Science/Medicine : Tropical Reserve Designated

Mexico has taken steps to protect a 1.2-million-acre southeastern area rich in birds, marine life, mammals, mangroves and tropical forests.

Known as Sian Ka’an, the region earlier this year was declared a reserve, a designation that carries general limitations on hunting, timber cutting and construction.

It also is listed as one of 271 biosphere reserves in 70 countries under a U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization program to protect examples of different types of ecosystems.

The region begins about 75 miles south of the Caribbean resort of Cancun. It includes 494,000 acres of lagoons, reefs and bays; 370,500 acres of jungle, and 439,660 acres of mangrove and other swamps.