By Thomas Staudt

In 2018 through it’s conservation fund TCSS took on the responsibility of covering the preservation and maintenance cost for the Coteco Biological Preserve (pitayal) located about 45 minutes southwest of Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico. This is a cactus rich area with over 500 species of plants including grasses, herbs, shrubs, trees and of course various cacti. In particular interest was the pitayal or organ pipe (Stenocereus thurberi). This is a culturally important plant used for food, fencing, roofing, fuel and a variety of medicinal remedies.

Ethnobotanist David Yetman along with the local population and other American and Mexican researches were quick to recognize the value of this unique and geographically limited coastal thornscrub ecosystem, and worked diligently to establish and preserve this area from the impending encroachment of agribusiness bulldozers.

In October, 2019 four TCSS members traveled with David Yetman and Mexican ecologist Alberto Búrquez to the 500 acre Preserve on a routine evaluation of the fencing stability and overall habitat at the site. The drive from Tucson follows Mexican Highway 15 through Sonora and past the major cities Hermosillo and Ciudad Obergón. Recent highway improvements and bypasses allow for ease in avoiding the congestion of those cities. Acquiring tourist cards and a vehicle permit were required stops along the way and provided a chance to stretch our legs. All four travelers were quite enthusiastic and eager to identify new plants as we traveled (six species of columnar cacti were observed). In the evening we settled into a comfortable motel in the city of Navojoa.

Justino Flores, a resident of the Mayo community of Massiaca guided the group when touring the site. His expertise with locating and naming plants was invaluable. Four species of columnar cactus are found in the preserve: organ pipe (Stenocereus thurberi), senita (Lophocereus (Pachycereus) schottii), etcho (Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum) and octopus cactus, (Stenocereus alamosensis). The saguaro, (Carnegiea gigantea and cardon, (Pachycereus pringlei) were seen on the drive but not present at the site. Also abundant were a dozen or so tropical tree species including the guayacán (Guaiacum coulteri), saituna (Ziziphus amole), endemics jito (Forchhammeria watsonii) and jócona (Havardia sonorae), jaboncillo (Fouquieria macdougalii), mezquite (Prosopis glandulosa), papelío (Jatropha cordata and cuneata), pasio (Maytenus phyllanthoides), palo chino (Havardia mexicanum), San juanico (Jacquinia macrocarpa), and several others.

Pereskiopsis porteri the cacti predecessor was found, as was Peniocerius striatus. Mammillaria species were also seen, including Mammallaria bocenis.

Many of the Massiaca Mayos and other adjacent Mayo communities harvest the sweet and tasty fruit of the pitayal. This takes place in the heat of July, August, and September.

The fruit is processed into jams and beverage concentrates, both for domestic consumption (residents of the region consume a dozen or so per day) and for sale in local and regional markets. Our group was very fortunate to be able to sample these products at the Flores residence.

Our observation concluded that the fencing at the Coteco Preserve was intact, the pitayal (organ pipes) were abundant and the area was under competent management.

The Coteco site has proven to be a valuable location for recent and ongoing research. The contained area provides a controlled site to compare and contrast invasion by agribusiness and overgrazing.