View source for Cañón de Santa Elena Flora and Fauna Protection Area

{{Infobox protected area
| name                = Cañón de Santa Elena
| alt_name            = Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Cañón de Santa Elena
| iucn_category       = VI
| photo               = File:Big Bend National Park PB112564.jpg
| photo_alt           =
| photo_caption       = View of the Santa Elena Canyon from [[Big Bend National Park]], U.S.
| photo_width         =
| map                 = Mexico
| map_alt             =
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| relief              = 1
| label               =
| label_position      =
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| marker_size         =
| location            = Municipalities of [[Manuel Benavides]] and [[Ojinaga]], [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Mexico]]
| nearest_city        =
| coords              = {{coords|29|07|28|N|103|52|37|W}}
| coords_ref          =
| region              =
| area                = {{cvt|277,209|ha}}
| designation         = [[Flora and fauna protection areas of Mexico|Flora and fauna protection area]]
| authorized          =
| created             =
| established         =
| designated          = November 7, 1994
| visitation_num      =
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| governing_body      = Mexico
| administrator       = [[National Commission of Natural Protected Areas]]
| operator            =
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}}
The '''Cañón de Santa Elena Flora and Fauna Protection Area''' (Spanish: ''Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Cañón de Santa Elena'') is a protected area for plants and wildlife in the Mexican municipalities of [[Manuel Benavides (municipality)|Manuel Benavides]] and [[Ojinaga (municipality)|Ojinaga]], in the state of [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]]. It was founded on November 7, 1994 and has an area of 277,209 [[hectare]]s.
The purpose of the reserve is to protect the [[Chihuahua Desert|Chihuahuan Desert]], home to many species of plants and wildlife.<ref name = pdf2 /> Diverse species of the former category are found among scrub stands, microphyll desert, rosetophylous scrub, [[pasture]], [[oak|oak forest]] and riparian zones.<ref name = "pdf">{{cite web |url=http://148.206.53.231/bdcdrom/GAM06/GAMV15/root/docs/PRG-240.PDF |title=Santa Elena Canyon Protected Area of Flora and Fauna (APFF) |accessdate=April 25, 2009 |author=Ecological Culture AC |page=1 |language=Spanish }}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Birds and mammals that have adapted to aridity, such as [[Lynx rufus|wildcat]] and some [[deer]], as well as [[birds of prey]], highlight the latter category.<ref name = pdf2 />
== History ==
The [[arrowhead]]s, [[Mortar and pestle|mortars]] and paintings found at the site indicate the following human occupation periods: [[Paleo-Indian]] (15,000–6,500 [[Before Christ|BC]]), [[Archaic period in North America|Archaic]] (6500 BC – 900 AD), [[Postclassic|early Postclassic]] (900–1500 AD), and [[Mesoamerican chronology|late Postclassic]] (1300–1680). These populations were dispersed with seasonal movements, allowing the use of resources. They engaged in [[fishing]], the [[Harvest|collection]], [[hunting]], and [[agriculture]]. Among the groups transiting this area were the [[Conchos]], the [[Jumano]], the [[Chisos]] and [[Apaches]], the [[Chiricahua]], the [[Mescalero]]s and [[Lipan Apache people|Lipanes]].<ref name = CONANP>{{cite web| url = http://www.conanp.gob.mx/anp/santa_elena/santa_elena.php| title = Santa Elena Canyon: Protection area wildlife| accessdate = April 25, 2009| author = Conanp| language = Spanish| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090221153944/http://www.conanp.gob.mx/anp/santa_elena/santa_elena.php| archive-date = February 21, 2009| url-status = dead}}</ref>
The Spanish and [[Comanche]] arrived at the same time, and ended with the Mescalero and Lipan. The colonial government established the [[Rio Grande]] as a line of defense, where it built small [[fortification]]s, which were guarded by a garrison of soldiers. These were San Carlos, in [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], and the Board of Rivers, San Vicente, Santa Rosa and San Juan Bautista, in [[Coahuila]]. Until 1890 the region remained virtually uninhabited due to attacks by Apaches and Comanche tribes.<ref name = CONANP />
From 1784, the fort of San Carlos was abandoned and was only used by travelers, who were protected from attack by Apaches and bandits. The first council of [[Ojinaga (municipality)|municipality of Ojinaga]] was built in 1824, and was annexed in 1831, as a section of San Carlos, which bears the name of [[Manuel Benavides]].
== Geography ==
[[File:Chihuahua desert.jpg| thumb | 350px | Map of the Chihuahuan Desert, as a satellite image from [[NASA]], with the [[Mexico–United States border|border between the US and Mexico]] shown in black. The area is protected by several reserves in both countries.]]
