability and
diminish their quality of life still more, because with the emigration, these groups are being
in the complete neglect, specially the old children and who traditionally depend on the
support that can offer the family them (SEDESOL, 2001a).  The phenomenon arrives
described for Mecayapan and Soteapan, is similar for the municipalities of Pajapan,
Tatahuicapan de Juárez and for the region, Hueyapan de Ocampo, Catemaco, San Andrés
Tuxtla and others.  Updated data do not exist, but the region is becoming an important center
of manual labor in the national level.  Education the services of education in the Region of
Los Tuxtlas, specially in the Subregion of the Mountain range of Santa Marta, are little or null;  
the access to the education is limited and the absence in infrastructure and teachers is
well-known, who complica still more by the schooling level.  

For example, in 1990, at regional level a primary school by each 1,7 localities existed;  a
secondary school by each 8,1 localities and one military preparatory school by each 56,5
localities, that the case of the Subregion stops Mountain range of Santa Marta this last level
practically was forbidden when existing a baccalaureate for 163,5 localities (INEGI. 1991) In
1990 at regional level existed a professor by each 28,9, 18,9 and 12,6 students of primary,
secondary and baccalaureate, respectively.  Nevertheless, the primary instruction at level in
the countryside is characterized by the absenteeism of the teachers, mainly in the moved
away part more of the Mountain range (op cit).  For year 2000, the numbers have not
changed of significant way to municipal level:  for example, in Mecayapan 43 schools that go
of the prestudent to the baccalaureate, in them existed toiled 179 professors who gave class
to 4.645 children (108 students by school;  25,94 students by teacher);  in Soteapan the
education was distributed through 73 schools that go of the prestudent to the baccalaureate,
in them toiled 249 professors who gave to class to 7.538 children (103,26 students by
school;  30,27 students by teacher);  in Tatahuicapan de Juárez educative education was
distributed through 48 establishments that included/understood the levels of prestudent to
the baccalaureate, where toiled 173 professors who gave to classes to 3.564 students
(74,25 students by school;  20,60 students by teacher) and additionally, in the municipality
count themselves on a center of education of the INEA, 2 scholastic shelters of the INI, a
center of education and qualification of the indigenous woman, as well as a private school of
English computation and;  in Pajapan, the education was distributed through 41 schools in
the levels that go of prestudent to secondary, in them participated to 131 professors for the
attention of 3.648 students (88,97 students by school;  27,84 students by teacher);  one also
counted on a scholastic shelter of the National Institute Indigenista and the presence of the
National Institute for the Education of the Adults, who distributed the degrees of primary,
secondary and baccalaureate.

Picture 17.  Education 15 MUNICIPALITY POB TOT POB15 POB Illiterate Alfabeta POB15
Amount % Amount % ANGEL R. CABADA 32.119 21.507 16.243 75,521 5.242 24,371
MECAYAPAN 15.210 8.556 5.621 65,691 2.923 34,161 PAJAPAN 14.071 8.024 4.743 59,111
3.273 40,791 SOTEAPAN 27.486 14.776 7.550 51,091 7.208 48,781 HUEYAPAN OF
OCAMPO 39.795 24.890 18.444 74,101 6.416 25,771 22,541 CATEMACO 45.383 28.231
21.842 77,361 6.365 SAN 24,981 ANDRES TUXTLA 142.343 88.824 66.557 74,931 22.189
SANTIAGO TUXTLA 54.539 34.861 25.272 72,491 9.564 27,431 TATAHUICAPAN OF 34,101
JUÁREZ 12.488 6.884 4.532 65,831 2.348 TOTAL 383.434 236.568 170.804 72,202 65.528
27,692 Source:  INEGI 2001.  1 Percentage with respect to the municipal total population of
15 years and more.  2Porcentaje with respect to the regional total population of 15 years and
more.  The previous Cuado sample that the indigenous municipalities of the Mountain range
of Santa Marta, have the highest levels of illiteracy between the population of 15 years and
more.  Nevertheless, it is important to notice that the illiterate population of the Municipality of
San Andrés Tuxtla is greater than the municipal total of Mecayapan, Pajapan or
Tatahuicapan de Juárez.  For the Reserve of the Biosphere Los Tuxtlas, in year 2000 the
following data were had:  

Picture 18.  Education in the Reserve.  MUNICIPALITY No. OF The PREMISES POB TOT MEN
WOMEN POB 15 POB15 ANALF % ANGEL R. CABADA 7 103 50 35 57 15 26,31 CATEMACO
202 11.151 5.168 5.166 5.960 1.627 27,29 MECAYAPAN 42 2.634 1.281 1.169 1.380 496
35,94 33,33 PAJAPAN 2 38 19 16 21 7 SAN 27,13 ANDRES TUXTLA 56 7.299 3.646 3.557
4.261 1.156 SANTIAGO TUXTLA 14 1.528 709 758 920 252 27,39 SOTEAPAN 40 3.307
1.611 1.560 1.632 723 44,30 TATAHUICAPAN OF 32,45 JUÁREZ 36 5.600 2.840 2.708 2.881
935 TOTAL 398 31.660 15.324 14.969 17.112 5.211 30,45 Source:  INEGI, 2000 Of general
way, 30,45 % of the total population of 15 years and more did not know to read nor to write;  
nevertheless, if the percentage of the communities by municipality are observed, numbers
are appraised a little more stops in the natives.  58,53 % of the illiterate population of 15
years and belong more to the nonindigenous municipalities.  The previous numbers
indicate that in all the Reserve a percentage elevated of illiterate exists.  4,5,3,  Economy In
the Region of Los Tuxtlas the demographic statistics reflect that the rural areas have great
part of the population, that therefore, establishes the type of economy that is not only
developed in those communities, but in all the region.  The activities primary, later the tertiary
ones and in last instance, the secondary ones prevail therefore.  

Picture 1å.  Economically active and occupied regional population.  MUNICIPALITY
Population.  Total Population of 12 years and more PEA % PO % ANGEL R.  CABADA 32.119
23.690 9.634 40,66 9.525 98,86 CATEMACO 45.383 31.608 13.937 44,09 13.801 99,02
HUEYAPAN OF OCAMPO 39.795 27.846 10.603 38,07 10.515 99,17 MECAYAPAN 15.210
9.841 3.941 40,04 3.895 98,83 98,75 PAJAPAN 14.071 9.236 3.616 39,15 3.571 SAN 98,69
ANDRES TUXTLA 142.343 99.192 42.401 42,74 41.847 SANTIAGO TUXTLA 54.539 38.918
15.004 38,55 14.651 97,64 SOTEAPAN 27.486 17.147 7.503 43,75 7.428 99,00
TATAHUICAPAN OF 98,67 JUÁREZ 12.488 7.965 3.180 39,92 3.138 TOTAL 383.434 265.455
109.819 41,37 108.371 98,68

Picture 18b. Scopes of occupation of the PEA MUNICIPALITY PEA.  P.O.  PRIM % SEC %
TERC % ANGEL R. CABADA 9.634 9.525 4.466 46,88 1.357 14,24 3.575 37,53 CATEMACO
13.937 13.801 5.539 40,13 2.048 14,83 5.995 43,43 HUEYAPAN OF OCAMPO 10.603
10.515 6.534 62,13 1.344 12,78 2.474 23,52 MECAYAPAN 3.941 3.895 2.868 73,63 169 4,33
764 19,61 20,21 PAJAPAN 3.616 3.571 2.526 70,73 295 8,26 722 SAN 37,59 ANDRES
TUXTLA 42.401 41.847 16.899 40,38 8.523 20,36 15.733 SANTIAGO TUXTLA 15.004 14.651
7.779 53,09 1.973 13,46 4.659 31,80 SOTEAPAN 7.503 7.428 6.308 84,92 227 3,05 813
10,94 TATAHUICAPAN OF 22,27 JUÁREZ 3.180 3.138 2.138 68,13 216 6,88 699 TOTAL
109.819 108.371 55.057 50,80 16.152 14,90 35.434 32,69 Source:  INEGI 2001.  
PEA:  Economically active population.  PO:  Occupied population.  PRIM:  Population
occupied in primary activities (agriculture, cattle ranch, forest advantage, hunt and fish).  
SEC:  Population occupied in secondary activities (mining, manufacturing industry,
petroleum electricity, extraction, water and the construction).  TER:  Population occupied in
tertiary activities (commerce, transport, government and other services).  The reflected
previous picture the dominancia of the population dedicated to primary activities, mainly in
the municipalities of the Subregion Mountain range of Santa Marta (indigenous), although in
the other municipalities the tertiary and secondary activities has a greater population
dedicated to them.  The population within the Reserve of the Biosphere the tendency is
similar, according to the following picture.

