Parque Estatal "Cañón de Fernández". 02/02/08; Durango; 17,002 ha; 25°21'N 103°44'W. Parque Estatal. A riparian wetland crossed by the Nazas river, located in northwest Mexico. It supports a great number of vulnerable and endangered species, as well as threatened ecological communities, and is a hotspot of flora and fauna endemism. The landscape is dominated by xerophytic brush in slopes and plains. The site also supports a variety of species important for sustaining the biological diversity of the biogeographic region, constituting a germoplasm bank and an important shelter area for wildlife during droughts and extreme temperatures. This wetland contributes to the recharge of aquifers and the moderation of local climate. It works as a biological corridor between two ecosystems of regional importance (the Chihuahuense Desert and the Temperate Forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental). The main land uses are agriculture, livestock, fishing, industry and recreation. The main threat to the site is related to the mortality and morbidity of tree species, caused mainly by the dispersion of mistletoe (Phoradendron sp.), as it compromises the viability of the Montezuma Cypress (Taxodium mucronatum) and the Cottonwood (Populus sp.) populations. Other threats are related to the decrease of circulating water, the change in the regime of running and standing waters, and in general, the landscape changes created by the Francisco Zarco Dam. These are permanent threats that will remain as long as the dam is in operation. The Park has had a management plan since 2003. Ramsar site no. 1747. Most recent RIS information: 2008.