Alternative Tourism

Biodiversity of Sinaloa

Text & Photo: Alwin van der Heiden

Photo: Vladimir Dinets

The state of Sinaloa possesses an incredible biodiversity, presenting a huge heterogeneous environment of ecosystems and varied contrasts. One of our advantages that we must appreciate is that the Tropic of Cancer traverses Sinaloa just north of Mazatlan, where climatologically speaking, it converts it into three regions: the south is sub-tropical, the center is semi-desert, and at the border of Sonora it becomes true desert.

Sinaloa contains 440 km of coastline along the Gulf of California. The Sierra Madre borders the state with a thin ridge along the west side. The physiographical (0 to 2,700 above sea level) and climate conditions existing in the state are very great and this is reflected in the composition of the native and natural vegetation that provide habitats to a rich and diverse fauna of vertebrates and therefore is classified into the following ecosystems: Thorn Forest, Deciduous Forest, Tropical Forest, and Pine/Oak Forest. All of these factors mentioned earlier are determinant for the geographical distribution of the flora and fauna in the state of Sinaloa.

The jaguar, Panthera onca is an iconic species of Mexico.   This elusive cat inhabits the mountain areas preferring the deciduous tropical forest. In 2004, a young Russian naturalist Vladimir Dinets, who during an expedition in El Fuerte, Sinaloa Mountains, encountered face to face with as he referred to, the “melanistic” black jaguar. Vladimir monitored this area for a week during the month of September, and when he found fresh tracks, evidently of jaguar, he decided to make a hide inside of a Chalata tree.  From there he observed a great variety of fauna including white-tailed deer, fox, peccary, armadillo, skunk, coatimundy, squirrel etc.   After 62 hours of waiting he observed a robust feline coming toward his hide and was able to capture this beautiful example of a jaguar. Without doubt, the patience of Vladimir revealed by this photograph depicts one of the most fascinating treasures that can still be found in the Sinaloa forest. This is the first photo and record of a “black-faced jaguar” or “panther” in its natural habitat in the northern area of Mexico, and this young adventurer Vladimir Dinets, proudly captured it in our beautiful state.

How can we conserve biodiversity in Sinaloa?

Conservation programs must continue with the studies of flora and fauna and with this an assessment and evaluation is made of our state and which animals, plants and trees require urgent protection. We simply can no longer tolerate the ongoing illicit activities that are adversely affecting the wildlife environment of our natural protected areas (i.e. parks, ecological reserves). The Mexican departments of Semarnat, Profepa, and Conamp are the responsible entities that must monitor these areas.  The laws on poaching and illegal pet trade must be enforced with harsh penalties.  Sadly in Sinaloa at least 15 jaguars are killed each year and the white- tailed dear is hunted illegally year round. We cannot allow the continuous extraction of wood (estacon, kapok tree, venadillo, brasil, huanacaxtle, etc.), nor the decimation of fauna and flora in any protected area.  This is the only way we will safeguard our flora and fauna so our future generations will learn, observe and enjoy what the wildlife of Sinaloa has to offer.

We all have a personal responsibility in maintaining and protecting our natural heritage. We must enforce the laws on the existing Natural Protected Areas in Sinaloa. We can’t keep filling in all estuaries in order to build hotels, condos, or a golf course in what use to be important and crucial habitat for wildlife. That does not mean that we have to stop development, but we must have to limit these activities or at least make them happen in ways that are more compatible with native ecosystems existing in our region.