Picture 19.  Productive activities and population in the Reserve.  MUNICIPALITY POB TOT
PEA PO POSPRIM POSSEC POSTER ANGEL R. CABADA 103 35 35 34 1 0 CATEMACO
11.151 2.864 2.815 1.926 286 568 MECAYAPAN 2.634 728 716 628 22 60 PAJAPAN 38 11
11 11 0 0 SAN 213 ANDRES TUXTLA 7.299 2.008 1.991 1.606 131 SANTIAGO TUXTLA
1.528 336 335 215 35 80 SOTEAPAN 3.307 802 799 742 12 40 TATAHUICAPAN OF 98
JUÁREZ 5.600 1.297 1.272 1.107 51 TOTAL 31.660 8.081 7.974 6.269 538 1.059 Source:  
Previous INEGI, the 2001 numbers indicate that within the Reserve, 78,61 % of the occupied
population are dedicated to primary activities, reason why the economy moves in this sector.  
Next some of the most significant aspects of the main productive activities of the region are
described, as well as their main environmental consequences.  Agriculture Maize:  Within
the main cultures that occur in the region, it emphasizes the maize to occupy most of the
work surface, because sum the highest value of the production, the production costs and the
used wages (SEMARNAP/PRODERS, ET al., 1997).  
Approximately 53 % of the population occupied in the agricultural activity are dedicated to the
maize production, producers that in their majority have lands under regime of ejidal property,
with surfaces average of 1,5 has.  This culture has an ample distribution in all the region,
emphasizing, in the case of the municipalities of the Reserve:  Soteapan, Tatahuicapan,
Pajapan, Mecayapan and San Andrés Tuxtla.  During the period from 1992 to 1996, the
surface seeded with maize increased of important way, until in 63,2 %, whereas the yield by
hectare did it in 15.8 %, being reflected in the regional level in an increase of 84,6 % in the
volume of grain production, favored mainly by the implementation of the program PROFIELD.
 (SEMARNAP/PRODERS, 1997).  Whereas in the Subregion of Santa Marta great part of
lands destined to the maize production is located in the zone of damping or the environs of
this one, the maiceros lands of the Subregion of San Martín Tuxtla are located in the
denominated zone of influence.  In several zones of the region two periods of culture, April to
November in weather (spring-summer) and of November to March can be carried out, in the
denominated modality tapachole (autumn-winter).  

There is a remarkable wealth of Creole maize materials, as far as ecological adaptations,
statures, production and times of sowing.  Even though varieties improved and hybrid for the
low parts exist (smaller to 900 msnm), still he is very frequent to observe the regional use of
germoplasma, particularly in the zones Zoque-Popoluca and Nahua of the south of the
Reserve and particularly, in the areas of inserted the 400 production superior to msnm that
is to say, or cobeing contiguous with the zone of damping.  The presence of these varieties
has been briefed through diverse studies (Pear trees, 1992;  Target, 1997) and for the aims
of the biological conservation, approximately the 20 varieties of Creole maize must have
special consideration.  

Sugar cane:  In the regional level, the culture of the sugar cane has importance in some of
the municipalities included/understood within the Reserve, which occupy the smoothly
waved flattest terrains or.  These municipalities are Angel R. Cabada, San Andrés Tuxtla and
Santiago Tuxtla.  The sugar cane has an extension of more than 5.000 has in the Reserve,
mainly in the portion the nor-northwest.  The cañera activity has been economically important
for the Region of Los Tuxtlas and like remunerativa option for the population of the mountain
zone of the Reserve, when being used temporarily in the cut of the gramínea.  

Frijol:  Fríjol mainly has a great importance by its nutritional paper in autoabasto and like
system that occupation of the work force absorbs.  At the moment this culture is remarkably
to the loss in its surface of culture, mainly in the municipalities of San Andrés Tuxtla and
Soteapan.  Also, although the seeded regional surface in cycle 1995/96 presented/displayed
an increase of 4,8 % respect to cycle 1991/92, the production diminished in 43,5 % as a
result of the reduction in the yield of 45,9 % in the same period.  This had to the presence of
plagues, diseases and at the low used technological level (SEMARNAP/PRODERS, 1997).  
The land use must also be added to those factors of strong slope, with low fertility and
prolonged use.  In the case of the plagues, special reference must become to molusco
denominated seven leathers (Veronicella moreleti) (INE/PSSM, A.c./iis-unam, 1997).  This
situation has tended to worsen, with the consequences for autoconsumo local and has
made lose to the Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla its leadership in the state level.  At the
moment it is considered that the yield average by hectare harvested in Los Tuxtlas is of 492
kg If a minimum consumption is considered average of 91 kg annual by adult, the region
already had a deficit of this basic food in 1995.  

Tobacco:  A zone dedicated traditionally to the tobacco production exists that is between the
cities of San Andrés Tuxtla and Catemaco, because in deep black earth (Andosoles) it has
been cultivated for many years.  The surface in first half of years 90, got to occupy up to 2.500
has;  nevertheless, from 1997 an irruption quite aggressive on the part of companies and
industralists of the deprived sector has been verified, some new ones in the region or
associated local producers, which has motivated a gradual growth of the activity of tobacco
sowing, competing by surfaces dedicated to basic cultures and cattle ranch.  At the rate of
1.100 kg/ha of dry leaf, at the moment could be producing between 3.000 and 5.000 tons by
cycle.  Like productive activity, the tobacco culture is very important, because it offers directly
and indirectly between 6.000 and 9.000 uses per year (culture, harvests and in the workings
of beneficiary and transformation of the product, as well as the manufacture of pure by hand).
 (INE/PSSM, A.c./iis-unam, 1997).  Cafe ':  The cafeticultura is an important activity in the
Region of Los Tuxtlas.  According to data of the Veracruzano Council of the Coffee, in the
year of 1996 the region registered a seeded surface of 3.550 are and coffee yields cherry of
between 830 to 1.190 kg/ha.  Soteapan, Catemaco and Hueyapan de Ocampo are the
municipalities with greater surface of coffee plantations.  The coffee is one of the cultures
that respond better to the preservation of the environmental functions, mainly by the arboreal
cover that it provides to the ground.  Nevertheless, important diminutions have been seen,
as much in their surface as in the yields of the culture.  In 1991 6.381 was registered has
(including a the Municipality of Hueyapan de Ocampo), with 1.500 yields of kg/ha average,
thus, it is representing diminutions of 44,4 and 44,7 % (SEMARNAP/PRODERS, 1997).  In
the general these diminutions have to do concomitantemente with recurrent crises of the
market of the coffee and with the technological negligence of the culture, which has caused
drastic changes in the use of the ground towards the cattle ranch or agriculture of weeding.  
In the south of the state of Veracruz, the lands of coffee culture are indeed in the Mountain
range of Los Tuxtlas, nevertheless, represents only 3 % of the cultivated state surface.  On
his culture they depend near 1.700 families, (INMECAFE, mentioned by Target, 1996).  The
main municipalities are Soteapan, Mecayapan, Catemaco and Hueyapan de Ocampo.  Only
the three first are located in the Reserve and the last one in the environs.  Indeed the coffee
plantations of the ejidos ones nearer the Reserve are those that present/display
characteristics nearer the type of system known like ecological coffee, that is to say, where
the coffee plant plants are seeded under a arboreal canopy of importance and with low
contributions of agroquímicos insumos.  In the municipalities of the Reserve in where coffee
is cultivated (Catemaco, Soteapan, Mecayapan) appears three models of production:  the
rusticano, specialized and the commercial policultivo.  The rusticano system occupies more
of 75 % of the surface cultivated in the Reserve and its environs, mainly in the municipalities
of Soteapan and Mecayapan.  The rusticano model is integrated by coffee and uses like
shade trees of the natural vegetation such as:  jonote (Heliocarpus donell- smithii), jobo
(Spondias mombin), ixpepe (Trema micranta), mulato wood (Bursera simaruba),
sangregado (draco Croton), tepesuchil (Terminalia amazonia), and ocote (Liquidambar
styraciflua), among others.  (SEMARNAP/PRODERS, op. cit.).  