The protected area is in the [[Chihuahuan desert]] ecoregion. It includes a number of mountain ranges separated by valleys and undulating plains. It has great diversity of vegetation types because of the large differences in altitude, from {{cvt|700 to 2400|m}} above sea level.<ref name = pdf2 />
=== Location ===
The Santa Elena Canyon is the state of [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], bounded on the [[north]] by the [[Rio Grande]] and on the east by [[Coahuila]]. 80% of the reserve is located in the municipalities of [[Manuel Benavides (municipality)|Manuel Benavides]] and [[Ojinaga (municipality)|Ojinaga]].<ref name = pdf /><ref name = CONANP /> It covers a strip of {{cvt|30|km}} wide by {{cvt|100|km}} long. It has a height above sea level ranging from {{cvt|700 to 2400|m}}, on the highest part.<ref name = "SE">{{cite web |url=http://redescolar.ilce.edu.mx/redescolar/publicaciones/publi_prodigios/ca%F1on_elena/sta_elena.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121220042550/http://redescolar.ilce.edu.mx/redescolar/publicaciones/publi_prodigios/ca%F1on_elena/sta_elena.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 20, 2012 |title=Santa Elena Canyon |accessdate=April 24, 2009 |author=School Technical Sec 29 and 68, Chihuahua |language=Spanish }}</ref> It adjoins [[Ocampo Flora and Fauna Protection Area]] on the east.
=== Geology ===
The area has a base of [[Cretaceous limestone]] on which developed [[volcanic]] in mid-[[Tertiary]]. Volcanism caused folds between the plates, because the fragment into blocks of [[Tectonic uplift|lift]]s formed and [[depression (geology)|depressions]]. In areas are [[metamorphic rocks]] Palaeozoic granitic and igneous intrusions.<ref name="CONANP" />
The area of Santa Elena Canyon includes the [[mountain range]]s of El Ranchito, Sierra Rica and El Mulatto, among which are the valleys of Alamo, Chapó, El Mulato, and Rancho Blanco. Also they highlight the low hills of Manuel Benavides, Paso Lajitas and San Antonio. The area has two canyons: La Gaviota (the Seagull), {{cvt|656|m}} deep, and Santa Elena, with a depth of {{cvt|467|m}}. Much of the area is flat, with slopes less than 8% and bigoted hills and formations.<ref name="enc">{{cite web |url=http://mx.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_961534802/%C3%81rea_de_Protecci%C3%B3n_de_Flora_y_Fauna_Ca%C3%B1%C3%B3n_de_Santa_Elena.html |title=Area of Protection of Flora and Fauna Santa Elena Canyon |accessdate=April 24, 2009 |work=Encarta |language=Spanish |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520214822/http://mx.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_961534802/%C3%81rea_de_Protecci%C3%B3n_de_Flora_y_Fauna_Ca%C3%B1%C3%B3n_de_Santa_Elena.html |archive-date=May 20, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
=== Climate ===
[[File:Santa Elena Canyon.jpg| thumb | 300px | The [[Rio Grande]], which separates the US from [[Mexico]], passing through the Santa Elena Canyon.]]
The area has an extremely dry and hot climate.<ref name = enc /> The climatic conditions are very extreme, with temperatures up to {{cvt|50|°C}} in summer.<ref name = pdf2 /> In addition, there is a contrast between the desert and cold temperate ecosystems. The climate is [[arid climate|arid]], with little rain in summer.<ref name = tur />
=== Demographics ===
The main villages of the area are [[Manuel Benavides]], which is the county seat, [[Loma de Juárez]], [[El Mulato]], [[Area Montoya]], [[Paso Lajitas]], [[New Lajitas]], [[Santa Elena, Chihuahua|Santa Elena]], [[Altares]], [[Paso de San Antonio]], [[San Antonio Alamos]], [[Providence (Chihuahua)|Providence]], [[Jars of Wizards]] and [[Alamos Marquez]]. In addition, the towns of [[Ojinaga]], [[La Mula]], [[Mahijoma]] and [[Morita, Chihuahua|Morita]] are located in the area of influence.<ref name = pdf2 /> It is estimated that 2,578 inhabitants live in the protected area.<ref name = pdf />
Within the protected area there are 125 properties, which occupy 34.8% of the area, 13 [[ejido]]s, which occupy 59.4%, and foundations and centers of population and public lands occupy the remaining 5.8%. The soils of the area and the area of influence are used for [[agriculture]], [[livestock]], and [[mining]].<ref name = pdf3 />
== Flora and fauna ==
[[File:USA Santa Elena Canyon TX.jpg| thumb | 300px | The [[Rio Grande]] running through Santa Elena Canyon.]]
