Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve, Biosphere reserve in Puebla, Morelos, and the State of Mexico, Mexico

Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve covers 171,774.4 hectares around Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl, from 2,589 to 5,452 metres above sea level. Its volcanic slopes of basalt and andesite carry pine and sacred fir (oyamel) forests and high-mountain prairies, at the boundary between the Nearctic and Neotropical realms.

The area gained UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status in 2010, becoming a protected zone for central Mexico's volcanic landscapes. This international recognition marked a turning point for conservation efforts in the region.

Communities living in the transition zone farm the land using methods passed down through generations and help protect the reserve. Their work shows how local life and conservation can go hand in hand.

The core zone is under federal jurisdiction, while the buffer zone falls under each state's land planning and the transition zone belongs to ejidos, communities and small landowners. Only the transition zone has settlements, with 31,480 inhabitants, so access and permitted activities differ by zone. The reserve is managed by Iztaccíhuatl Popocatépetl Zoquiapan National Park.

Elevations range from about 2600 to 5500 meters, creating distinct habitats with specialized plants and animals found nowhere else. Walking from lower to higher elevations, you experience how life adapts to different conditions in a single location.