The Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve was established by a Federal Executive decree in 1987 to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable land use. It is a mountainous area with elevations ranging from 400 to 2860 m above sea level and spans several municipalities in Jalisco and Colima, western Mexico. The reserve covers 139,577 hectares and features 13 types of soils. The principal ones are feozem and andosol with rich organic matter, cambisol in the forests, and litosols and regosols on steep slopes.