In the area, there are several species, of which 79 are protected. Thirteen of these are species of plants, mostly cacti, while the rest are 66 species of wildlife, among which include the [[American black bear|black bear]], the [[golden eagle]], the [[peregrine falcon]], and the [[beaver]].<ref name = tur>{{Cite web |url=http://www.turimexico.com/ecoturismo/noelena.php |title=Ecotourism: Northwest Region: Santa Elena Canyon |accessdate=May 14, 2009 |website=TuriMéxico.com |year=2003 |language=Spanish}}</ref>
The area has a great diversity of vegetation, highlighting the [[microphyll|scrub desert microphyll]], scrub desert [[rosetophylous]], the [[pasture]], the [[oak|oak forest]] and vegetation riparian, and also scrub [[Guamis]], [[mariola (plant)|mariola]], [[cenixo]] and [[guayacán]] in addition to [[mesquite]], [[catnip]] and [[huizaches]]. In the region with resetófila vegetation, [[lechuguilla]], [[Dasylirion|sotol]] and various species of [[cactus]] develop. Moreover, there is riparian vegetation consisting of [[Populus|poplar]]s and [[willow]]s.<ref name = pdf /><ref group = note>The riparian vegetation is the one located on the banks of rivers.</ref>
In the desert scrub microphyll, various species such as [[Creosote bush]] (''Larrea tridentata''), [[hojasén]] (''Flourensia cernua''), [[mariola (plant)|mariola]] (''Parthenium incanum''), [[mesquite]] (''Prosopis glandulosa''), [[ocotillo]] (''Founquieria splendens'') and [[Koeberlinia spinosa|reed]] (''Koeberlinia spinosa''), among others may be found. In the desert scrub rosetophylous, there are species such as [[Yucca rostrata|palm]] (''Yucca rostrata''), [[lechuguilla]] (''Agave lechugilla''), [[maguey]] (''Agave spp''), among others. In the grasslands, there are species such as [[Bouteloua gracilis|penknives]] (''Bouteloua gracilis'') or the [[Hilaria belangeri|curly mesquite]] (''Hilaria belangeri''), among others.<ref name = pdf /> This table groups vegetation protection area are based on its altitude and its botanical composition.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! Group of vegetation<ref name="red">{{cite web |url=https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/540/54012217.pdf |title=Analysis of Vegetation Protection Area of Flora and Fauna Santa Elena Canyon (Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico) using models Digital elevation |accessdate=May 14, 2009 |last=González Palma |author2=Sosa Cerecedo, Manuel |year=2003 |page=4 |language=Spanish |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091017094729/http://redalyc.uaemex.mx/redalyc/src/inicio/ArtPdfRed.jsp?iCve=54012217 |archive-date=October 17, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> !!  Altitude (m) !! Appearance ranges (m) !! Area (ha.) !! Area (%)
|-
| ''[[Larrea tridentata]]''<br />''[[Jatropha dioica]]''<br />''[[Prosopis glandulosa]]'' || 600–900 || 300 || 96,311.7 || 34.6
|-
| ''Jatropha dioica''<br />''[[Porlieria angustifolia]]''<br />''Larrea tridentata'' || 900–1000 || 100 || 52,611.8 || 18.9
|-
| ''Jatropha dioica''<br />''[[constricta acacia]]''<br />''Larrea tridentata'' || 1000–1200 || 200 || 53,670.4 || 19.2
|-
| ''Jatropha dioica''<br />''Acacia constricta''<br />''[[Parthenium incanum]]'' || 1200–1300 || 100 || 14,084.1 || 5.1
|-
| ''Acacia constricta''<br />''[[Viguiera stenoloba]]''<br />''[[Mimosa wherryana]]'' || 1300–1600 || 300 || 48,266.05 || 17.3
|-
| ''[[Heteropogon contortus]]''<br />''[[Bouteloua curtipendula]]''<br />''[[Dasylirion leiophyllum]]'' || 1600–1800 || 200 || 9,969.8 || 3.6
|-
| ''[[Bouteloua gracilis]]''<br />''[[Pinus cembroides]]''<br />''[[Juniperus monosperma]]'' || 1800–2100 || 300 || 2,622.3 || 0.9
|-
| ''Bouteloua gracilis''<br />''Pinus cembroides''<br />''[[Quercus grisea]]'' || 2100–2300 || 200 || 731.6 || 0.3
|-
| ''[[Muhlenbergia monticola]]''<br />''Pinus cembroides''<br />''Quercus grisea''<br />''Bouteloua gracilis'' || 2300–2400 || 100 || 65.1 || 0.02
|}
The fauna of the region is composed by [[bird]]s and [[mammal]]s that have adapted to aridity. Among the species that inhabit the area are the [[black-tailed jackrabbit]], the [[bobcat]] (''Lynx rufus''), the [[whitetail deer]] (''Odocoileus virginianus''), the [[mule deer]] (''Odocoileus hemionus''), the [[collared peccary]] (''Tayassu tajacu''), [[mourning dove]]s, some [[duck]]s and [[coyote]]s.<ref name = tur /> There are also [[birds of prey]] like [[peregrine falcon]] (''Falcao peregrinus''), the [[kestrel]] (''Falco sparverius'') and the [[golden eagle]] (''Aquila chrysaetos''). In addition, the presence of [[songbirds]] and ornamental birds stands out, and several species of fish.<ref name = pdf2>{{cite web |url=http://148.206.53.231/bdcdrom/GAM06/GAMV15/root/docs/PRG-240.PDF |title=Santa Elena Canyon. Protected Area of Flora and Fauna (APFF) |accessdate=April 25, 2009 |author=Ecological Culture AC |page=2 |language=Spanish }}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== Creating the protected area ==