Recent detailed studies that have been made in ejido San Fernando of the Municipality of
Soteapan, have shown an important wealth of species of plants, registering themselves
more than 300 species of 72 families and 155 sorts (Beaucage, ET al., 1999).  Of the other
models, the specialized one is satisfied by coffee and several species of the Inga sort,
known like chalahuites or case.  The commercial policultivo composes the coffee plus other
species with commercial importance, in this case with Camedor palm (Chamaedora
elegans), red cedar (odorata Cedrela), mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and cedar walnut
(Juglans sp.).  This model, along with the rusticano, appears mainly in the municipalities of
Catemaco and Hueyapan de Ocampo.  It exists an intensive program of enrichment of coffee
plantations and reforestation, which has been verified for a little more than four years.  
Independently of the model that is observed, the coffee culture presents/displays a positive
impact in the conservation of the resources, because it has an analogous behavior to a
natural ecosystem, as mesófilo of mountain can be the forest or the medium forest.  These
models have a good variety of wild and cultivated species that favors the development of the
vegetal cover, the conservation of the biodiversity and offers important environmental
benefits.  By their structure and handling, the coffee plants under shade recreate the
conditions of a natural forest, that favors the development of the flora and fauna;  they
conserve grounds, contributes organic matter and animals become refuge of species.  In
addition it contributes to the retention of the coal released to the atmosphere, with which it
allows to maintain the balance of the global cycles.  In the work of PRODERS/SEMARNAP,
ET al., (1997), calculated indices of sustentabilidad by cultures and the one that represented
the best index was indeed the one of the coffee culture.  

Papaya:  The culture of papaya has had a tendency to the loss, after to have represented for
the municipalities and with respect to the other cultures of the South zone of the Region of
Los Tuxtlas, the third place as far as the volume of the production, fifth as far as the value of
the production, required production costs and wages;  it happened of 2.389 has in 1993 to
1.496 has in 1996.  Which had it mainly to the incidence of diseases like the virosis.  
(SEMARNAP/PRODERS, op. cit.).  

The regional importance of other cultures like orange, Chile, lemon and rice is located in
small surfaces and ecological atmospheres and socioeconomic individuals.  Of the total of
wages that are used for the workings in the main agricultural cultures, 84,5 % by hand
correspond of familiar work (women, children and children) and the rest by hand of
wage-earning work.  It allows to prop up the affirmation of which the agricultural activity is
important source for the retention of manual labor, despite the disadvantageous conditions
in which it occurs to the agricultural production and the increasing levels of emigration
towards the border region of the country.  On the total of cultures that practice in the region,
one has calculated the following amounts of insumos consumed to the year:  fertilizers,
16.640 ton/año;  insecticides, 91.574 lt/año and 34.374 herbicidas lt/año.  From the
economic point of view, the use of these insumos represents 21,7 % of the total cost of
production;  whereas its impact in the yields is little significant due to the inadequate use of
these;  socially it represents an ignorance of his efficient use, but simultaneously, an
alternative to improve the short term production ecologically and a greater damage to the
atmosphere by the contamination of the toxic remainders.  On the other hand, since in many
cases the use of the chemical insumos is made in inadequate form, they cause serious
damages to the human health (Godínez, ET al., 1999), in addition to the ecological damages
that have not been studied with detail.


Cattle ranch
With a surface approximated to 160.000 has dedicated to pastizales, the Region of Los
Tuxtlas presents/displays a landscape predominantly cattle dealer, matrix in which the
agricultural and forest uses are overlapped.  In the territory of the Reserve a surface of
86.739 is considered has dedicated to pastizales for the cattle ranch.  A productive mixture of
public policies (earth colonization, distribution and credits), as well as cultural practical
patterns and, of external influence mainly, determined that the use of the ground for cattle
aims went imposing in the region from principles of the decade of years 60 to the year of
1990, with a rate of growth annual average of 180 % and between 1990 and 1995 of 26 %
annual.  Nevertheless, whereas in the Municipality of Catemaco the cattle ranch registered a
decrement between 1990 - 1995, of the order of -4,3 %, the Municipality of Mecayapan I
present/display the one of 40 %. historical series of data shows that the regional population
of bovine cattle had an accelerated growth in the period from 1960 to 1990, that it was of the
order of 180,4 %, number that is very superior to the growth of 26,4 % that the state inventory
registered during the same period.  It resists the fact that in the period from 1990 to 1995 the
regional growth diminished up to 26,2 %, even though in the state level was of 88,0 %
(PRODERS/SEMARNAP, 1997).  The production units are in their majority of ejidal property,
followed of deprived property, 77,1 and 20,4 %, respectively;  the immense majority is rural
units of production (99,79 %). the type of extensive cattle ranch is the predominant one as
much between small proprietors as between ejidatarios.  This type of handling only allows
to maintain two heads by hectare in low parts and one in the mountain.  
(Proders/semarnap;ine-pssm, A.C., 1997).  

In the year of 1995 a population of bovines of 97.497 heads in the Subregion of Santa Marta
including a Catemaco entered itself, whereas in the Subregion of Los Tuxtlas with only the
municipalities of Santiago Tuxtla and San Andrés Tuxtla a great total of 221.847 heads was
registered a total of 124.350 heads doing.  For the identification and characterization of the
production systems of bovines it is considered that the objectives of the proprietor, as far as
the obtaining of satisfactores or products of the phases of the biological cycle of the cattle
(raises, lactancia, gets fat, maintenance to take advantage of the force work), are the main
aspects that help to recognize differences between systems.  The modalities of how to
produce such satisfactores, is in pasturing, semipasturing or in estabulación, they are only
variant that gives some particularitity of handling for the production.  Only 23,0 % of the
inventory of bovine cattle in the region are registered like fine;  the rest current (41,6 %) or
one crosses indefinite (35,4 %). Such numbers contrast respectively with the state averages,
since in this level the fine, current cattle and is crossed is distributed in 27.9, 21,9 and 50,2
%.  

The fine cattle corresponds to different races cebuinas (Bos indicus), between which the
Indobrasil, Nellore, Guzerat and Gyr predominate;  in addition to European (Bos taurus), like
the Swiss Brown and Holstein.  In the region, a slight majority dedicates to the production of
double intention, followed of a similar proportion of only meat and by a little significant
amount of only milk and only stallion animals of work or, with the 46,2, 44,9, 6,0 and 3,0 %,
respectively.  This order of importance is the same one that presents/displays the
specialization of the bovine units of production in the state level, where the great majority are
dedicated to the double intention, followed in smaller proportion by the dedicated ones only
to the meat, milk and stallion animals of work or, with the 61,4, 29,6, 6,7 and 2,4 %,
respectively.  It is evident that the productive direction towards the production of meat under
the young systems and gets fat is more excellent in the region that in the state.  In the
Region of Los Tuxtlas the production units have for their proprietors other additional
objectives, that sometimes are more important that the same production;  thus for example,
for the small proprietors the cattle is means that allow them to reach certain familiar security,
whereas for the great proprietors he is an average one for the accumulation of capital.  The
type of infrastructure that is used like support of the cattle production, to be a basically
extensive cattle ranch and little technified, consists of a simple equipment and a
considerable use of manual labor, in addition of which the increasing increase in the prices
for their implementation, repels in the little maintenance of the existing one.  

