Introduction: international policy in the biosphere reserves of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula

Smardon, Richard C.; Faust, Betty Bernice

doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2004.09.002

Cited by 29 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(27 reference statements)

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“…Secondly, institutions are relevant when discussing and acting upon conservation from a multifactorial perspective (Castillo and Toledo, 2000;Dietz et al 2003). It also gives some information when considering local communities as an essential component for forest conservation (Smardon and Faust 2006;Agrawal 2007;Ellis and PorterBolland 2008). Multi-level programs focused on conservation can promote the learning and adaptation of the social-ecological system by opening communication in the context of management (Armitage et al 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, public conservation policies, like payment for environmental services (PES) or protected areas (PA), are being questioned about their real capacity for maintaining long-term effects on forest conservation (Ellis and Porter-Bolland 2008;Kosoy et al 2008). Nevertheless, some Mayan communities in the region have responded to these challenges relying on cultural values and not only on improvised responses, making relevant the understanding of the social-ecological systems they conform (Gómez-Pompa and Kaus 1999; Smardon and Faust 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Responding to disturbances: lessons from a Mayan socio-ecological system

González-Cruz¹,

Garcı́a-Frapolli²,

Casas

et al. 2015

Int J Commons

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Abstract:The Mayans of the Yucatán Peninsula, together with their environment, conform social-ecological systems with adaptation and resilience to natural, political and economic disturbances. In this study, we use the framework of socialecological systems for describing a mechanism that allows a Mayan community and its natural environment to respond to disturbances over time. We describe (1) the activities that members of the community develop as part of their strategy for managing natural resource management, and (2) the history of the socialecological system focusing on meaningful events: changes in their institutional body, landscape and/or practices for exploiting natural resources, and interactions between these changes. Through both semi-structured and in-depth interviews, historical narratives and participant observation, we found that managers use the environmental heterogeneity to diversify the exploitation of species, manage the secondary vegetation and protect mature vegetation. Formal and informal institutions of access, regulation and administration of natural resources regulate 832 Gabriela González-Cruz et al.productive activities and management practices. These institutions operate differentially at the levels of environmental units (prohibition of the exploitation of the natural resources of mature tropical forests) and species (protection of the jaguar and cougar). Diversification of productive activities, management of environmental heterogeneity and the presence of flexible institutions enable responses in the social-ecological systems that have the potential to contribute to its long-term maintenance. Comprehensive studies like this might help to understand adaptive capacity and social-ecological resilience.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responding to disturbances: lessons from a Mayan socio-ecological system

González-Cruz¹,

Garcı́a-Frapolli²,

Casas

et al. 2015

Int J Commons

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…NPAs are also caught between the competing cosmogonical views of the indigenous peoples inhabiting them, the dominant social/political classes of the countries where they are located and the international agencies that promote them (Berkes 1999). Moreover, formation of NPAs creates debates over whether or not indigenous peoples' rights to the natural resources inside them take precedent over the rights of the nations in which they are located, which are typically more recent (Smardon and Faust 2006). Given this complex panorama, community participation is a vital ingredient in attaining the preservation, and in some cases restoration, of biologically, culturally and economically valuable ecosystems, although by itself it is insufficient (Western et al 1994).…”

Section: Communities Versus Natural Protected Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, data exist demonstrating that some indigenous societies' relationship with their environment was of relatively low ecological impact. Their adaptive strategies often preserved the characteristics of the natural spaces they lived in and even contributed to their development 1 (Smardon and Faust 2006;Gadgil et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community Member Viewpoints on the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan, Mexico: Suggestions for Improving the Community/Natural Protected Area Relationship

2007

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The results of an analysis of the viewpoints of Celestún community members regarding the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve, Mexico, are used as the basis for recommendation to improve the community/natural protected area (NPA) relationship. Participant observation was used to record the opinions of 80 people (8-83 years of age) between April and August 2002. Twenty semistructured interviews were held with local young people randomly selected from the participant observation group and their fathers; one interview was held with a municipal officer. Results indicate that the informants perceived a lack of communication between community members and the Reserve concerning its objectives and action areas, minimal community participation in Reserve regulation development, an absence of alternative productive activities and unjustified restriction of natural resources. These perceived conditions can potentially generate conflict between the community and the Reserve administration, preventing fulfillment of the Reserve's environmental protection mission and negatively affecting community welfare. It is suggested that communication between the Reserve and the community be mutual and free-flowing, that Reserve objectives be identified in conjunction with the community, that community members be included in Reserve activities and administration, that interdisciplinary teams be formed to encourage communication and participation and that alternative productive activities be developed. Particular emphasis is placed on the need to listen to and address the concerns of young people because they will define the community/Reserve relationship in the near future.

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“…However, power asymmetries and lack of consensus on the main goals have usually resulted in projects representing the interests of few stakeholders, thus, challenging conservation initiatives. Many examples exist in Mexico where lack of communication or differences in perceptions among relevant actors have jeopardized the success of conservation strategies [16,17,[23][24][25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation in Context: A Comparison of Conservation Perspectives in a Mexican Protected Area

Bonilla‐Moheno

Garcı́a-Frapolli²

2012

Sustainability

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Abstract:The conservation of biodiversity in protected areas depends on the interests and agendas of stakeholders involved in the planning and enforcing of management actions. The challenge, therefore, has been to identify and include the perspectives of multiple participants important to local conservation. This paper describes the social context in which local conservation is conducted in a natural protected area in Yucatan, Mexico. In particular, it examines the agreement and expectations among local stakeholders on the main goals the reserve should achieve. Through participatory observation and semi-structured interviews, we analyzed the perceptions on conservation of the five groups relevant to the area management: 1) local people; 2) conservation government agency; 3) scientists; 4) non-governmental organization, and 5) a tourist agency. All actors agreed that the protected area should fulfill two main goals: i) to conserve biodiversity and, ii) to improve local welfare and development. In general, ecotourism is perceived as the best option for protecting the forest and promoting local development. Traditional agriculture, on the other hand, is perceived as the main conservation threat, but recognized as a crucial component of local wellbeing. We discuss these results in the context of the Yucatan Peninsula.

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Introduction: international policy in the biosphere reserves of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula

Cited by 29 publications

References 27 publications

Responding to disturbances: lessons from a Mayan socio-ecological system

Responding to disturbances: lessons from a Mayan socio-ecological system

Community Member Viewpoints on the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan, Mexico: Suggestions for Improving the Community/Natural Protected Area Relationship

Conservation in Context: A Comparison of Conservation Perspectives in a Mexican Protected Area

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