In 1990, at the request of the Government of the State of Chihuahua, the process for creating a [[Biosphere Reserve]] in Northwest state of [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]] was initiated, bordering with the [[Big Bend National Park]] in United States. After some meetings with villagers and local authorities, the region was declared a Protected Area of Flora and Fauna in 1994.<ref name = "PG8">'' Management Program Protection Area Wildlife Canyon de Santa Elena, Mexico '', p. 8</ref> This protected area was included within the area of the Forest Protected Area, and declared in 1934, with the aim of conserving irrigation watersheds, protecting the flow of the [[Amistad Reservoir]] in [[Coahuila]].<ref name = pdf3>{{cite web|url=http://148.206.53.231/bdcdrom/GAM06/GAMV15/root/docs/PRG-240.PDF|title=Canyon Santa Elena. Protected Area of Flora and Fauna (APFF)|accessdate=April 25, 2009|author=Ecological Culture AC|page=3|language=Spanish}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
The Federal government of the United States had pushed, since 1934, for the creation of a protected area in [[Mexico]] to be the counterpart of Big Bend National Park. These initiatives were not considered for various reasons until 1994, except for the creation of the Department of Forest Protection enacted in 1934.<ref name = pdf3 />
[[File:USA Santa Elena Canyon pano TX.jpg|thumb|center|770px| The [[Rio Grande]], as it emerges from the Santa Elena Canyon. The left wall of the canyon is in Mexico and the right is in the US.]]
== Threats to the reserve ==
The protected area is affected by various threats, all being caused by humans. These may be environmental, due to the excesses committed by the settlers on the resources of [[pasture]], with an overload of ranching and [[cattle]]. Also, some people are clearing land for new crops, thus losing native plant species. Another threat is the mining exploitation, using materials extracted for works and services. There is also the plant smuggling, especially [[cactus]], [[fossil]]s and other archaeological artifacts used by the ancient inhabitants of the area. A looming threat is unchecked [[tourism]], which can inadvertently damage parts of the reserve.<ref name = pdf3 />
== Goals ==
This reserve was created with the aim of having a protected area that represented the ecological area known as [[Chihuahuan desert]], where counterpart of protected areas border of [[Texas]], being able to extend the protection of [[ecosystem]]s and conducting joint actions in ecological matters.<ref name = SE /> A study of [[Autonomous University of Chihuahua]] conducted in 1994 also argues that the region should be protected because it has a considerable amount of [[protected species|endangered species]] (13 species of flora and 66 of fauna) and a large geological, hydrological and historical heritage, and a striking contrast between the ecosystems of desert and forest.<ref>'' Management Program Area of Protection of Flora and Fauna Santa Elena Canyon, Mexico'', p. 9.</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Mexico–United States international park]]
== Notes ==
<references group = note />
== References ==
{{reflist | 2}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{cite web| url = http://www.conanp.gob.mx/pdf_programa_manejo/canon_sta_elena.pdf| title = Management Program Area of Protection of Flora and Fauna Santa Elena Canyon, Mexico| accessdate = 11 September 2009| date = July 1997| publisher = National Institute of Ecology| location = Mexico,&nbsp;DF| language = Spanish}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
== External links ==
* [http://www.colech.edu.mx/gsdl/collect/bvaech/index/assoc/HASH0172.dir/doc.pdf Map  -Protection Area of Flora and Fauna Santa Elena Canyon, Chihuahua]{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Canon de Santa Elena}}
[[Category:Protected areas of the Chihuahuan Desert]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Chihuahua (state)]]
[[Category:Flora and fauna protection areas of Mexico]]