Challenges to Actor‐oriented Environmental Governance: Examples From Three Mexican Biosphere Reserves

Abstract

This paper adopts an actor‐oriented approach to identify and conceptualise common challenges to interactive environmental governance in three well‐known Mexican biosphere reserves by analysing stakeholder support or resistance with regard to nature conservation, considering conflicting interests among actors. Certain tools that have recently been applied to establish multi‐actor decision‐making bodies to manage these problems are described and critically evaluated. In‐depth interviews conducted with key actors over a three‐year period show that opposing interests and actions hamper the development of integral and participative governance. Despite earnest attempts to conciliate deep‐rooted conflicts among conservation‐centred actors and other stakeholders interested in capitalising on natural resources for purposes of livelihood and profit, there is still a need for conceptual and strategic advancement to foster the effective and socially balanced management of protected areas in Mexico.

Ecoturismo y conservación en el ejido Ruiz Cortines, Los Tuxtlas

“…Brenner (2010, p. 286) identificó los principales retos que enfrentan los gestores de las áreas protegidas sobre todo en lo que se refiere al uso y control de los recursos, a la restricción de actividades económicas y al hecho de afectar (potencialmente) la capacidad de las comunidades rurales para ganarse la vida. Asimismo, existe la cuestión de equilibrar múltiples intereses en las esferas local, regional y nacional (Brenner y Job, 2012).…”

“…Por otro lado, hay otros factores que influyen de manera significativa en el desempeño de los proyectos ecoturísticos en las reservas de la biósfera, entre ellos la escasa coordinación entre los actores (Björk, 2007, p. 25), la propiedad de los negocios ecoturísticos, la participación local, la infraestructura existente, el estilo de gobernanza, así como las herramientas para gestionar el comportamiento de los turistas, minimizar el impacto ecológico y fomentar la conservación (Brenner y Job, 2012).…”

“…En el diseño del instrumento (una escala Likert), así como en la selección de los indicadores, se tomaron en cuenta reflexiones de estudios previos acerca del tema (Vargas del Río y Brenner, 2013;Honey, 2008;Brenner y Job, 2012). En las primeras dos secciones tituladas: A. Actitudes de conservación y B. Prácticas de conservación, se incluyeron ítems (afirmaciones) sobre el impacto del ecoturismo y la conservación para detectar las actitudes de la comunidad local.…”

Factors influencing the management effectiveness of the biosphere reserve model: The case of Vietnam

“…Recent rapid growth (Figure 1.2) in extent and number of sites in the WNBR, particularly after the Seville Strategy in developing, biodiversity hotspot countries shows a promising progress of the BR concept, indicating that BRs are regarded as providing achievable, potential models for conservation and sustainable use of natural resources (Ishwaran et al, 2008;Brenner and Job, 2012). The BR has now become an international model that allows for integrating conservation and sustainable development in both land and seascape, in which over 80% of the BR area is located outside the strictly PA (Ishwaran et al, 2008, Ishwaran, 2012.…”

“…Recent rapid growth in the extent and number of sites in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) across biodiversity hotspot countries, particularly after adoption of the Seville Strategy in 1995, demonstrates promising progress in the recognition of the value of the BR program for providing achievable models for conservation and sustainable use of natural resources (Ishwaran et al, 2008;Brenner and Job, 2012;Coetzer et al, 2014). Since the first BRs were set up in 1976, the current WNBR has grown to include 669 sites in 120 countries with a total area of more than one billion ha (UNESCO, 2016b).…”