Ecobreves – GUATEMALA: A Reserve for Springs

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

GUATEMALA CITY, Feb 27 2006 (IPS) - The Guatemalan government plans to build bridges and paths in the Cerro San Gil Spring Reserve, in the eastern department of Izabal, to promote ecotourism. The idea is for Guatemalan and foreign tourists to learn about the diversity of fauna and flora in the area, Evelyn Picón, spokeswoman for the National Council on Protected Areas (CONAP), told Tierramérica.

In the 47,434 hectare reserve — which Congress declared a protected area in 1996 — is the only source of water to supply more than 100,000 people in 36 surrounding communities.

It also holds one of the largest tropical rain forests in Guatemala, with great biodiversity of endemic species, including the O'Donnell climing salamander (Bolitoglossa odonnelli), said Picón.

According to CONAP, 66 reptile species and 49 bird species in the reserve are endangered.