An important difference in the types of handling of cattle lands is the one that it has to do with
the type of used wall to divide lands.  In the parts of greater altitude wood posts are used
mainly died due to the abundance of trees and to the facility with which they are possible to
be obtained, nevertheless, due to the little duration of such because of the humidity and
plagues and to the policies of conservation of the natural vegetation, the alive post use is
spreading with nongood results.  In lands of low and intermediate altitude it is where the
alive posts of cocuite (Gliricidia sepium), mulato wood (Bursera simaruba) and cosquelite
(Erythrina folkersii) more are spread and predominate on dead wood posts.  When studying
the alive paper of solitary trees and walls in the dispersion and vegetal succession, the
existence of these systems has been put of relevance from the ecological point of view,
because the arboreal units determine a great proportion of lands dedicated to pastizales (I
of E, 1998;  Guevara, ET al., 1997).  These systems provide shade and forage for the cattle,
as well as firewood.  The ecological importance which they have the isolated trees in the
potreros of the region is great;  one has calculated that exists of 0,3 to 39,0 trees by hectare
(Guevara, op. cit).  

The differentiation as far as the type of unit of cattle production is sensibly different for the
subregions from the Volcano San Martín Tuxtla and the Mountain range of Santa Marta.  The
impulse of models of technological transference through the Cattle Groups of Validation of
Transferencia Tecnolo'gica (GGAVATT) has only occurred until the moment in the Subregion
of San Martín Tuxtla.  Still within the groups of organized cattle dealers who have managed to
adopt a good number of proposals of this model, it has not been managed to reach to most
of the members and since great part of the application of this model is based on different
levels from own investment on the part of the producer, the recruited ones not yet have a
considerable weight in the region.  A determining aspect in the productive direction of the
units of production in the region, is the behavior that have the forrajeras species as far as
their growth, caused mainly by the annual march of the climate.  
With exception of the located units of production to greater altitude, where the precipitation
and relative humidity are high, in those of smaller altitude deficit of this element appears,
that is reflected in a noticeable estacionalidad in the growth of the grass.  The time of
droughts in the high zones is smaller of 2 months, whereas in the level ones of low altitude it
gets to be until from 6 months.  The month of April is most critical in the forage production for
the cattle, because it represents less than half of the amount that can be obtained during the
month of August.  Before the situation of shortage of pastures, the strategy of some
producers is to move the cattle of the parts of smaller altitude, towards those of greater
altitude, where the conditions are less severe;  who cannot make this transfer, they sell part
of the cattle ranch to fit to the load animal of the prairies and others try to take advantage of
alternative forrajeros resources available locally.  

Forest use the different directed initiatives of conservation towards the Region from Los
Tuxtlas have always had like objective stopping the process of deforestation that has
happened, mainly as a result of the intense process of colonization and ganaderización
given between years 1967 to 1990.  In these 23 years 63.100 disappeared has of forests
and forests, equivalent to 77,2 % of the 81.770 have of vegetation existing in the first
mentioned year.  In importance order the types of vegetation more affected by the
deforestation, were the high and medium forest perennifolia, the forest caducifolio or
mesófilo, encinares semiwarm and warm, as well as pine groves (GEF/PSSM, A.C., 1996;  
PRODERS/SEMARNAP, 1997).  

Levels of deforestation in the Mountain range of Santa Marta, To see.  Period initial Surface
or of reference % Loss Rate 1967 81.770 100,00 00,00 1967 - 1976 55.190 68,00 32,00
3.620 1976 - 1986 21.700 26,50 73,50 2.350 1986 -1990 20.000 24,50 75,50 425 Source:  
Maps of Vegetation 1967, 1976 and 1990 of the SIG of the PSSM, A.C.  Between these
initiatives forest prohibitions (1958-1978) and programs of forest development have settled
down that did not manage to revert nor to stop the gradual diminution of arboreal cover.  In
almost all the cases, the results were thin due to the confrontation of these initiatives with
those of the sectors agricultural and cattle.  The wood advantage and sacking practiced in
consonancia with external particular interests and the necessities of the population in the
search of precious wood and nonmaderables species like tubercles, palms and associate
fauna.  Although statistical data exist on the forest advantages, these are incompletos or
partial and make reference to the officially authorized one generally, mainly of domestic
character.  At the moment the maderables advantages of commercial type very are restricted,
reason why they predominate destined to the local supply, illegal and those that are
characterized as "it destroys ant".  This it is the case of which they preferredly supply the
demand of products that the tobacco industry for the drying requires, the manufacture of
artisan furniture (like the locality of Pajapan, where the greater amount of artisan carpentries
in the south of the Reserve is concentrated mainly), the domestic construction and the
supply of firewood.  Being a region in where it dominates the rural population, 13.206
consuming units of firewood, number are reported that represents 47,4 % of the total of units
of rural production.  The consumed volume of firewood promotes to 11.472,4 m3 number
that represents 12,9 % of logable production (GEF/PSSM, A.C., op. cit.;  
PRODERS/SEMARNAP, op. cit.).

Other economic uses of the forests and forests the high biological diversity present in the
region has represented an important source of supply for the subsistence and the extraction
of products destined the market.  In decades of the the 60 and 70's, barbasco (Dioscorea
sp.)  an important paper for the indigenous communities and for the originating
colonizadores of other parts of the state and the country played mainly.  Nevertheless, the
landslide of the market before the coming of synthetic steroids caused that this resource let
have importance.  

For several years the works of investigation of the Project Mountain range of Santa Marta,
A.C. and of the Direction of Popular Cultures Acayucan, have been putting in evidence the
role played by extracted nonmaderables species of the zone.  It has allowed to detect the
latent threat that it represents the negligence in the advantage of certain wild species of high
commercial demand, such as herbaceous palms of ornato, plants for fiber and canoras
birds, among others.  They are counted between those vegetal species, the palms of the
Chamaedorea sort, C. elegans (negrita), C.  hooperiana (they mayan or paluda) and other
that at the moment are under prospectiva investigation.  The other excellent case of the
works destined to improve the handling of wild species is of ixtle (Aechmea magdalenae),
used preferredly like fibers for embroidering.  Both cases that are mentioned must like
intention handle to the species in natural habitats such as primary or secondary forests,
simultaneously that try methods to cultivate themselves intensively in controlled plantations
more.  In the Mountain range of Santa Marta the nonmaderables advantage and species are
concentrated in the harvesting of foliage of the palms (Chamaedorea elegans, C.
ernesti-augustii, oblongata C.), flowers and fruits of chocho (Astrocaryum mexicanum),
palmito (Chamaedorea tepejilote, woodsoniana C.), rattans for crafts (eleator
Chamaedorea, Desmoncus orthacanthos) and some fruits like zapote (Pouteria sapota),
among others, which are an important even source of supplies and income the local
population of the region (Ramirez, 1999).  

On the other hand, the hunting has practiced for reasons of nutritional supply, of ritual or
sport type.  They are documented testimonies that make reference in the region to the
practice of the hunting.  Communities of the Municipality of Tatahuicapan de Juárez, still at
the present time vindicate the fame of their men in the handling of the arc and arrow, to hunt
animals like jaguar, deer, pheasant, gritón, perdiz, wild boar, serete, rabbit, mazate, tejón,
armadillo and dove (PSSM, A.C. s.f.).  At the moment, the hunting no longer practices with as
much frequency and it has become a possible activity, partly by the intrinsic shortage of the
species traditionally used for the consumption or the commercialization, which had more to
the shortage of habitat for the species that to the intensity of the hunting.  A great affluence of
originating external hunters of the main regional urban centers has also existed and also on
the part of people who dedicate themselves to this like their main activity.  

Are those that capture alive monkeys and other animals to sell them like mascots.  Now
temazates, tepezcuintles, wild boar, armadillo, tejón, real deer, mount hen, pheasant are
hunted gritón, hocofaisan, mount raccoon, serete, rabbit and squirrels.  The hunting mainly
practices in the season of droughts between March and May and in the days with good
weather without rain and north (PSSM, A.C. op. cit.;  PSSM, A.C.  1996b).  The demand of
exotic species for the international or national markets has received importance and
represent an extra pressure on the regional faunísticos resources.  It also has meant the
expansion of the demand on nontraditional products like butterflies, libélulas, reptiles and
amphibians.  The application of the normatividad impelled by the SEMARNAT, that implies
the formation of Units of Handling for the Conservation of Vida Silvestre (UMAS), as instance
for the careful handling with base in population studies, has come to represent an
innovating option for the management of these important associated resources the native
ecosystems.  

