Wildlife in Latin America is subject to enormous pressures and, as in most countries, has been negatively impacted in Mexico. In 1997, the Mexican government implemented a policy of conservation and sustainable use of wildlife units (called UMAs, by their Spanish acronym) that comprises intensive and free-living management. Since then, no national or regional assessments have been conducted to estimate impacts and benefits even with 5529 registered UMAs now covering almost 20% of the national territory. The objective of this study was to characterize the SUMA (UMAs System) in a regional context in three states of southeastern Mexico. The impact of UMAs was studied in depth through a selection of representative case studies: three species of mangrove (Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle), ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata), red cedar (Cedrela odorata) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and a connectivity analysis, in order to evaluate the contribution of the UMAs to the conservation of species and ecosystems. The number of active UMAs at regional scale was 834, managing 273 species; 7.1% of the UMAs manage nationally-prioritized species, while 8.3% and 94.3% manage endemic and native species, respectively. Conservation of ecosystems has been successfully achieved through the UMAs that manage mangrove and white-tailed deer. We propose to promote the establishment of free-living UMAs that would contribute to increase the conservation areas. Finally, we highlight the relevance of regional-scale spatial analysis as an important tool for improving environmental policy and conservation strategies.
In 1997 Mexico implemented the Management Units for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wildlife (UMA by its initials in Spanish) scheme. However, socio-environmental problems and the lack of a multidisciplinary approach prevented it from offering sustainable solutions. Taxonomic and functional diversity in UMAs and their interactions are essential for the preservation of biodiversity and the processes that maintain their ecosystemic integrity. Ecological benefits are insufficient without a multidisciplinary vision. This article addresses a proposal for the management of UMAs and other conservation schemes with three objectives: (1) to include the “socio-ecological system” approach; (2) the recognition of their complexity; and (3) the epistemological transition from ecosystem integrity to antifragility. UMAs constitute integral socio-ecological systems that manage wildlife and habitat as a complex adaptive system precursor to ecosystem antifragility. Resumen En 1997 México implementó el esquema de Unidades de Manejo para la Conservación y Aprovechamiento Sustentable de la Vida Silvestre (UMA). Empero, problemáticas socioambientales y la falta de un enfoque multidisciplinario impidieron ofrecer soluciones sustentables. La diversidad taxonómica y funcional en UMA y sus interacciones son imprescindibles en la preservación de la biodiversidad y los procesos que mantienen su integridad ecosistémica. Los beneficios ecológicos resultan insuficientes sin una visión multidisciplinaria. Este artículo aborda una propuesta de gestión de UMA y otros esquemas de conservación en tres objetivos: (1) enfoque de “sistema socioecológico”, (2) reconocimiento de su complejidad, (3) transición epistemológica de integridad a antifragilidad ecosistémica. Las UMA constituyen sistemas socioecológicos integrales que manejan la vida silvestre y el hábitat como un sistema adaptativo complejo precursor de antifragilidad ecosistémica. RésuméEn 1997, le Mexique a mis en œuvre un schéma d'Unités de Gestion pour la Conservation et Usage Durable de la Vie Sauvage (UMA en espagnol). Cependant, des problématiques socio-environnementales et le manque de perspective pluridisciplinaire ont empêché d'offrir des solutions durables. La diversité taxonomique et fonctionnelle des UMA et leurs interactions sont essentielles à la préservation de la biodiversité et des processus qui maintiennent l'intégrité de leurs écosystèmes. Les bénéfices écologiques qui en résultent sont insuffisants en l'absence une vision pluridisciplinaire. Ce travail aborde une proposition de gestion d'UMA et d'autres schémas de conservation à travers trois objectifs : 1) une perspective de « système socio-écologique » ; 2) la reconnaissance de leur complexité ; 3) une transition épistémologique de l'intégrité à l'anti fragilité écosystémique. Les UMA constituent des systèmes socio-écologiques intégraux qui gèrent la vie sauvage et l'habitat en tant que système adaptatif complexe précurseur d'une anti fragilité systémique.
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