219
flora communities. The extraordinary biodiversity includes more than 3000 vascular
plants, in which 10% are endemic to The Valley. Its fauna diversity exceeds any
other arid area of the planet and, likewise, it is an exceptional center of
agrobiodiversity.
Since the decree of the Federal NPA, the reserve has managed to preserve its
biodiversity, the community of the ecological and evolutionary processes that take
place their, as well as the cultural and historical heritage associated with them.
This holistic management was possible with the implementation of politics, measures and strategies, and restoring specific actions through scientific, cultural and
management research projects, which have allowed the communities that live there,
to continue their development (CONANP-SEMARNAT 2013). The protection of
the richness of the area has resulted in the protection of different national and international instruments to guarantee its preservation for future generations as part of
their heritage and people’s identity. At the national level, its protection has been
given since the establishment by the NPA Decree in 1998, the publication of its
Management Program in 2013, as well as the Federal Law on Monuments and
Archeological, Artistic and Historic Areas, the General Law of Ecological
Equilibrium and Environmental Protection, Land Management and Programs,
among others.
At the International Level the BR was registered in 2012 in the World Network
of Biosphere Reserves of the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) of UNESCO
and considered as a management model for sustainable development. In 2018 a portion of the Biosphere Reserve was recognized by its inscription to the World
Heritage List of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage of UNESCO, recognizing this portion as a World Heritage Mixed
Property. The protection of its exceptional biocultural attributes at world level is
enriched by the importance of being immersed in an arid environment and local
communities.
The preservation obligations that have been contracted from the UNESCO designations are a great challenge for the Mexican government, being an area with a
high population number where its growth and development threatens the conservation of its cultural and natural attributes. However, the inheritance of its bioculturality is at risk, since the new generations are losing interest in the preservation of their
local cultural activities, which hastens its deterioration or possible loss considering
also the increase of extreme natural phenomena due to the derived effects of climate
change.
As researchers had noted, the history of occupation and use of the area is dated
back to the first hunters 4000 years ago, who found the geology of the place, an
area of protection before predators, being the orography a strategic place to hide
and look for prey that helped to the adaptation and development. Since then, it has
occurred a large and varied human occupation with the Mixtec, Chocholtec,
Cuicatec, Ixcatec, Mazatec, and Zapotec cultures, whose common base are the
languages of the Otomangue family (INAH 2019). It has been documented that in
the transition from nomadic to sedentary, one of the archaeological surprises was
13 International Recognition of the Biocultural Protection in Dryland Regions…
flora communities. The extraordinary biodiversity includes more than 3000 vascular
plants, in which 10% are endemic to The Valley. Its fauna diversity exceeds any
other arid area of the planet and, likewise, it is an exceptional center of
agrobiodiversity.
Since the decree of the Federal NPA, the reserve has managed to preserve its
biodiversity, the community of the ecological and evolutionary processes that take
place their, as well as the cultural and historical heritage associated with them.
This holistic management was possible with the implementation of politics, measures and strategies, and restoring specific actions through scientific, cultural and
management research projects, which have allowed the communities that live there,
to continue their development (CONANP-SEMARNAT 2013). The protection of
the richness of the area has resulted in the protection of different national and international instruments to guarantee its preservation for future generations as part of
their heritage and people’s identity. At the national level, its protection has been
given since the establishment by the NPA Decree in 1998, the publication of its
Management Program in 2013, as well as the Federal Law on Monuments and
Archeological, Artistic and Historic Areas, the General Law of Ecological
Equilibrium and Environmental Protection, Land Management and Programs,
among others.
At the International Level the BR was registered in 2012 in the World Network
of Biosphere Reserves of the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) of UNESCO
and considered as a management model for sustainable development. In 2018 a portion of the Biosphere Reserve was recognized by its inscription to the World
Heritage List of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage of UNESCO, recognizing this portion as a World Heritage Mixed
Property. The protection of its exceptional biocultural attributes at world level is
enriched by the importance of being immersed in an arid environment and local
communities.
The preservation obligations that have been contracted from the UNESCO designations are a great challenge for the Mexican government, being an area with a
high population number where its growth and development threatens the conservation of its cultural and natural attributes. However, the inheritance of its bioculturality is at risk, since the new generations are losing interest in the preservation of their
local cultural activities, which hastens its deterioration or possible loss considering
also the increase of extreme natural phenomena due to the derived effects of climate
change.
As researchers had noted, the history of occupation and use of the area is dated
back to the first hunters 4000 years ago, who found the geology of the place, an
area of protection before predators, being the orography a strategic place to hide
and look for prey that helped to the adaptation and development. Since then, it has
occurred a large and varied human occupation with the Mixtec, Chocholtec,
Cuicatec, Ixcatec, Mazatec, and Zapotec cultures, whose common base are the
languages of the Otomangue family (INAH 2019). It has been documented that in
the transition from nomadic to sedentary, one of the archaeological surprises was
13 International Recognition of the Biocultural Protection in Dryland Regions…