THE NATURAL POTENTIAL FOR TOURIST USE OF THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGICAL RESERVE AT SAN MIGUEL TOPILEJO

Abstract

The tourism potential of the Community Ecological Reserve in San Miguel Topilejo (SMT) was analyzed, based on landscape analysis, plant wealth and the possibility of tourist practice. In the landscape analysis it was found that quadrants 1, 3 and 5 were the best spaces for tourist activities. The analysis of plant wealth showed that the type of vegetation is Pinus hartewii. The vascular plant families found are the common herbaceous and shrub components, and the most representative botanical family is Compositae. The tourist practice most frequently carried out is picnicking, followed by ball playing, horse riding and flying kites in the three sectors and the three timetables for observation. Rural tourism is a development strategy for the SMT community, if we take into account that there is vegetation in good state of conservation and that, in addition, this can improve with ecological restoration. This is possible to induce as a landscape of sufficient quality to be an attraction and to show the native vegetation of a forest in Valle de México, and taking into account that there is a segment of the market that seeks to exit the urban area to take refuge and have recreational activities in a more natural zone, away from the noise, pollution and dynamics of the city.