An exceptional biodiversity
Mexico's geographical position, as a hinge between the tropical regions of the south and the temperate regions of the north, makes it a unique country in the world. Not to mention the influence of the two great oceans, and its relief, between coastal plains and mountain ranges that exceed 5,000 meters in altitude. In total, the country is home to more than 33,000 species of plants and flowers, including 1,000 types of cactus and as many orchids, more than 2,900 species of vertebrates, including 520 mammals, more than 1,400 species of birds, including 50 species of hummingbirds. Mexico is home to a dozen different plant ecosystems, 58 types of vegetation - far more than the United States and Canada combined - and a good number of endemic species found nowhere else on the planet. These include the Pacific porpoise, the Mexican wolf, the Chiapas jaguar and the beautifully green Yucatan Amazon. Among the other species that can be observed during your explorations in the natural areas, we can mention in a non-exhaustive way:
Iguanas, rattlesnakes and scorpions cohabiting with rodents and coyotes on the desert and semi-desert highlands of the north. The Janos Reserve in Chihuahua State features herds of bison and pronghorn antelope.
Large herds of deer can be seen in the north, in Baja California, especially in the San Pedro Mártir National Park. For black bears, jaguars and brown-fronted parrots, the Cumbres de Monterrey reserve is the place to go.
Armadillos and hares inhabit the central and eastern mountain slopes, while pumas and mouflons prefer the less accessible heights, whose skies are dominated by the eagle, the symbol of the country. Coyotes and wolves can be heard howling in the evening on the remote heights of the western Sierra Madre.
Highland deer can also be found in the tropical scrublands of the Yucatan Peninsula, whose coastal lagoon skies are filled with great flights of blue herons, flamingos and storks; in the lagoons and rivers frolic caiman and turtles. The rainforest is alive with a wide variety of birds, monkeys (mainly howlers and spiders), tapirs and anteaters, reptiles and insects. The jaguar and the quetzal, two mythical animals for the pre-Columbian civilizations, are rare, but are still present in the forests of Chiapas and Campeche, and some areas of the Huasteca Potosina or the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro.
Whales can be seen in the Pacific Ocean. Every year in October, gray, blue and humpback whales come down the coast and can be seen from Baja California to the state of Oaxaca. The Vizcaíno reserve in Baja California is a sanctuary for whales. All year round, dolphins, turtles and manta rays can accompany your boat trips in the Pacific. The Gulf of California is also the territory of sperm whales, orcas and whale sharks and is, like the Caribbean Sea, a veritable aquarium of multicolored fish.
In terms of flora, Mexico is also particularly rich. The country's star plant, the cactus, is found in abundance in the desert and semi-desert areas of the north and centre, as well as in the poorly irrigated regions of the highlands, notably the state of Oaxaca. There, another succulent plant abounds: the agave, from which mezcal and tequila are produced. The south and the coastal regions are covered with tropical forests, mangroves and swamps. Here a large quantity of tropical fruits grow, such as mangoes, watermelons, pineapples and lychees. The more temperate areas of the centre, especially in the Sierre Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental, are covered with oak and coniferous forests. In the highlands, about fifty varieties of pine trees flourish.
The most beautiful nature reserves in the country
In Mexico, the nature-loving traveller will be blown away by the wealth of wildlife. Everywhere you go, you'll be confronted with a variety of ecosystems, from the deserts of the north, to the jungles and tropical forests of the south and coastal bangs, to the cultivated areas of the mountainous center, not to mention the oceanic ecosystems.
Among Mexico's most spectacular natural areas is the Montes Azules Reserve in Chiapas, which contains the country's richest tropical biodiversity: it occupies just 0.16% of the national territory, but accounts for almost 20% of its biodiversity. Its rivers and lagoons teem with fish and amphibians, and its forests are home to a number of endangered species, including the jaguar and tapir.
Quintana Roo is home to the island of Cozumel and the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, whose exceptional oceanic ecosystem contains over 1,000 marine species and a magnificent coral reef that can be admired while diving or snorkeling. The state of Yucatán is not to be outdone, with the Río Lagartos biosphere where, among the many species of birds, you'll come across the star of the area: the Caribbean pink flamingo, which evolves in its natural environment and comes here to build its nest in spring. This is also the habitat of some endangered mammals, such as the spider monkey and the anteater. Although extraordinarily rich, the Yucatán Peninsula is far from containing all of Mexico's natural wonders.
In the state of Coahuila, the Cuatro Ciénegas Reserve is home to some 100 endemic plant and animal species. Unfortunately, the reserve is endangered due to the exploitation of its hydraulic system. Nayarit is home to the Islas Marietas National Park, made up of two islands and two uninhabited islets with a rich marine ecosystem and terrestrial fauna. You'll spot many migratory birds, as well as orcas, whales and, under the ocean, thousands of fish and molluscs.
When it comes to insects, Michoacán is the place to be! The Maripose Monarca Biosphere Reserve covers a gigantic coniferous forest where monarch butterflies come to breed. Hundreds of millions of them cover the trees, and when they take flight, the sky fills with their beautiful orange color. It's an enchanting spectacle that can be seen every year between October and April. Finally, in Tlaxcala's Firefly Sanctuary, you can admire one of the rare insects that, along with the butterfly, scares no one! As night falls, you can contemplate the luminous ballet of thousands of fireflies that come to breed between June and August in this coniferous forest. Most of these nature reserves are open to the public, and if you're accompanied by a guide, you'll be able to see numerous animal species.
The challenges of wildlife protection
Despite the creation of protected areas, the protection of animals in danger of extinction and the implementation of legislation by the government, it cannot be said that Mexico is really up to the task of preserving its natural sanctuaries. Currently, 33% of the bird species and 55% of the mammal species found in Mexico are threatened, such as the Arpia eagle, the peregrine falcon, the quetzal, the Mexican grey wolf, the manatee, the spider monkey, and the jaguar. Marine wildlife is also threatened by unregulated fishing and pollution from tourism. Even reptiles, which have survived for thousands of years (they are the oldest species on earth), are on the list of animals in danger of extinction. The overexploitation of tourism and the pollution caused by it are among the factors that endanger the fauna and flora of Mexico. The government tries to control the influx of visitors by banning or controlling access to certain sites, but the measures applied are rarely sufficient. The number of large resorts is increasing, especially on the coasts where natural paradise sites attract travellers from all over the world, and pollute the oceans and rivers around them. Deforestation is also a major problem in the country, and is one of the consequences of the greed of industrialists and the State. In 2010, nearly 50 million hectares, or 26% of Mexico, were occupied by forests. Ten years later, there has been a loss of nearly 300 hectares of forest throughout the country. Unfortunately, many of the natural areas are on privately owned land, sometimes belonging to poor people who need the wood industry to survive. Intensive agriculture, especially avocado cultivation, also takes a toll on the environment. The cultivation of avocado trees is extremely water-intensive, so farmers are forced to resort to massive irrigation. Mexico is also one of the countries with the highest pesticide use in the world. It is true that projects aimed at preserving biodiversity are being implemented timidly and gradually by the Mexican government, with the help of certain international ecological associations such as the WWF. However, environmental protection represents a significant cost, and Mexico does not really have the financial or human means to achieve this.
