These pages review a small part of the environmental problems in Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas. Much more
detailed information is available at the Defendors of Los Tuxtlas site: DEMATAC.
Parkswatch.org published this synopsis of the ecological problems of Los Tuxtlas in 2002:
Almost nothing has changes as of March 2007.
Livestock
Livestock, primarily cattle, is one of the main activities in the region and is one of the principal causes of
the loss of forest cover in Los Tuxtlas. The ecological deterioration observed in the region is mainly due to
misguided policies that promote poorly planned agricultural development. The continuous replacement of
subsistence agriculture for livestock has produced the loss of self-sufficiency in basic products as well
as the substitution of traditional technologies and diversified strategies, which are more appropriate for
the conditions of the humid tropics.
Agriculture
Throughout the country, the Program for Support of the Farmer (PROCAMPO), which promotes the
production of basic grains, primarily corn, has been responsible for the disappearance of large areas of
forests of an undetermined extent. The population primarily cultivates corn practicing slash and burn
agriculture. In this system the use of fire is essential, occasionally causing forest fires. Agriculture in the
region produces poor yields due to the low fertility of the soil. Erosion and the loss of soil are common
threats for the land.
Sugarcane plantations have a strong impact on the environment. Impacts include intense and frequent use
of agrochemicals that affect the health of the farmers and the environment, the burning of cane prior to
cutting, the deterioration of soils due to burning organic residues, and the contamination of water due to
discharge of residual water from the sugar factories.
From an environmental perspective, the cultivation of tobacco that takes place in the reserve has a great
impact that is primarily due to the quantity of mangrove wood necessary to construct new stockrooms
and to dry tobacco leaves.
Population growth
The biosphere reserve is under intense pressure from the great number of inhabitants of the region. The
total population of the eight municipalities of the region is 335,315 inhabitants. Within the boundaries of the
protected area, 25,447 inhabitants exercise a great pressure on the natural resources of the reserve. The
municipalities of Macayapan, Soteapan, and Pajapan in the Sierra Santa Marta have the highest rates of
population growth in the region with an average rate of 4.09% for the three municipalities, in contrast with
the average rate of 2.08% for the region.
Poaching
The indiscriminate hunting and the fragmentation of the original vegetation of the region are factors that
lead to local extinction of several large mammals These species extinctions occurred because the region
is only protected in any real sense within the zone of the reserve established by UNAM in 1967. The other
areas, such as the Sierra Santa Marta and the San Martín Volcano, never achieved active protection of
their areas (PSSM 1996). Unfortunately, even in places currently well protected such as the Station of the
UNAM, illegal practices such as hunting and the extraction of wildlife occur due to the lack of action and
inspection on the part of PROFEPA.
Deforestation
Deforestation in Los Tuxtlas is a severe threat. The current forest cover has been reduced to natural
vegetation patches. The rate of deforestation during the early 1990s was 4.3%, resulting in several zones
within the protected area being left without buffer zones since the pastures are already in direct contact
with the borders of the reserve (Dirzo & García 1992).
Water pollution
The pollution of bodies of water, such as Lake Catemaco, the Sontecomapan Lagoon and the water table
in the region is caused by the discharge of residual waters from the sugarcane factories, the use of
agrochemicals for agriculture, and the cultivation of tobacco. Therefore, when it rains, water falls on bare
soils, which erode and contaminate the water.
Fishing
Currently fishing is occurring on bodies of water within the reserve such as the Sontecomapan Lagoon
and Ostion Lagoon as well as a significant number of small lakes and a great number of rivers and
streams. Until now there has been no regulation of this activity, and the number of people that make their
living from fishing is unknown. Data from the fishing administration of the delegation of SEMARNAP (1999)
in the state of Veracruz determined that at least 1,419 people fish both in the ocean and in the continental
waters. Informal information suggests that this number could be double the expected value. Other
information for the years 1995 and 1996 states that within the region of Los Tuxtlas, the municipalities of
Catemaco and San Andrés Tuxtla contributed 86% and 70%, respectively, to total fishing production,
which gives an idea of the level of extraction within this zone.
The overexploitation of the rivers has been very intense over the years and in several cases has caused
a reduction in the productivity, particularly aquatic food with commercial value such as shrimp and
crawfish. In several cases, extraction has been carried out with illegal techniques such as poisoning with
insecticides and herbicides, which has in turn caused the disappearance of species.
Lack of personnel and infrastructure
Without a doubt, the lack of personnel for the reserve's administration creates a situation where the
necessary time and human resources to monitor and protect the natural resources do not exist. Only five
people are employed for the administration, management, and protection of the reserve. Currently, the
administration of the reserve has an office in the city of Catemaco, vehicles, and computer equipment;
however, they lack field stations that would permit them better logistical access to confront the multiple
threats to the protected area.
detailed information is available at the Defendors of Los Tuxtlas site: DEMATAC.
