Editing Copper Canyon (section)

==Threats to the ecosystem==
[[File:Rio_urique_kupferschlucht.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Rio Urique, Copper Canyon.]]

Due to increases in human population, there are many threats to the ecosystems of the Sierra Tarahumara Occidental region.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=González|first=Rodrigo Camarena|date=July 2013|title=Punitive damages and their alternatives in Mexican environmental law|journal=Mexican Law Review|volume=6|issue=1|pages=45–74|doi=10.1016/s1870-0578(16)30019-1|issn=1870-0578|doi-access=free}}</ref>  The government funding to build a "tourist friendly" atmosphere poses threats to the environment and indigenous cultures.  Roads have been built in the former isolated mountainous zones. Agriculture and grazing as well as the cutting of hardwoods and other trees for firewood has accelerated a soil [[erosion]] problem. [[Mesquite]] (''Prosopis'' spp.) and desert ironwood (''[[Olneya tesota]]'') trees are cut and exported primarily to the U.S. for charcoal.  Amapa (''[[Tabebuia chrysantha]]'') trees yield highly prized lumber for building and furniture making.  Other trees are also cut and sold for their high-priced lumber. [[Over-harvesting]] of the forests in the area has caused the extinction of the [[imperial woodpecker]] and [[Mexican wolf]].  Approximately, two percent of the original [[old-growth forest]] remains.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rodin|first=Judith|editor1-first=Judith|editor1-last=Rodin|editor2-first=Carmi|editor2-last=Schooler|editor3-first=K. Warner|editor3-last=Schaie|date=2013-05-13|title=Self Directedness|doi=10.4324/9780203772003|isbn=9780203772003}}</ref> However, a massive forest-harvesting project in the region has been abandoned, for now, by the [[World Bank]].  The Mexican forestry department deemed these species of trees "legally protected," but enforcement is difficult.

The government has taken measures to halt or slow down the cultivation of [[Opium poppy|opium poppies]] and [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] by spraying crops with [[herbicide]]s, which threaten the populations of many different species.  A large [[Saturniinae|saturniid moth]], ''[[Rothschildia]] cincta'', is one of the species that are threatened by the spraying.  Their [[Pupa#Cocoon|cocoon]]s are used by the native population for ceremonial purposes.

[[Open-pit mining]] for copper, gold and other metals not only produces air pollution from [[Smelting|smelters]], but has been linked to the serious decline of the Tarahumara frog (''[[Rana tarahumarae]]'').  Every river system has been dammed causing fresh water shortages in nearby desert communities.  An enormous dam is being constructed on the Rio Fuerte, which poses major environmental problems and may lead to massive losses of tropical forest and habitats.

Conservation is underway, but remains informal and slow.  Mexico has environmental laws, but suffers from lack of financial resources.  Enforcement has been lax or non-existent.  Agencies are actively trying to increase the protection for natural preserves.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}