Assessment of management program’s sub-zoning scheme of Sierra Gorda of Guanajuato Biosphere Reserve

Abstract

This work pretends to assess zoning scheme in proposed management program for Sierra Gorda de Guanajuato Biosphere Reserve, taking into account environmental and socio-economic variables not considered in it. Assessment was based on spatial environmental data such as: forest degradation, integral connectivity index, drainage density and wild fauna studies. From socio-economic aspect data used was: population, population density, masculinity index, and road length and density. Results show there exist five sub-zones whose limits or permitted activities are inappropriate for ecosystem conservation. Two such sub-zones cut sharply through corridors of high to very high connectivity. Remaining three sub-zones are established specifically for mining, one covering a large surface and interrupting a high-connectivity corridor. The other two sub-zones cover smaller areas but are located close to perennial streams within a high-priority basin. In two of three proposed sub-zones for mining exists records of endangered feline species. It is also shown that crassicaul shrubland, which covers the greatest surface in Sierra Gorda de Guanajuato Biosphere Reserve is not assigned to any high-protection sub-zone, despite having the greatest number of endemic and endangered species.