Fishing and acuícolas activities the Region of Los Tuxtlas has the coast of approximately
120 km, taking like reference the localities of End Finishing nail, in the North end, and the
community of Jicacal in the south.  The Lake of Catemaco with a greater surface to 7.200
has (Torres-Orozco, ET al., 1995);  the Lagoon of the Ostión with 1.270 has;  Lagoon of
Sontecomapan with 890 has (Contreras, ET al., 1995), as well as network fluvial of
approximately 5.000 km, that constitutes the basic scene that explains the remarkable
fishing operation that it exists in the zone and the hydric potential, from as the acuacultura
can get to become an excellent activity in the region.  Also diverse fishing production
systems are expressed, according to the basic means in which they are developed:  rivers,
lakes, lagoons or marine shore, although some fishermen affect lagoons and the sea
indifferently, as it is the case of the environs of the lagoons of Sontecomapan and the Ostión.
 

The fishing activity on these lagoons and the Lake of Catemaco are the one that has the
older historical profile, given its conditions of accessibility with rustic boats known as
cayucos and the use of artisan techniques like small boats and lines of hook.  Three zones
with fishing activity can be recognized basically:  In the Lagoon of Sontecomapan, that
includes the cooperatives, groups or free fishermen of Sontecomapan and to those of the
populations ribereñas of the Rock area Divided until Zapotitlán.  In the area that includes
from Tecuanapa to Jicacal, that includes those fishermen who of permanent way or
occasionally affect the Lagoon of the Ostión.  The developed one in the Lake of Catemaco,
that is usufructuada by the fishermen and inhabitants who are located in the environs of the
Lake, although this is not within the polygon of the Reserve of the Biosphere Los Tuxtlas.  

Finally, without attributing a specific location to him, the activity that appears in an abundant
number of small lakes, or dams is due to mention, most of which they are located in the
Subregion of the Volcano San Martín Tuxtla, as well as in stream multitude scattered by all
the Reserve in a vast network that measures more than 5.000 km.  Fishing in sea:  The limit
of the polygon of the Reserve towards the Gulf of Mexico is the Terrestrial Marine Federal
Zone;  nevertheless, part of the population of fishermen who live within the Reserve
develops their activities beyond the indicated limit.  

The fishing in sea practices mainly on species like robalo, smooth, lebrancha, mountain
range, pargo, sharks;  whereas the shrimp, clam ball, ostión, jaiba, crabs, as well as the
three first mentioned species, are those that characterize the activity in the lagoons.  All
these species have a commercial importance, although also they are taken advantage of for
autoconsumo.  The fishing ribereña by definition tends to more intensely operate the portion
next to the coastline, given its technological conditions, reason why a high viability is
presumed to increase to medium term the fishing effort, basically depending on the
incorporation of ships of greater openwork and capacity of redeo.  In the case of the fishing
ribereña or coast, is considered that this one is still incipiente and that "the region is in
relative good state of conservation" (Schaldach, ET al., 1997).  Although in all the region an
important fishing activity is developed, considers substitute the northeast zone of the
Subregion of Santa Marta, to the height of Zapotitlán End, by its abundance and variety of
fish.  This must to the presence of a arrecifal zone little studied, that covers an area with 38
Km2 (Schaldach, op.  cit.).  Account in this aspect also the presence of the coastal lagoons
surrounded by manglares, due to the recognized interaction that these maintain with reefs
like condition for the reproduction of a good number of marine species of commercial
importance.  

Lacustrine fishing:  The lacustrine fishing is made on several of the bodies that mainly
appear in the Subregion of the Volcano San Martín Tuxtla.  Without a doubt the Lake of
Catemaco is the one that represents the greater importance.  The total production of different
species, including mojarra of Catemaco, mojarra tilapia, topote, the pepesca and the snail
tegogolo, tour around the 1.800 annual tons, condition that locates to the lake between the
water bodies with greater yields by hectare in the national level.  The production can get to
become stabilized until in an amount slightly superior to 2.000 ton/año:  this would be
consequence mainly, of the increase of the fishing effort, which would imply the risk of
exceeding to medium term the sustainable peak efficiency of the lake (BIOTECS,
unpublished, mentioned by Torres-Orozco and Red Perez, 1995).  Unlike the fishing
ribereña, the lacustrine fishing has gotten to be near its possibilities of maximum advantage
and it requires a strategy of administration and handling that a sustainable advantage
allows, contemplating the possibility of productive intensification from the handling of cages.  
In this last case the previous experiences are due to evaluate to consider the horizon real of
their viability.  

Fishing in rivers:  This type of fishing is one of most common in the mountain range, since it
represents an option of free access common resources, particularly for those who do not
have earth.  Given to the density of streams and rivers in the region, in all the towns they
practically exist fishing with commercial aims and of subsistence and still like activity of
relaxation.  Prawns or mayacastes and different shrimps like the reculador and the donkey
are fished mainly;  the fresh water catfish, the clown, the pepesca, topote, mojarra, the clam
of river and the snails.  The sobrexplotación of the rivers has been particularly intense
throughout the years;  in some cases it has caused the reduction of the production of
resources, particularly those that have commercial value like mayacaste or the clown.  From
mayacaste or prawn they are obtained between 120 to 150 tons annual, being one of
products of greater commercial value.  

Acuacultura:  In spite of the few experiences of this type of productive process in the region, a
considerable infrastructure exists to implement acuacultura actions.  They are had
registered more than 27 dams and pools in the 4 municipalities of the Mountain range of
Santa Marta.  The propitious conditions of the dammed resource water basically require
supports in the matter of infrastructure preparation, resiembras, consultant's office and
qualification.  These last aspects are those that are detected like high-priority taking care of,
because the consultant's office has been insufficient in first stage on design and
construction of dams and dams, causing a reflection in the nonoptimal conditions for its
advantage.  A qualification on aspects relative to the handling would allow to take advantage
of the considerable potential the already existing infrastructure.  

Considered total fishing population:  With base in official data of the office of the
Administration of Pesquerías of the Delegation of SEMARNAP (1999) in the state of Veracruz,
one settled down that a minimum population of 1.419 people dedicated to the fishing
existed, as much in the sea as in the lagoons, rivers and lakes.  Despite the previous thing,
the experience of the people who have taken care of east sector by several years in the zone
as well as diverse reports, mentions the possibility that the real number of fishermen,
entering those that are denominated "free" can be equivalent to the double of which they are
had registered, basically in the office of fishing of Catemaco and in smaller number a portion
of which it registers the office of fishing of Coatzacoalcos.  
According to the collected most recent data of the office of the Administration of Pesquerías
of the Delegation of the SEMARNAP in the state of Veracruz, referred to years 1995 and 1996,
as well as partially of 1997, note clearly that the fishing effort (fishing population and the
abundance of means) with which contribute the municipalities of Catemaco and San Andrés
Tuxtla to the set of the fishing production in the region is extremely determining.  In 1995 the
total production was close by 6.419 tons;  both municipalities added 86 %, with a total of
5.504 tons.  In 1996 the registered total production was of 5.299 tons of where both
municipalities contributed 70 % with 3.662 tons.  The rest of the municipalities has one
more a more modest contribution.  The tendencies that are observed in the three analyzed
years maintain, although he is well-known that in 1996, San Andrés Tuxtla surpassed in 8 %
to Catemaco reason why he became the main producer.  

