The reserve also contains the site where Christopher Colombus discovered the Americas in 1492. There are some 200 sites of archaeological importance. The Miskito are the largest group of around 4,500 people living in coastal settlements, and two towns on the Tinto river. In addition, the Tawahka Amerindians live adjacent to the western zone of the reserve. The indigenous use of natural resources has been studied.
Accommodation is available for visiting scientists.
Over 2,000 indigenous people continue to live in their traditional lifestyles. The area is also of archaeological importance. A special operational plan was written in 1987 emphasizing management of the most threatened southern zone. The reserve was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1996 due to threats from agricultural encroachment, colonisation, and inadequate management of natural and cultural resources. In addition there is no effective management plan and the reserve has been neither delimited nor zoned.