Abstract

CANTU AYALA, César et al. The environmental management units in the conservation of vegetation types in Coahuila state. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.6, pp.113-124. ISSN 2007-1132.

In order to know the way in which the 289 units for management and conservation of wildlife (UMA, according to its initials in Spanish) contribute to the conservation of natural vegetation types of Coahuila, the gap method was used. By the Principal Component Analysis was determined the relationship of the vegetation types of the state in regard to the representativeness in protected areas (PA). The local UMAs cover 1, 546, 778 ha; 72 % of them are found, mainly, in places where the four types of primary vegetation are present, which, according to their extent, would be as follows: desert microphilous scrub, desert rosetophilous scrub, tamaulipean thorn scrub and natural grassland. If UMA would be considered equivalent to PA for biodiversity conservation they would cover five vegetation types which are gaps in current protected areas; however, two plant communities: halophilous vegetation and gypsophilous vegetation would be represented in PA below the reach of the national protected average of Mexico (12%). Moreover, four vegetation types, which represent only 12,514 ha, are not represented neither in PA nor in UMA. Coahuila's UMAs cover 25% of its tamaulipean thorn scrub and mesquite land extension in primary condition, which are currently under-represented in state PA network. That means, UMA can contribute to biodiversity conservation if they are sustainably managed, protecting natural land cover.

Keywords : Protected areas; biodiversity; Coahuila; conservation; vegetation types; UMA.

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