The Cuxtal Ecological Reserve (Yucatec Maya pronunciation: [kuʃˈtal], from the Mayan language meaning "life") is located in the southern zone of Mérida Municipality, between 20° 47' and 20° 55' of north latitude and 89° 33 and 89° 40' of west longitude.

The Zone Subject to Ecological Conservation Cuxtal Reserve is recognized as the first Protected Natural Area (ANP by its initials in Spanish) promoted and decreed directly by a municipality in the state of Yucatán during the Mérida City Council 1991–1993.

In December 2016 the initiative called "Alliance for Cuxtal" was formally set up constituted by government agencies, educational institutions, civil associations and the private sector, to promote actions aimed at the rescue and preservation of the Reserve.

In February 2017, the agreement is published authorizing the creation of the Decentralized Municipal Public Organization for Operation and Administration of the Cuxtal Reserve Ecological Preservation Area.

It is formed by surfaces that have undergone little alteration and represent critical habitats for biodiversity, so they require special care to ensure their long-term conservation.

This sub-zone is represented by the forest vegetation of the Mérida I water treatment plant and partially by the ejidos of Molas and San Pedro Chimay.

It is formed by the surfaces in good state of conservation where it is sought to maintain the current conditions of the ecosystems and even improve them in the places that are required, through agroecological options.

It has an area of 5,828.48 hectares and its objective is to guide the exploitation activities that are carried out (milpa, henequen, crops, stone extraction, human settlements, urbanization, agricultural production systems, livestock and forestry), to lead towards the development sustainable, apply the current federal, state and municipal regulations, so that the necessary conditions are created for the reconversion and ecological restoration that allows the conservation of the area in the long term.

The arboreal components in this forest reach a maximum height of up to 15 meters and a percentage higher than 75 of the species throw their leaves in the dry season of the year.

In contrast, 33.33% of the families (Adoxaceae, Apiaceae, Araucariaceae, Asphodelaceae, Begoniaceae, Burseraceae, Cannabaceae, Cannaceae, Casuarinaceae, Combretaceae, Cycadaceae, Cyclanthaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Iridaceae, Lauraceae, Loasaceae, Loranthaceae, Menispermaceae, Moringaceae, Muntingiaceae, Oxalidaceae, Papaveraceae, Piperaceae, Plantaginaceae, Ranunculaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Ulmaceae, Violaceae, Vitaceae, Zamiaceae and Zygophyllaceae) are monospecific.

Two are subject to special protection (Roystonea regia and Cedrela odorata), six threatened (Astronium graveolens, Coccothrinax readii, Pseudophoenix sargentii, Thrinax radiata, Zinnia violacea and Beaucarnea pliabilis) and one endangered (Pterocereus gaumeri).

Four species are cataloged at risk by NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 (Bolitoglossa yucatana, Rhinophrynus dorsalis, Triprion petasatus and Rana brownorum) all with the special protection category.

Terrapene yucatana and B. imperator are included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Of these, 11 are subject to special protection (for example Buteogallus anthracinus, Eupsittula nana, Vireo pallens, Passerina ciris, among others) and 2 threatened (Meleagris ocellata and Geranospiza caerulescens).

Globally, 96% of the birds with distribution in the Reserve are classified by the IUCN as minor concern and four almost threatened (M. ocellata, E. nana, Melanoptila glabirostris and P. ciris).

Two species have occasional presence (Buteo swainsoni and Zonotrichia leucophrys) and 12 are considered bystanders (for example Coccyzus americanus, Chordeiles minor, Contopus virens, Progne subis, among others).

In contrast, the orders Cingulata, Pilosa, Soricomorpha, Lagomorpha are only represented by Dasypus novemcinctus, Tamandua mexicana, Cryptotis mayensis and Sylvilagus floridanus, respectively.