A complementary analysis, according to the type of species that take advantage of in the
region, and considering that the reports simultaneously include generic and specific
categories, sample that the category grudge of sea is the one that contribute to the set of the
production more, which represents 49 % respectively and 45 % in 1995 and 1996.  They
follow in importance mojarra such to him tilapia with 14 % and 30 % in years, as well as
mojarra of Catemaco with 12 % and 8 % in such years.  Of the remaining species those that
follow to him they are:  topote, lebrancha, the prawn or mayacaste, the pepesca and
tegogolo.  With the exception of lebrancha, that is fished mainly in the coastal lagoons, and
the prawn, that capture in the rivers and streams of the region, the other mentioned
categories are obtained in the Lake of Catemaco and the other small lakes and fresh water
dams.  

Tourist use

Los Tuxtlas has been and is, at the moment a tourist destiny of importance in the state level.  
Esteem that annually visits the region more than 500.000 tourists (Count INEGI, 1995),
according to data taken from the installed centers of lodging.  It represents 10 % of the state
tourism and gives an idea of its economic importance.  The origin of the tourism is
fundamentally national (98 %), even though the sum of tropical landscaping conditions of the
area, as well as the turn that has printed him the national and international filmic industry,
could assure a greater flow foreign visitors.

In fact the shooting activities represent another activity of importance, but little documented
and studied;  he is one of slopes to investigate and to organize or possibly to regulate to
assure another modality like particular niche the economy.  The tourist activity is made
mainly in the cities of San Andrés Tuxtla, Santiago Tuxtla and Catemaco, in populations or
places near this last one like Nanciyaga and Coyame, as well as Sontecomapan and Barra
de Sontecomapan.  In the coast some populations of the Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla,
such as Hidden Beach, Pío Mount, Lisa Stream and Dark Toro also have present and
potential importance.  In the case of Santiago Tuxtla, the presence of one of more important
the archaeological deposits Olmecas (Three Zapotes) confers a special component to him.  
Recently some experiences of recreation or alternative tourism have been begun to promote
on the part of organized groups of lenders and operators of tourist services of the cities of
San Andrés Tuxtla and Catemaco.  

Also, the promotion of the modality of the ecoturismo farmer like in the one of the Ejido
Adolph Lopez Mateos, in the Municipality of Catemaco, has been an innovating sequel of the
tendency restored by the Nanciyaga company, that has been operating under that modality of
alternative tourism for more than 10 years.  It is in the Subregion of the Volcano of San Martín
Tuxtla, to the north, where at the moment the tourist activity of the 8 municipalities of the
Reserve is concentrated, even though in the Subregion Mountain range of Santa Marta the
bath established to the side of the Huazuntlán River, also have offered an attractive destiny
for the regional population coming from the cities of Minatitlán, Acayucan and Coatzacoalcos.
 

In the last 3 years in the Municipality of Soteapan recreational activities with an alternative
modality have been impelled;  so it is the case of the Cascade of San Pedro in the municipal
head and the ecoturístico Bath Homshuk, in the community of Amamaloya of the same
municipality.  The beaches of the municipalities of Tatahuicapan de Juárez, (Beautiful Rock),
Mecayapan (Per it of the Gulf and the environs) are probably those that at the moment have
better quality for the type of alternative tourism that considers for the Reserve and the zone of
influence.  It is also counted on interesting areas with archaeological potential like Wrought
Stone and, mainly the "extra" that represents the existence of populations Nahuas and
Popolucas.  

The tourist activity is raised like one of those of greater economic potential than it can offer
the Reserve and its area of influence.  In this sense the careful planning of this sector can
improve substantially its present conditions, it if it is reversed in infrastructure and
qualification for the lenders of present and potential services.  In this last case it is to hope
that scenic the land owners and possessors with landscapes and resources, are
considered primarily so that the economic special tax can be more equitable.  

Mining Within the Reserve is made the extraction of sand banks of rivers and stony materials
of stone quarries of some hills.  All of them do not count on the authorizations and
corresponding studies of impact in environmental matter.  In agreement with the information
provided by the General Coordination of Mines and the Secretary of Economy, within the
Reserve it is had registered 6 mining concessions, of which three are of exploration and
three of operation.  

Picture 20a.  Mining concessions in the Reserve of the Biosphere Los Tuxtlas I TITLE
CLASS TOTAL SURFACE CONCESSION Has.  NAME Of the LOT MUNICIPALITY BEEN
TITLING 186112 Exploration 15.152,76 Pous 2 Hueyapan de Ocampo Ver Arming of Jesus
Pous 189500 Angels Operation 84,00 the Morelense Catemaco Ver Kings Serna Vigueras
and Soc.  195395 Exploration 2.970,00 Mazutti 1 Soteapan Ver Violet Lilia I castrate Mazutti
197321 Exploration 47.709,12 Pous 1 Catemaco Ver Octavio Pous Escalante 209542
Operation 5.764,98 Pous 4 Catemaco Ver Arming Rafael Pous Escalante 210164 Operation
14.843,61 Pous 3 Catemaco Ver Arming Rafael Pous Escalante TOTAL SURFACE 86,524.47

Of the mining concessions of operation, one of them denominated the Morelense, is located
within the Zone Nucleus Mountain range Santa Martha;  the other two "4 POUS 3 and POUS"
only one part of its polygon is within this same zone nucleus and includes subsectors of
sustainable advantage of the natural resources and sustainable advantage of
agroecosistemas.  The concessions of exploration are partly of the zone of damping of the
Reserve and consider areas within the subsector of traditional use, and the subsectors of
sustainable advantage of the natural resources and sustainable advantage of
agroecosistemas.  

Picture 20b. Surface of the Reserve considered in the Mining concessions I TITLE CLASS
TOTAL SURFACE CONCESSION (IT HAS).  SURFACE APPROXIMATED WITHIN RESERVE
(IT HAS) % OF 189500 SUP TOT RESERVES Operation 84,00 84,00 210164 Operation
14.843,61 12.917,50 209542 Operation 5.764,98 4.469,00 Subtotal Operation 20.692,59
17.470,50 11,26 186112 Exploration 15.152,76 5.430,00 195395 Exploration 2.970,00
215,00 197321 Exploration 47.709,12 549,50 Subtotal Exploration 65.831,88 6.194,50 4
Total Surface 86.524,47 23.665,00 15,26 4.6.  
Use of the ground the appropriation of the natural resources in the region is very diverse and
its dynamics has to not only do with the advantage forms that exist within the limits of the
protected natural area.  The great amount and variety of resources mentioned in the previous
interjections, are subject also to an ample range of forms of handling and uses.  The
surfaces covered with the different types from vegetation, are in several states of
conservation and advantage.  Within the limits of the Reserve, at the moment the
landscapes transformed by different farming systems predominate.  From the map of use of
the ground elaborated by the Institute of Ecology A.C, the following reclassification was
determined, that although it does not allow to visualize important details of the use of the
ground (as the great surfaces with maize culture and the tobacco cultures), if it shows the
general tendencies to us in the area of the Reserve.  

Picture 21.  Present use of Suelo in the Reserve of the Biosphere Los Tuxtlas USES Of the
GROUND SURFACE % Forest mesófilo of mountain (it includes encinales) 10.770,46 6,94
Manglar 521,32 0,34 Savannah 75,44 0,05 high Forest perennifolia 10.451,34 6,74 low
Forest perennifolia floodable 503,94 0,32 medium Forest perennifolia 19.697,32 12,70
237,25 coastal dune Vegetation 0,15 Acahual of forest mesófilo of mountain 1.006,33 0,65
Acahual of forest 10.650,88 6,87 cane Cultivo 5.851,81 3,77 Cultures with pastizal 408,94
0,26 Cultures of coffee with forest and acahual 102,31 0,07 perennial Cultures (handle,
avocado, tamarind, etc.)  9.49 0,01 Pastizal 26.763,48 17,25 Pastizal with 38,66 isolated
trees 59.975,85 Pastizal with 2,45 cultures 3.798,32 Pine 1.689,41 1,09 1.087,67 water
Towns and other 1.520,44 0,98 Bodies 0,70 100,00 TOTAL 155.122,00 Source:  Map of use
of the ground and modified vegetation of I. of And 1998.  It is clear that the ganaderización
process has covered with grass an echoing area to 56 % of the area of the Reserve;  the
different types of cultures, commercial or from autoconsumo, include a little more 6 %; on
the other hand, the different types from vegetation extend in more of 35 %; the water bodies
and the urban zones include a smaller surface to 2 %. can be affirmed that the potentiality of
the region does not have a correspondence with the forms in which historically the
resources have taken advantage of.  The phenomenon is evident that commonly is observed
in the diverse regions of the country, the one of on taking advantage of few resources and
sub to take advantage of a great amount them.  The previous thing has been in the outbreak
of diverse processes of deterioration, of which it will be spoken more ahead.  Since
consequence is a generalized impoverishment of the natural wealth of the region and the
inhabitants who live on her and of the benefits that offers.  