Parkswatch.org published this synopsis of the ecological problems of Los Tuxtlas in 2002:
Almost nothing has changes as of March 2007.
Livestock
Livestock, primarily cattle, is one of the main activities in the region and is one of the principal causes of
the loss of forest cover in Los Tuxtlas. The ecological deterioration observed in the region is mainly due to
misguided policies that promote poorly planned agricultural development. The continuous replacement of
subsistence agriculture for livestock has produced the loss of self-sufficiency in basic products as well
as the substitution of traditional technologies and diversified strategies, which are more appropriate for
the conditions of the humid tropics.
Agriculture
Throughout the country, the Program for Support of the Farmer (PROCAMPO), which promotes the
production of basic grains, primarily corn, has been responsible for the disappearance of large areas of
forests of an undetermined extent. The population primarily cultivates corn practicing slash and burn
agriculture. In this system the use of fire is essential, occasionally causing forest fires. Agriculture in the
region produces poor yields due to the low fertility of the soil. Erosion and the loss of soil are common
threats for the land.
Sugarcane plantations have a strong impact on the environment. Impacts include intense and frequent use
of agrochemicals that affect the health of the farmers and the environment, the burning of cane prior to
cutting, the deterioration of soils due to burning organic residues, and the contamination of water due to
discharge of residual water from the sugar factories.
From an environmental perspective, the cultivation of tobacco that takes place in the reserve has a great
impact that is primarily due to the quantity of mangrove wood necessary to construct new stockrooms
and to dry tobacco leaves.
Population growth
The biosphere reserve is under intense pressure from the great number of inhabitants of the region. The
total population of the eight municipalities of the region is 335,315 inhabitants. Within the boundaries of the
protected area, 25,447 inhabitants exercise a great pressure on the natural resources of the reserve. The
municipalities of Macayapan, Soteapan, and Pajapan in the Sierra Santa Marta have the highest rates of
population growth in the region with an average rate of 4.09% for the three municipalities, in contrast with
the average rate of 2.08% for the region.
Poaching
The indiscriminate hunting and the fragmentation of the original vegetation of the region are factors that
lead to local extinction of several large mammals These species extinctions occurred because the region
is only protected in any real sense within the zone of the reserve established by UNAM in 1967. The other
areas, such as the Sierra Santa Marta and the San Martín Volcano, never achieved active protection of
their areas (PSSM 1996). Unfortunately, even in places currently well protected such as the Station of the
UNAM, illegal practices such as hunting and the extraction of wildlife occur due to the lack of action and
inspection on the part of PROFEPA.
Deforestation
Deforestation in Los Tuxtlas is a severe threat. The current forest cover has been reduced to natural
vegetation patches. The rate of deforestation during the early 1990s was 4.3%, resulting in several zones
within the protected area being left without buffer zones since the pastures are already in direct contact
with the borders of the reserve (Dirzo & García 1992).
Water pollution
The pollution of bodies of water, such as Lake Catemaco, the Sontecomapan Lagoon and the water table
in the region is caused by the discharge of residual waters from the sugarcane factories, the use of
agrochemicals for agriculture, and the cultivation of tobacco. Therefore, when it rains, water falls on bare
soils, which erode and contaminate the water.
Fishing
Currently fishing is occurring on bodies of water within the reserve such as the Sontecomapan Lagoon
and Ostion Lagoon as well as a significant number of small lakes and a great number of rivers and
streams. Until now there has been no regulation of this activity, and the number of people that make their
living from fishing is unknown. Data from the fishing administration of the delegation of SEMARNAP (1999)
in the state of Veracruz determined that at least 1,419 people fish both in the ocean and in the continental
waters. Informal information suggests that this number could be double the expected value. Other
information for the years 1995 and 1996 states that within the region of Los Tuxtlas, the municipalities of
Catemaco and San Andrés Tuxtla contributed 86% and 70%, respectively, to total fishing production,
which gives an idea of the level of extraction within this zone.
The overexploitation of the rivers has been very intense over the years and in several cases has caused
a reduction in the productivity, particularly aquatic food with commercial value such as shrimp and
crawfish. In several cases, extraction has been carried out with illegal techniques such as poisoning with
insecticides and herbicides, which has in turn caused the disappearance of species.
Lack of personnel and infrastructure
Without a doubt, the lack of personnel for the reserve's administration creates a situation where the
necessary time and human resources to monitor and protect the natural resources do not exist. Only five
people are employed for the administration, management, and protection of the reserve. Currently, the
administration of the reserve has an office in the city of Catemaco, vehicles, and computer equipment;
however, they lack field stations that would permit them better logistical access to confront the multiple
threats to the protected area.
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Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico
Environment
Environment
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