Yum Balam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam |
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IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
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Flamingos on Isla Holbox
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 Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam
Location in Mexico
Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam
Location in Quintana Roo
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| Location | Lázaro Cárdenas and Isla Mujeres Municipalities, Quintana Roo, Mexico |
| Area | 1,540.52 km2 (594.80 sq mi) |
| Established | 6 June 1994 |
| Governing body | National Commission of Protected Natural Areas |
| Official name: Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam | |
| Designated: | 2 February 2004 |
| Reference #: | 1360 |
The Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area is a special nature reserve in Mexico. It's located in the state of Quintana Roo, in the southeastern part of the country. This protected area was created in 1994. It was the first time in Mexico that local people asked for a protected area to be made, and the government agreed! Yum Balam includes important wetlands, islands like Isla Holbox, and coastal waters. It's also recognized internationally as a Ramsar site because of its important wetlands.
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Discover Yum Balam: A Home for Wildlife
Yum Balam is found at the northeastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula. It's located in the Lázaro Cárdenas and Isla Mujeres areas of Quintana Roo. This is northwest of Cancún. Several small towns, including Chiquilá, Solferino, and Holbox, are inside the reserve.
This area protects many different parts of nature. It includes coastal wetlands, a group of barrier islands, and the Yalahau Lagoon. The lagoon is located between the islands and the mainland. Some coastal waters beyond the islands are also protected.
Amazing Animals and Plants
Yum Balam is home to many incredible animals. You might find jaguars, Baird's tapirs, and crocodiles here. It's also a safe place for sea turtles and American manatees. The reserve protects Caribbean spiny lobsters and ocellated turkeys too.
Important plants like Everglades palms and mangroves grow here. Mangroves are special trees that grow in salty water. Since 2003, migrating whale sharks have become a big attraction for tourists. Many different birds also live here. These include double-crested cormorants, brown pelicans, and magnificent frigatebirds. Sadly, some of their nesting areas were damaged by big storms like Hurricane Gilbert, Hurricane Isidore, and Hurricane Wilma.
How Yum Balam Was Created
The northern Yucatán Peninsula faced a lot of damage in the late 1980s. A strong storm called Hurricane Gilbert hit in 1988. After that, there was a dry period and big wildfires in 1989. This environmental damage made local people worried.
They decided to form a group to ask the federal government for more environmental protection. This group called itself the Yum Balam Civil Association. The name "Yum Balam" comes from the Yucatec Maya language. It means "Lord Jaguar" and refers to a jaguar god of nature.
The local groups talked with government agencies. These discussions led to the creation of the Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area. This happened on June 6, 1994. It was a very important moment because it was the first time in Mexico that a protected area was created because local communities asked for it. Later, on February 2, 2004, the reserve was recognized internationally. It became a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
See also
In Spanish: Área de protección de flora y fauna Yum Balam para niños
