Conservation in Context: A Comparison of Conservation Perspectives in a Mexican Protected Area
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....
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Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/4/9/2317 |
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doaj-04596042d3754ed39c70e90070470a032020-11-24T23:29:17ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502012-09-01492317233310.3390/su4092317Conservation in Context: A Comparison of Conservation Perspectives in a Mexican Protected AreaMartha Bonilla-MohenoEduardo García-FrapolliThe 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.http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/4/9/2317conservation of biodiversityecotourismlocal livelihoodsperceptionsprotected areasYucatan peninsula |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Martha Bonilla-Moheno Eduardo García-Frapolli |
spellingShingle |
Martha Bonilla-Moheno Eduardo García-Frapolli Conservation in Context: A Comparison of Conservation Perspectives in a Mexican Protected Area Sustainability conservation of biodiversity ecotourism local livelihoods perceptions protected areas Yucatan peninsula |
author_facet |
Martha Bonilla-Moheno Eduardo García-Frapolli |
author_sort |
Martha Bonilla-Moheno |
title |
Conservation in Context: A Comparison of Conservation Perspectives in a Mexican Protected Area |
title_short |
Conservation in Context: A Comparison of Conservation Perspectives in a Mexican Protected Area |
title_full |
Conservation in Context: A Comparison of Conservation Perspectives in a Mexican Protected Area |
title_fullStr |
Conservation in Context: A Comparison of Conservation Perspectives in a Mexican Protected Area |
title_full_unstemmed |
Conservation in Context: A Comparison of Conservation Perspectives in a Mexican Protected Area |
title_sort |
conservation in context: a comparison of conservation perspectives in a mexican protected area |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2012-09-01 |
description |
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. |
topic |
conservation of biodiversity ecotourism local livelihoods perceptions protected areas Yucatan peninsula |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/4/9/2317 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT marthabonillamoheno conservationincontextacomparisonofconservationperspectivesinamexicanprotectedarea AT eduardogarciafrapolli conservationincontextacomparisonofconservationperspectivesinamexicanprotectedarea |
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