Sierra de Quila


Sierra de Quila, officially the Sierra de Quila Flora and Fauna Protection Area, is a Mexican Flora and Fauna Protection Area in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, managed by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, and located within six municipalities: San Martín de Hidalgo, Tecolotlán, Cocula, Atengo, Tenamaxtlán, and Ameca. Having an area of 15,193 hectares and established as a wildlife protection zone on August 4, 1982, Sierra de Quila is the most recent and smaller of the two wildlife protection areas in the state, the other being La Primavera.

History

In the 1950s, the inhabitants of Tecolotlán, with the leadership of Gabriel Agraz García de Alba, founded a grouping that had as its principal objective the prevention of forestal exploitation of the area. From 1970 to 1980, more manifestations regarding the prevention of irrational forestal exploitation took place which pressured the municipality of Tecolotlán to create the Pro-Conservation Committee of the Forests and Springs of the Sierra de Quila which protected the natural resources of the area and prohibited clandestine activities within the area.
Sierra de Quila became a "Forested and Faunal Protection Zone" on August 4, 1982. The area was recategorized as a "Flora and Fauna Protection Area" on June 7, 2000, because of its adequate conditions of biodiversity among other aspects.

Geography

The Sierra de Quila Flora and Fauna Protection Area contains the springs of La Ciénega, Charco de la Máquina, and Presa del Ahogado; the cascades of Salto de la Campana, Cascada Santa Rosa, Cascada La Ciénega, Salto de Tecolotlán, and Cascada El Columpio; and the viewpoints of Cerro El Huehuentón, Mirador Tecolotlán, and Piedras Blancas.

Biology

Habitats

It has 28 species of mammals, 90 species of birds, 15 species of reptiles, 5 species of amphibians both already recognized and representing 17% of the animals registered in the State of Jalisco.