4,7,  Legal and Administrative context the elaboration of the Program of Conservation and
Handling for the Reserve of the Biosphere Los Tuxtlas has its legal foundation in arranged
by the General Law of the Ecological Balance and the Protection to Ambiente (LGEEPA) and
in the Regulation in the matter of Protected Natural Areas (RANP).  The legal orderings
related to the Reserve are, among others, the following ones:  *  General law of the
Ecological Balance and the Protection to the Atmosphere, published in the Official
Newspaper of the Federation the 8 of January of 1988.  *  Presidential decree that it
establishes like Zone of Forbidden Forest Protection, the Hydrographic River basin of the
Lagoon of Catemaco, published in the Official Newspaper of the Federation the 6 of January
of 1937.  *  Presidential decree that it establishes like Forest Protective Zone and of
Faunístico Refuge, the well-known region with the Volcano name of San Martín, in the
denominated place Los Tuxtlas, published in the Official Newspaper of the Federation the
20 of March of 1979.  *  Presidential decree that it establishes like Zone of Forest Protection
and Refuge of the Wild Fauna, the well-known region like Mountain range of Santa Marta,
published in the Official Newspaper of the Federation the 28 of April of 1980.  *  Presidential
decree that it establishes like Reserve of the Biosphere, the well-known region like Los
Tuxtlas, in the state of Veracruz, published in the Official Newspaper of the Federation the 23
of November of 1998.  

4,7,1,  Earth possession
the space structure of the Earth possession in Los Tuxtlas is very complex.  The analysis
raises interesting interregional differences, mainly when this one involves the interaction of
the Earth possession with other social factors such as the ethnic composition, the history of
the agrarian dowries, the urban development, etc.  One of the forms to include/understand
this impressive complexity is to understand the historical process of conformation of the
possession.  

1,  Colonial time At the pre-Hispanic time, the region was included/understood in the
señoríos of Tuxtla and Guazacoalco.  After the conquest, Xoteapa and some of their towns
were assigned to a charge, whereas other 22 towns, between which it was
included/understood the territory of the town of Toztla, were assigned to the granted
Marquesado to Courteous Hernán.  In the charges and groups of judges the oldest
modalities of extensive production began that characterize to the region, which later began
with the cane production and the cotton, although this one practically disappeared at the end
of century XIX In the middle of century XIX already were practically constituted the main
territories of Soteapan, Mecayapan and Pajapan.  

2,  Time pre-revolutionary and of revolution For end of century XIX the formation of large
estates, was in which practically all the territory of Los Tuxtlas was private property.  Only
Pajapan stayed under the possession of the natives, with the modality of condueñazgo.  At
this time in all the region several enormous properties next to great deprived properties were
satisfied, like the properties of the Morritos, the Bastonal, Cuautotolapan, The $andes,
Temoloapan, New Corral, etc.  These great properties reinforced, or in some cases they
gave his initial form, to the productive specialization of the region:  precious wood extraction,
cotton, tobacco, cane, coffee.  At the end of the Revolution it initiates the prolonged stage of
requests of ejidal dowry, that were with the opposition, even armed, of great landowners.  
The violence, that prevailed several years after the Revolution, moved to several groups of
people towards the north of the region, with the consequent formation of new towns.  

3. 1930-1966:  the agrarian distribution ejidos the agrarian distribution and the creation of
first was a quite slow process.  The first requests became in 1931 and 30 years (PSSM,
A.C., 1992 were executed later:  CAP 3). This process fundamentally affected to located low
and average earth the south of the region, although also the dowry of some low territories of
the north of the Mountain range of Santa Marta began.  The ejidal dowry, independently of the
division of the territory, did not alter the forms of communal access to the Earth.  Any farmer
could occupy earth in any place, although now restricting itself to the limits of each ejido.  

The ganaderización, that began from the Forties, modified this custom and introduced the
necessity of the individual property.  In the periods of government of Miguel Alema'n and
Adolph Ruiz Cortines (1946-1958), an excellent agrarian process for Los Tuxtlas was
impelled:  the colonization.  This it affected national earth mainly.  By political questions, to
the dowry of colonies more speed than to the one of the ejidales dowries occurred him.  It is
possible to emphasize that both strategies of distribution, the ejidal dowry and the
colonization, found conflict fronts geographic, mainly in the north of both volcanos, since the
areas asked for by ejidatarios and colonos controlled in many cases.  In most the conflicts
were please solved in the colonos, since this route counted on greater political supports,
agrarian and the associate to the productive thing.  For that reason, this process took a
fundamental paper in the transformation from the landscape and the regional economy,
because the coastal plain (and all the North zone of the region), became a bastion from the
cattle ranch in the Mountain range, from where it extended to next zones inhabited by natives
(I stopped, ET al., 1992).  Several of these situations remain at the moment like pending
agrarian conflicts of resolution.  All the equipped practically ejidos ones at this time are
within which now it constitutes the zone of damping of the Reserve.  

4.  Years 70:  last phase of the agrarian distribution the following important phase marked
the Agrarian Plan to it Veracruzano, at the time of Fernando the Aryan Lopez.  The new
regional and national context caused that the resolutions occurred much more fast.  The
children of ejidatarios and farmers and farmers of the towns of the low zones, that already
had been going away to live to the north of the Mountain range, obtained faster answer to
their requests.  Thus ejidos, as much indigenous were created several as racially mixed.  
We must emphasize that in this phase they were equipped ejidos which never they were
lived by his beneficiaries, due to the inaccesibilidad of lands.  The last proceedings of dowry
were asked for on little lands still available, without concerning their physical training
conditions.  These usually involved areas nonapt for necessary the minimum production for
a suitable survival or that this one was exerted at the cost of strong impacts on the condition
of the natural resources.  Geographically, these requests were located in the highest parts of
slopes to the north of volcanos preferredly.  In several cases, the farmers and farmers
benefitted by these requests were different from the original applicants, since when noticing
itself of the marginal conditions of earth, stopped of their desire and resigned to being
beneficiaries.  Then other farmers and farmers, generally in situations of greater
marginalization, accepted to be considered in the new lists.  She is worth the trouble to
emphasize that several of these last ones ejidos still have unfinished agrarian proceedings
and they inside are or in the colindancias of some of the Zones Nucleus of the Reserve.

5.  Decade of the 80:  new forms of access to the Once extinct Earth any possibility of asking
for new dowries, since the earth available had been finished, the children of ejidatarios and
the domiciled or new settlers and settlers, had to resort to new strategies to accede to the
Earth.  These new producers became renters or earth benefactors in loan or by means of
different models of the system from medierías.  This implied that the dowries of individual
parcel were reduced in practical terms, allowing by means of familiar bonds and/or shared
in common, the survival of the great amount of families that year with year got up the regional
population and that but for it, they would have to have chosen by some other of the "valves of
escape" which they existed to alleviate the demographic pressure.  This obvious did not
constitute straight formal of access or Earth appropriation, reason why it implied to conform
what Chip ax calls a sector of "citizens of second" inhabiting all the ejidos ones.  Since then,
this sector has grown numerically getting to constitute, in the great majority of the ejidos
ones, the greater percentage of population.  

