Sian Ka'an

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Sian Ka'an
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Type	Natural
Criteria	vii, x
Reference	410
UNESCO region	Latin America and the Caribbean
Ramsar Wetland
Designated:	November 27, 2003[1]
Inscription history
Inscription	1987 (11th Session)
Location of Sian Ka'an in Mexico.

Sian Ka'an is a biosphere reserve in the municipality of Tulum in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It was established in 1986 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.^[2]

With the participation of scientists, technicians, students, fishermen, farmers, rural promotors and administrators, together with regional and international partners, have successfully carried out more than 200 conservation projects basing all conservation actions on scientific and technical information for planning and implementing environmental policies and the proposal of viable solutions for sustainable use of natural resources and focusing their efforts established within eight protected natural areas that include the reefs of Banco Chinchorro, and Xcalak at South of Quintana Roo, Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Cancun, the island of Cozumel that is located in front of Xcaret and Contoy Island up North, covering 780,000 acres (3,200 km²). These areas lie in parts of all seven Caribbean Sea coastal municipalities of the state, with the largest part being in eastern Felipe Carrillo Puerto Municipality, where the vast majority of Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve lies.

Part of the reserve is on land and part is in the Caribbean Sea, including a section of coral reef. The reserve has an area of 5,280 km².^[3]

The reserve also includes some 23 known archaeological sites of the Maya civilization^[2] including Muyil.

Within the Amigos de Sian Ka'an project objectives are the identification, protection and management of additional areas with high biodiversity value as well as those critical for maintenance of the life cycles of endangered, threatened and migratory species in the Riviera Maya and providing environmental education through books, journals and pamphlets and giving technical assistance and training to Mayan communities working with ecotourism.

See also

• Roberto Hernández Ramírez

References

External links

• Jeep Safari Sian Ka'an for more information & tours. Jeep Safari PHOTOS
• Ecocolors Sian Ka'an Tours' Ecotours in the Biosphere Reserve
• Amigos de Sian Ka'an/Friends of Sian Ka'an (bilingual) conservation group
• Centro Ecologico Sian Ka'an in English and Spanish
• Photos Sian Ka'an at Pasaporteblog.com (Spanish)
• Sian Ka'an Biosphere reserve

v t e World Heritage Sites in Mexico North West Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California1 Rock Paintings of Sierra de San Francisco Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino North Central El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro Historic Centre of Zacatecas Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines Protected town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco West Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila Historic Centre of Morelia Hospicio Cabañas, Guadalajara Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California1 Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve1 East Earliest 16th-century Monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl1 Pre-Hispanic City of El Tajín Historic Centre of Puebla Historic Monuments Zone of Tlacotalpan South West Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque South Central Archaeological Monuments Zone of Xochicalco Central University City Campus of the UNAM Earliest 16th-century Monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl1 El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Historic Centres of Mexico City and Xochimilco Luis Barragán House and Studio Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve1 Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacán South East Ancient Maya City of Calakmul, Campeche Historic Fortified Town of Campeche Pre-Hispanic City of Chichén Itzá Sian Ka'an Pre-Hispanic Town of Uxmal 1 Shared by more than one region

v t e State of Quintana Roo Chetumal (capital) Municipalities (seats) Bacalar (Bacalar) Cozumel (San Miguel de Cozumel) Felipe Carrillo Puerto (Felipe Carrillo Puerto) Isla Mujeres (Isla Mujeres) Othón P. Blanco (Chetumal) Benito Juárez (Cancún) José María Morelos (José María Morelos) Lázaro Cárdenas (Kantunilkín) Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen) Tulum (Tulum) Places of interest Akumal Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park Banco Chinchorro Chacchoben Coba Isla Contoy Isla Holbox Kohunlich Mahahual Muyil Puerto Morelos Punta Allen Punta Sur Riviera Maya San Gervasio Sian Ka'an Tulum Xcalak Xcaret Xelha Yo'okop

Coordinates: 19°30′N 87°45′W / 19.500°N 87.750°W / 19.500; -87.750