Mexico, the second largest country in Latin America, is located south of Texas and north of Guatemala.  It is made up of rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus, desert, and tropical rain forest.  Industry and agriculture are the major sources of economic income for the people of Mexico.  This has led to many environmental issues in the area.  Some of these include scarce natural fresh water resources in the north, inaccessible and poor quality of water in the center and extreme southeast, raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas, deforestation in Chiapas, widespread erosion, desertification, and serious air pollution in the national capital and urban centers along the United States-Mexico border.  To help combat these problems, Mexico has joined many environmental organizations such as:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, and Whaling.  
 
  

Links:  

Environment-Mexico:  Government Blames Rebels for Destruction of Jungle  
http://www.oneworld.org/ips2/feb98/zapatistas.html  
This site explores the environmental problems in Chiapas, Mexico.  The Zapatistas are being blamed for the constant destruction of the Lacandona jungle.  

Environment-Mexico:  Pact to Protect Turtles  
http://members.aol.com/adrcnet/marmamnews/98032603.html  
This site provides information on the on going struggle to conserve the marine turtles.  Escobilla beach is one of the three most important nesting centers for these turtles.  However, the population of the turtles has been declining because of economic dependence on their meat and shells.  

Mexico-UK:  Sustainable Development  
http://www.demon.co.uk/mexuk/july95/cooper.html  
This site details the ambitious plans of the Mexican government to safeguard the environment.  To help do this Mexico has teamed with the United Kingdom to help fund projects for conservation and rural development.  

ASUPMATOMA  
http://www.mexonline.com/tortuga.htm  
This site is done by the Association for the Protection of the Environment and the Marine Turtle in Southern Baja.  This organization was founded in 1980 to preserve the endangered sea turtles in Southern Baja, Mexico.  
  
Biosphere Reserve “Ria Celestun,” Yucatan  
http://www.mexonline.com/celestun.htm  
This site gives all the information needed on the Biosphere Reserve in the Yucatan.  This reserve was created as a wildlife refuge for many of the endangered animals in Mexico.  

Industrial Development in Laguna San Ignacio Bioreserve, Baja California  
http://www.mexonline.com/sanignacio.htm  
This site gives all the information needed on the Bioreserve in San Ignacio.  This reserve was created for a nursing area for the California Gray Whale.  
  
  

Sources:  

CIA Factbook.  “Mexico.”  Online.  Available.  
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/mx.html  
  
Inside Vallarta  
http://www.inside-vallarta.com/html/map_mx.htm