# Canonical recap data for Sierra Gorda (1997)
# Source: https://recap.at/1997/sierra-gorda
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: sierra-gorda
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1997/sierra-gorda"
title: Sierra Gorda
aliases:
- Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve
- Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra Gorda
- Sierra Gorda Protected Area
subtitle: "On this day (05/19), 29 years ago: The Sierra Gorda biosphere, the most ecologically diverse region in Mexico, is established as a result of grassroots efforts."
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1997-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 1997
decade: 1990
summaryShort: The Sierra Gorda is an ecological region centered on the northern third of the Mexican state of Querétaro and extending into the neighboring states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo and San Luis Potosí. Within Querétaro, the ecosystem extends from the center of the state starting in parts of San Joaquín and Cadereyta de Montes mu
summaryLong: The Sierra Gorda is an ecological region centered on the northern third of the Mexican state of Querétaro and extending into the neighboring states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo and San Luis Potosí. Within Querétaro, the ecosystem extends from the center of the state starting in parts of San Joaquín and Cadereyta de Montes municipalities and covering all of the municipalities of Peñamiller, Pinal de Amoles, Jalpan de Serra, Landa de Matamoros and Arroyo Seco, for a total of 250 km2 of territory. The area is extremely rugged with high steep mountains and deep canyons. As part of the Huasteca Karst, it also contains many formations due to erosion of limestone, especially pit caves known locally as sótanos. The area is valued for its very wide diversity of plant and animal life, which is due to the various microenvironments created by the ruggedness of the terrain and wide variation in rainfall. This is due to the mountains' blocking of moisture coming in from the Gulf of Mexico, which generally makes the east side fairly moist and the west semiarid scrub brush. Most of the region is protected in two biosphere reserves, with the one centered in Querétaro established in 1997 and the one centered in Guanajuato established in 2007. The Sierra Gorda is considered to be the far west of the La Huasteca region culturally and it is home to the Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro World Heritage Site. Sierra Gorda has become the first National Park in Mexico to join the EarthCheck Sustainable Destinations program.
lede: In 1997, Mexico designated the Sierra Gorda as a biosphere reserve, protecting a mountainous region spanning Querétaro, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, and San Luis Potosí. The 383,567-hectare reserve became one of Mexico's most biodiverse areas, home to ecosystems ranging from cloud forests to semi-arid scrubland that support jaguars, ocelots, and hundreds of bird species.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/85/SierraGordaWaterfall.JPG/330px-SierraGordaWaterfall.JPG"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Sierra Gorda"
importance: 50
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Total Area
  value: 383,567 hectares
- label: States Covered
  value: Querétaro, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí
- label: Designation Year
  value: "1997"
- label: Elevation Range
  value: 300 to 3,000 meters
- label: Ecosystem Types
  value: Tropical deciduous forest, cloud forest, oak forest, semi-arid scrubland
- label: Human Population
  value: Approximately 50,000 residents
- label: Bird Species
  value: Over 300 species documented
- label: Large Mammal Species
  value: Includes jaguars, ocelots, pumas, jaguarundis
timeline:
- date: 1997-06-05
  title: Official Biosphere Reserve Designation
  description: Mexico's federal government formally designates the Sierra Gorda as a biosphere reserve, providing legal protection to the region's ecosystems and establishing management protocols.
- date: 1998-01-01
  title: Management Plan Implementation Begins
  description: Administrative structures and conservation initiatives take effect across the reserve's core, buffer, and transition zones.
- date: 2000-06-01
  title: UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve Recognition
  description: The Sierra Gorda receives formal recognition as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, elevating its international conservation status.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Gorda"
  title: Sierra Gorda
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: The 1997 designation established legal protection for one of Mexico's most ecologically complex regions and created a framework for balancing conservation with the needs of the 50,000+ people living within the reserve. It marked a significant commitment to preserving tropical and temperate forest ecosystems before widespread degradation.
categories: []
taxonomy:
domain: environmental
eventTypes:
- natural_disaster
canonicalClasses:
- creation
- transformation
- discovery
impactRadius: regional
velocity: gradual
predictability: scheduled
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: birth
metaDescription: Mexico's 1997 Sierra Gorda biosphere reserve protects 383,567 hectares spanning four states. One of Mexico's most biodiverse regions.
wikidataQid: Q3292893
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20060913000000/http://en.wikipedia.org:80/wiki/Sierra_Gorda"
  capturedAt: 2006-09-13
  label: Sierra Gorda
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Gorda"