6.  Years 90:  the beginning of the neoliberal project Several analysts of the agrarian and
rural sector have commented on the meaning of the new implemented agrarian policies
during the decade of the 90, between which they emphasize the modifications to 27 Article
constitutionalist and the implementation of his associated instruments, fundamentally the
program COMES.  In the region, it has meant drastic changes in the structure of the Earth
property, when parceling out themselves lands of common use or when legalizing the made
economic parcelación previously.  Between the negative impacts of these measures it is
possible to be mentioned the parcelamiento of forest areas and the exclusion of many
farmers without earth (domiciled) and to the use of resources, like the firewood.  This
exclusion in the last years accelerated probably the migration processes.  During the recent
years, the lists of ejidatarios have been modified substantially.  In all of them the transaction
of agrarian rights has been accelerated and although in formal terms, the territorial structure
of the Earth possession has not been altered, the property and the access to the Earth, has
undergone fast and drastic changes on which it will agree to maintain the attention.  An
important percentage of agrarian rights in the great majority of the ejidos ones, has been
bought by rich ejidatarios or external people of the region.  

The last fundamental changes in the structure of the Earth possession, are those that are
related to the creation of the Reserve.  The creation of the protected natural area implies
differentiated situations that they mean diverse ways to make specific the most suitable
possibilities for the protection of the biodiversity.  The decision to expropiar eight ejidales
nuclei and 53 estates deprived in the Zone Nucleus of the Mountain range of Santa Marta,
will imply the appropriation on the part of the federation and of the government of the state
like beneficiary, of a surface of 15.684 it has (9.366 deprived ejidales and 6.318).  So that
this takes shape, first diverse conflicting situations will have to be solved between which we
emphasized the following ones:  
*  The inconformidad raised by the ejidatarios by the amount of the indemnification by
hectare.  
*  The resolution of the situation of the settlers of the three localities located within the Zone
Nucleus of the Mountain range of Santa Marta (New Mexico, White Lucio and the Edén).  
These farmers and farmers, to the being irregular inhabitants of estates nonequipped to
them nor of their property or in his case with unfinished documentation and agrarian
proceedings, were not subject of expropriation.  
*  The defining of all lands, including the private ones.  

On the other hand, the Zone Nucleus of the Volcano San Martín Tuxtla was integrated with
ejidos lands pertaining to almost twenty and those of the Station of Tropical Biology of the
UNAM.  With all of them it will be necessary to establish the agreements and consensuses
necessary to reach the implicit goals of conservation in the creation of the Reserve.  

On the other hand, in the Zone Nucleus San Martín Pajapan, it implies to decide with at least
three ejidos and one agrarian community.  Within the limits of the Reserve a very great
number of agrarian units with diverse conditions of possession exists.  The great majority of
them is ejidos;  only in the municipalities of Catemaco and Soteapan there are significant
percentage of private properties that they were integrated to the protected natural area.  A
smaller percentage of private properties exists in the Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla.  It is
in this same municipality in which a greater amount of estates exists or agrarian units that
were integrated to the Reserve, since here a greater fragmentation of the territory exists.  
Like effect of the masculine migration, it has been caused that the woman assumes the role
as proprietor of the ejidal parcel without having legally I title agrarian.  

4,8,  Studies and Investigations

As already it were mentioned previously, from 1960 the UNAM initiated a permanent work of
investigation in the region on the tropical forests of Mexico, when establishing the Station of
Tropical Biology "Los Tuxtlas" in which today Los Tuxtlas constitutes one of the zones
nucleus of the Reserve of the Biosphere.  Numerous works of investigation related to the
dynamics of the forest, its characterization, with florísticos and faunísticos inventories,
dynamic of populations and other many subjects, comprise of a coarse patrimony of
knowledge generated in the region.  Later international institutes of investigation,
universities, organizations and investigating individuals have continued feeding this heap,
without to the date exists an exact data of the amount of documents written related to the
area.  In abundant theses of degree, masters and doctorates are included;  scientific
publications, books and magazines.  Some of the works of investigation that have been
made in which are today the Reserve of the Biosphere Los Tuxtlas are the result of
integrating projects, with ample bibliographical consultations, work of field, statistical
analysis and cartographic and, in many cases, they are interinstitutional and interdisciplinary
studies, like for example:  

a)  Project Conservation of the Biodiversity and Sustainable Development in High-priority
Areas of Mexico.  It constitutes a compilation of existing information of previous studies
(regional diagnoses) and investigations, the social and political context was analyzed, was
characterized the institutional, social actors and all those involved and who operated in the
region, it was characterized to the environmental system and proposals of sustainable
handling of natural resources in the context of the obtained analysis were systematized,
proposing new forms of institutional adjustments for a regional development.  The project
was financed by GEF (Global Envirenment Facility).  b) Ecological Bases for the territorial
Ordering of the Region of Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz (Institute of Ecology, A.  C. - SEMARNAP).  It
constitutes a recent characterization of the region, where aspects are the average physicist
(geomorfología, edafología, climates and hydrology), biological aspects (vegetation and
fauna), ecological and socioeconomic aspects.  

b) Program of Regional Development Sustainable of Los Tuxtlas - Santa Marta
(Semarnap-uach- PSSM, A.C.).  Consequent with the exposition to promote an ordering of
the territory in the national level in order that the development is compatible with the
aptitudes and environmental capacities of each region, as well as to take advantage of total
and sustainable way the natural resources, the Natural Secretary of the Medio.ambiente,
Resources and Pesca (SEMARNAP) it defined high-priority areas in all the country, in which
of special way it could orient his interventions.  Three of these areas are located in the state
of Veracruz and one of them, is the Region of Tuxtlas-Santa Marta.  In order to approach this
task, through the Main directorate of Programas Regionales (DGPR) the elaboration of the
Program of Desarrollo Regional Sustentable (PRODERS) of Tuxtlas-Santa Marta like an
instrument in the regional planning was impelled.  c) Development Sustainable and
Conservacio'n of the Biodiversity:  A study of case in the Mountain range of Santa Marta
(Gef-pssm, A.C.).  This work was been from the collaboration of PSSM, A.C., the Bottom for
the World-wide Medio.ambiente (Global Envirenment Facility, GEF) and the Center the
International for the Improvement of Maize and Trigo (CIMMYT), as propose for the
conservation and the sustainable use of the biodiversity of the region, that constitutes one of
the areas of intervention of the GEF.  The conceptual frame of this study has a base of
historical reference, one projected an alternative strategy, an evaluation of costs and the
historical process of transformation.  d) Natural History of Los Tuxtlas (Unam-conabio).  The
Natural History of Los Tuxtlas, published in 1997 by the Independent National University of
Mexico, has been managing to combine much of the information generated in the region for
either several years, as well as the update of or published.  Even though most of the
information contained in this publication is concentrated towards the estate of the Station of
Tropical Biology of the UNAM, also it includes significantly other areas of the Region of Los
Tuxtlas and includes synthetic chapters of the main physical and biological attributes of one
of the tropical regions better studied of the world.  It includes in addition ready updated to
species of groups of organisms and descriptions of the natural history of a great number of
plants, animals and fungi (85 species).  e)  Socioeconomic diagnosis and of the productive
systems of the Subregion San Martín Tuxtla, Veracruz (Semarnap-pssm, A.c.-unam).  In this
work a problematic integral approach to the socioeconomic one that it conditions and it
explains, in its part appears to medular, the diverse pressures that have been exerted on the
natural medio.ambiente of the Region of Los Tuxtlas in general, and of the Subregion of San
Martín in individual.  The primary target is to define, through a diagnosis of the
socioeconomic subsystems and of productive systems, the basic criteria of socioeconomic
type to consider itself in the elaboration of several instruments of environmental policy for the
subregion, particularly related to the territorial ordering and the zonificación of the protected
natural area.  f)"the New Social Responsibility towards the Natural Resources".  CONACYT -
IIS/UNAM.  This project, coordinated by the Dra. Luisa Pare' Oulet and the Dra. Elena Bows,
impelled a program of environmental education directed to teachers, parents of family and
children, communities located in the Mountain range of Santa Marta.  It provided in addition
technical consultant's office for the elaboration and accomplishment to projects of
sustainable handling of natural resources, such as ecoturismo, reforestation and productive
reconversion for the handling of local species.
Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve

Program of Conservation and Handling of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve
Rough draft  translated from Spanish to English by Google.