Monday, February 6, 2012

Spotlight on: Río Platano Biosphere Reserve



            This Reserve is located in Honduras (near the Caribbean Ocean) in an area called la Mosquitia which is a bit secluded from the rest of the country since it is not so easy to access to it , it stretches to 5,250 km².      
It is the second 'lung' of America, after the Amazon. It was declared a World Heritage site and biosphere in 1982 and contains a big part of the forest area of Honduras.

Something unique about this reserve is its variety, which is not yet fully discovered. It ranges from tropical rainforests to mangroves, coastal lagoons and savannahs that later melt with mountains! Its record contains 39 species of mammals, 377 species of birds and 126 species of reptiles and amphibians.


The rare or endangered species located in this reserve: giant anteaterjaguarocelotmargay, Caribbean West Indian manatee, and Central American tapir.

Its rich flora and fauna are not the only outstanding qualities of this reserve, 4 ethnic groups reside in this area: Garifunas, Misquitos, Pech y Sumo (tawakas). These groups dedicate mostly to agricultural activities.
Unfortunately, this area has been a target for drug trafficking and the population in general is not educated to care for this vulnerable environment. Hopefully this will change soon!



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