On Sept. 9, we celebrated the 87th anniversary of the Bavispe Flora and Fauna Protection Area alongside staff from the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas, our partners at Borderlands Restoration Network, and community environmental leaders. The gathering took place at the Sierra Los Ajos Biological Station, where, in addition to celebrating, we took the opportunity to share experiences, knowledge, and related projects.
The Bavispe Flora and Fauna Protection Area was declared a National Forest Reserve and Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 9, 1939. The protected area is in northeastern Sonora and covers 200,900 hectares spread across 13 municipalities that are part of the Sky Islands of Sonora.
It’s home to great biological diversity as a result of its evolution. It also has a wide range of ecosystems, including pine-oak and riparian forests, grasslands, and scrublands. The site is topographically complex and spans wide temperate and tropical latitudes, with a mix of plant species from the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts as well as the mountainous areas of Arizona and the Sierra Madre Occidental. The area feeds the Sonora, Santa Rosa, and Bavispe rivers, which account for more than a third of Sonora’s water.
Important topics about the protected natural area came up during the gathering, including priority and at-risk species, environmental services, the zones that make it up, and its most important features. There was also a presentation on wildfires and how they affect the ecosystem. Miguel Enríquez and Mónica Montaño of Sky Island Alliance shared some of our programs and how we work with the community.
To enrich everyone’s experience, we took a tour of the Sierra Los Ajos, admiring our beautiful landscapes full of flora and fauna and the flowing water sources that are home to our iconic Tarahumara salamander (Ambystoma rosaceum). It was a rewarding experience for everyone, learning in good company and celebrating the Bavispe protected area, an important part of our Sky Islands.
