Environmental specialist Jesús Eleazar Quiñones Gómez has confirmed that the Sierra La Laguna biosphere reserve in Baja California Sur remains in favorable ecological balance, with no signs of significant deterioration or accelerated biodiversity loss.
Quiñones Gómez said that while some species listed under Mexico’s Official Standard NOM-059 are classified as endangered, their numbers within the sierra are small. The broader ecosystem, he said, is stable.
Recovery From a 1965 Fire
The last major fire recorded in Sierra La Laguna dates to 1965. Scientific studies conducted from the 1980s onward confirmed strong ecological recovery across the reserve. That recovery has held, according to Quiñones Gómez, though he cautioned that continued monitoring and fire prevention programs are essential to maintaining the balance.
The UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve sits between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Its highest point reaches 2,090 meters (6,857 feet). The range spans parts of both La Paz Municipality and Los Cabos Municipality.
A Biological Island With Dozens of Endemic Species
Sierra La Laguna was formerly an island in prehistoric times, giving it a distinctive flora and fauna with strong ties to southwestern mainland Mexico. The reserve supports an extraordinary concentration of endemic life: 79 endemic plant species, 8 endemic reptile species, 4 endemic bird species, and 4 endemic mammal species. Researchers have recorded 59 bird species, 40 mammal species, 31 reptile species, and 61 insect species within its boundaries.
The reserve’s microclimates support ecosystems ranging from tropical dry forest at lower elevations to pine-oak woodlands at higher altitudes. The core protected area centers on high-elevation oak-pine forests. The transition zone includes well-known communities such as Todos Santos, El Pescadero, El Triunfo, San Bartolo, Santiago, Los Barriles, and Miraflores.
Monitoring Remains Critical
Unlike national parks, biosphere reserves allow people to continue living within their boundaries, though new population centers are prohibited. Sierra La Laguna contains 35 private properties and 6 ejidos (communal landholdings). Quiñones Gómez stressed that ongoing monitoring remains critical, particularly as climate pressures grow across the peninsula.
The assessment was first reported by The Cabo Post.