Xapper-Bulej Conservation Site
The Northern Border Chapter is located to the north of the department of Huehuetenango. Its headquarters is located in the municipality of Barillas and works with communities located in the three largest municipalities of Huehuetenango: Nenton, San Mateo Ixtatan and Santa Cruz Barillas. These municipalities are located within the basins of the Ixcan, Nenton and Pojom rivers.
The Northern Border Chapter was established in the late 2008 with the implementation of its first project called "Design, Proposal and Promotion of a Regional Sub-System of Protected Areas in the North of Huehuetenango Through Alternative Conservation Strategies", duly funded by the Fund for the Conservation of Tropical Forests -FCTF-. Its offices are located in the Commonwealth of Municipalities of the Northern Border. During the implementation of the first project, a document is designed for the northern area of Huehuetenango. Such document was named "Technical Proposal of a Sub-Regional System of Conservation Areas for the North of Huehuetenango". This document contains six regions or conservation sites, two sites are located in the municipality of Barillas: Maxbal and Montaña Los Angeles, Tzikimte and Yulbatlac. Three regions are located in San Mateo Ixtatan: Xapper-Bulej, Catelac and Cerro Bobi. The remaining site is located in the limits of San Mateo Ixtatan and Nentón: Yolnabaj.
In the three conservation sites prioritized by Fundaeco to develop actions for the protection and conservation of natural resources (Maxbal, Yolnabaj and Xapper-Bulej), we find several cultures such as: the Mam, Mestizo, Q'anjob'al and Chuj. The second and third cultures are predominant in these work areas.
This region is considered one of the most important for Guatemala, since it is one of the most humid zones in the country. Its forests are still in a good state of conservation and above all, it is of such importance because of different endemic species of flora and fauna, i.e. these organisms are found only in this region (or solely in Guatemala), and are not found in other parts of the world.
The Wildlife Refuge of Cerro Cruz Maltin-Tzucanca Mountain has an approximate dimension of 5,129.83 hectares and its altitudes range from 1,100 to 2,800 MASL. Vegetation in this mountain is typified as a fog forest and it is considered by Veliz et al. (2001) as very similar to the Biotope for the Conservation of the Quetzal located in Purulha, Baja Verapaz. This area is identified by the local stakeholders in conservation issues, as a priority in the region of the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes (Veliz et al 2001).
The Xapper-Bulej Conservation Site is one of the largest of the three sites prioritized by Fundaeco. It has a territorial area of 20,086.58 hectares and is made up of an average of 30 communities of the municipality of San Mateo Ixtatán. Fundaeco is directly involved with 7 communities: Xapper, Yalambolop, Matasano, Basaber, Yichtzulbum, Tiactac and Tinajab. Protection and conservation processes regarding natural resources are undertaken in these communities, specifically in the Maxbal conservation zone. The name of this conservation site is due to the Xapper village which has promoted protection and conservation processes of its natural resources for many years.
The Yolnabaj Conservation site is characterized by three types of life zones: very humid warm subtropical forest, very humid montane subtropical forest and very humid montane low subtropical forest. Its altitudes range from 1,065 MASL to 3,087 MASL.
Another important area of the northern region of Huehuetenango, are the mountains of San Mateo Ixtatán. The forests in this area are characterized as fog forests, with different dominant species in accordance with its location. Generally, there is a great presence of oaks (Quercus sp.). In this zone is located the Xapper community located at a maximum altitude of 2,500 MASL where oaks are predominantly present, but at its highest altitudes we find pines (Pinus pseudostrobus) and cypresses (Cupresus lusitanica).
