| Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve | |
| Iucn Category: | Ia |
| Map: | Mexico |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Coordinates: | 19.5°N -87.75°W |
| Location: | Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico |
| Area: | 5281km2[1] |
| Established: | 1986 |
| Administrator: | National Commission of Natural Protected Areas |
Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve (Spanish; Castilian: Reserva de la Biósfera de Sian Kaʼan) is a biosphere reserve in Tulum Municipality in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It was established in 1986 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.[2]
The term Sian Kaʼan, from the Yuatec Mayan language, "means 'gate of heaven' or 'a place where heaven begins.'"[3]
With the participation of scientists, technicians, students, fishers, farmers, rural promoters, and administrators, together with regional and international partners, have successfully carried out more than 200 conservation projects basing all conservation actions on scientific and technical information for planning and implementing environmental policies and the proposal of viable solutions for sustainable use of natural resources and focusing their efforts established within eight protected natural areas that include the reefs of Banco Chinchorro, and Xcalak at South of Quintana Roo, Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve, Cancun, the island of Cozumel that is located in front of Xcaret and Isla Contoy up north, covering 780000acres. These areas lie in parts of all seven Caribbean Sea coastal municipalities of the state, with the largest part being in eastern Felipe Carrillo Puerto, where the vast majority of Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve lies.
Part of the reserve is on land and part is in the Caribbean Sea, including a section of coral reef. The reserve has an area of 5280km2.[4]
The reserve also includes some 23 known archeological sites of the Maya civilization[2] including Muyil. Remains of the Decauville railway Vigía Chico-Santa Cruz, which was operated from 1905 to 1932, can be found at several places.
Within the Amigos de Sian Kaʼan project objectives are the identification, protection, and management of additional areas with high biodiversity value as well as those critical for maintenance of the life cycles of endangered, threatened, and migratory species in the Riviera Maya, providing environmental education through books, journals, and pamphlets, giving technical assistance, and training to Mayan communities working with ecotourism.
A list of some of the species recorded in Sian Kaʼan:[5]