Áreas de Protección de Flora y Fauna de Nahá y Metzabok. 02/02/04; Chiapas; 7,216 ha; 17°03'N 091°36'W. Natural Protected Area. Part of the Selva Lacandona region, considered the most important for biodiversity in North America, as the physiographic conditions and humidity enhance the development of ecosystems ranging from pine tree forests and marshes to tall everlasting forests and produce a high number of animal and vegetal species per surface unit. Some 40,000 species of fauna and flora live in these habitats - in other words, an area of only 0.4% of the country's surface contains 48% of the birds species, 33% of bats, 11% of the reptiles and 25% of the mammals of Mexico. The importance of the Selva Lacandona region for biodiversity is highlighted by the presence of 5 other protected areas in the surroundings, though the main threats (water pollution from pesticides, habitat fragmentation, fire risk, and land invasion due to a poor productivity of the surrounding cultivated lands) are still threatening this area. Ramsar site no. 1331. Most recent RIS information: 2004.