Welcome to Cuxtal Ecological Reserve
Where life blooms
Disconnect from your daily life and enjoy the gifts that nature gives us. There will always be something new in our garden. The goal of the Cuxtal Ecological Reserve is to provide clean water to its inhabitants as well as to become a source of knowledge for sustainable development and motivate visitors to feel one with the environment. Connect with nature and visit us today.
In the Cuxtal reserve there is always something for everyone.
Cuxtal Reserve
Origin
Founded on July 14, 1993, the decree is published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the State of Yucatan as PROTECTED NATURAL AREA in the form of AREA SUBJECT TO ECOLOGICAL CONSERVATION DENOMINATED "RESERVE CUXTAL" OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF MÉRIDA, YUCATÁN. The Zone Subject to Ecological Conservation Cuxtal Reserve is recognized as the first Protected Natural Area (ANP) promoted and decreed directly by a municipality in the state of Yucatan during the 1991-1993 City Council.
Its establishment as ANP was approved by the council on June 28, 1993 and its decree was published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the State of Yucatan on July 14, 1993. In this way the Reserve was constituted as the first ANP of municipality competition in Yucatan, a situation that prevails today.
Some of the objectives of this decree are:
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Protection of the water catchment area for the supply of the city of Mérida.
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Regulate the growth of the city in that area.
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Conserve the ecosystems of the region.
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Promote environmental education, scientific research and rational use of natural ecosystems.
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Provide a place for activities and recreations to the Yucatecan population.
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Development of nature tourism.
Flora and Fauna
The Cuxtal reserve is very important ecologically because it has a great diversity of environments due to the abandonment of the henequenals, which in some cases is more than 50 years old, which has allowed the recovery of the flora, providing important sources of food for the wildlife species. It is where the aquifer mantles lie, from which almost 50% of the drinking water is extracted to supply the south of Mérida, so that the conservation of the flora and fauna are of vital importance to ensure in part the existence of these mantles.
Ecosystems and vegetation types:
Low deciduous forest, cenotes, caverns and secondary vegetation.
The reported biodiversity has been identified and grouped in the following registered classes:
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Plants, 242 species, including some introduced in the lands, parks and gardens of urbanized areas.
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Mammals, 53 species divided into 44 types, 20 families and 7 different orders: Tamandua mexicana (Anteater), Eira barbara (head of old), Dasypus novemcinctus (Armadillo), Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Gray fox), Galictis vittata (Grison or ferret ), Odocoileus virginianus yucatanensis (white-tailed deer), Mazama pandora (Venado temazate), Tayassu tajacu (collar or wild boar Pecari), Herpailurus yagouaroundi (Puma Yagouaroundi), Leopardus wiedii (Tigrillo or tiger cat), Leopardus pardalis (Ocelote) .
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Birds, 168 species divided into 14 orders, 25 families and 103 genera. Of these species 5 are endemic: Buteo jamaicensis (Aguililla), Bubo virginianus (Eurasian owl or Tunkuruchú), Caracara plancus (Caracara, carancho or caricari), Doricha eliza (Chupaflor or Elisa hummingbird) and Campylorhynchus yucatanicus (Matraca yucateca), Three last species are also in danger of extinction.
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Reptiles, 55 species divided into 3 orders, 17 families and 42 genera, 7 species are endemic: Ctenosaura defender (Iguana with spiny tail), Scelopurus serrifer prezygus (Scaly lizard), Imantodes tenuissimus (nocturnal snake), Sibon sartorii (Falsa coralillo) , Symphimus mayae (Mayan snake), Tantilla Cuniculator and Micrurus diastema (Coralillo) and other 14 are in some category of protection.
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Amphibians, 12 species belonging to 10 genera, 7 families and 2 orders, among which is the Yucatecan salamander (Bolitoglossa yucatana).
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Invertebrates, 410 species.
Conservation of the Cuxtal Reserve
For the conservation of the reserve it is necessary to work together and multidisciplinary, so we have addressed several lines of action:
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We consolidated the Alliance for Cuxtal, an initiative between the City of Mérida, academics, other government agencies, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), non-profit organizations and members of civil society for the conservation of Reserve Cuxtal.
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We promoted the creation of the Decentralized Municipal Public Organization for Operation and Administration of the Cuxtal Reserve Ecological Conservation Area. This body is permanent and independent of changes in government. Consult the creation agreement of the Cuxtal Reserve Decentralized Public Organization.
Opening hours
Come visit us.
Monday - Friday: 8 a. m. - 4 p. m.
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Contact
Calle 50 x 197 y 199 #595 int. 2 Plan de Ayala Sur (8,79 km)
9-83-50-30
More about us
A natural paradise
The cuxtal ecological reserve offers its visitors an adventure for their senses within a magical world full of plants and flowers. We have a large collection of specialized plants and offer services such as guided tours and educational exhibitions. Take a break and enjoy the power of nature in cuxtal ecological reserve.