Connecting protected areas and strengthening the livelihoods of the local population in Mexico

Context

Thanks to its significant biodiversity, Mexico is regarded as a ‘megadiverse country’. Different agencies are responsible for its many protected areas, including the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP). There are also other actors, and biodiversity coordination varies from region to region.

The progressive deterioration of natural vegetation and soils, as well as forest fires, are increasing water loss and preventing the regeneration of vegetation. The local population also has to deal with both droughts and flash floods. Protected areas also act as water reservoirs in some states.

Regional and national institutions have identified measures from an Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approach as a cost-effective solution which improves both biodiversity and local populations’ livelihoods. Alternative sources of financing are to be used to implement these adaptation measures.

Objective

Protected areas and other nature conservation measures improve the adaptation to climate change and the resilience of local people.

Approach

The project supports the authorities by improving the resilience of the local population through ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). In doing so, it focuses on strengthening planning instruments with climate risk and gender criteria. The project also integrates instruments for effective promotion of EbA measures in financing mechanisms and implements these in agreement with public and private actors.

The project promotes:

• intersectoral cooperation
• understanding of the ecosystem-based adaptation approach (EbA),
• development of cost-benefit analyses of EbA measures and
• inclusion of climate risk and gender criteria in protected area management and planning

It also supports coordinated implementation of EbA measures.

Last update: June 2023