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Mission:
Uxpanapa y Chimalapas
La Selva Zoque, México
March 26, 2001
In the
following you will find a description of the flight on Monday
March 26th, 2001 to the region of Uxpanapa-Chimalapas, Mexico.
It explains the importance of the flight for increasing awareness
of the rainforests of the area and provides information about
its conservation state.
INTRODUCTION
Wings
of Change is an American conservation organization dedicated
to flying over natural areas important for conservation. Wings
of Change donated a flight over the Selva Zoque (Zoque rainforest)
in order to identify the main forested areas and the current
threats.
METHODOLOGY
Francisco
Valentín Manuel, Sergio Aguilar, and the pilot, Guy
Scarborough, participated in the flight. They used two Canon
EOS cameras with 35 mm and 80-200mm lenses and took pictures
with Kodak films: ASA 100 for color prints, ASA 125 for black
and white prints, and Ektachrome ASA 100, forced to ASA 200,
for slides. The slides were the best pictures and had the
best resolution and detail. However, cloudy and misty weather
conditions prevented taking high quality pictures. In addition
to pictures, we took written notes and recorded our observations
in a mini cassette for reporters. We also took coordinates
with the GPS equipment of the airplane.
We took
off from the Minatitlan airport and flew South passing through
Uxpanapa and flying over the surroundings of town. We then
flew to Chimalapas and over the rainforest and then circled
back to Uxpanapa following the Uxpanapa river until we reached
the "Sierra de la Numeración" (see map) that
is part of the ejido Cándido Aguilar. After flying
over this area we went towards the Espinazo del Diablo and
nearby rainforests to the East. We flew over Venta Canyon
and then we flew back to the North of Uxpanapa to return to
Minatitlan.
CONCLUSIONS
- Even
though one of the main objectives of the flight was to detect
possible forest fires, fortunately none were found. We were
able to fly over areas that burned in 1998, evaluating the
recovery of high evergreen rainforests and high deciduous
rainforest, as well as second generation forests and forest
plantations of cedar and rubber trees. Based on the observations
made and the aerial photographs, and taking into account
geographical coordinates we conclude the following.
- The
burned areas around or within the Chimalapas rainforest
and part of Uxpanapa, with mainly clay type soils, recover
rapidly. We found second generation areas with high vegetation
density.
- The
areas that burned on the North rocky area of Uxpanapa are
recovering more slowly, due to the high gypsum nature of
the soil in that area. However, these areas of slow regeneration
are relatively scarce and are situated in the highest areas
of the mountains and mounds, where in fact the soil is poorer.
- The
burnt wood has not been extensively used. We found many
burnt trees still standing in areas close to the Espinazo
del Diablo.
The priority
areas for conservation in Uxpanapa were detected in three
microregions:
- Sierra
de la Numeración
- Espinazo
del Diablo
- Lowlands
of Las Choapas (rainforests to the East of the Espinazo
del Diablo)
INDICATIVE
SPECIES
The following species were identified from an altitude of
approximately 9,000 feet:
- Silk
cotton tree -Ceiba- (Ceiba pentandra) (conspicuous for its
size). Indicator of a good state of conservation.
- Guayacan
(Tabebuia guayacan) (conspicuous for its yellow flowers).
Indicator of a good state of conservation.
- Oak
-Roble- (Tabebuia rosea) (conspicuous for its pink flowers).
Indicator of disturbed habitat.
- Non-identified
species with red flowers.
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