PEOPLE-CENTERED CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN FORESTS/COSTAL AREAS OF YUCATÁN
(Project MX0853)
The peninsula includes two biosphere reserves Calakmul in the state of Campeche and Sian Ka'an in Quintana Roo. Between them lies a two million- hectare corridor of forested ejido (communal lands). These contain large expanses of closed-canopy and semi-evergreen forests, prized for their high-grade mahogany and cedar, as well as for non-timber products such as chicle (natural chewing gum) and allspice. The peninsula is also home to a number of threatened species including five of t>he six wildcat species found in Mexico, howler and spider monkeys, tapirs, ant-eaters, and manatees. It also provides crucial habitat to a hundred neotropical migratory bird species. In addition, the area is an archaeological gold mine with hundreds of Mayan ruins, including some of the largest from that ancient civilization. A bad mix of development activities (roads, tourism, and logging), subsistence agriculture practices (slash and burn) as well as regular visits by looters has all but destroyed the area. Off-shore, coral reefs are threatened by inexperienced scuba divers, water sports, and commercial fishermen. WWF first became involved in the area in 1986, providing support to local NGOs to develop plans for the Biosphere Reserves and the ejido lands sandwiched in between. WWF now promotes community development and sustainable agriculture in the ejido lands. In 1990, WWF began supporting Plan Piloto Forestal, an innovative community-driven forestry management scheme. Four ejido associations now control almost 350,000 hectares of the forested corridor. WWF has also helped its NGO partner, Amigos de Sian Ka'an, in planning a reserve that will include an environmental education programme, sustainable fisheries and agriculture as well as ecotourism. WWF is funding a project designed to train local communities outside the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in sustainable agricultural methods and beekeeping. In the same area, WWF is working with the local association of ejidos to manage production of timber and non-timber forest products. As part of this work, WWF and its partners are developing a land-use planning system for local communities. In other parts of the Caribbean coast, WWF has been helping another NGO, GEMA, provide environmental education programmes for the tourist industry and local residents. The aim is to protect valuable wetlands, coral reefs, and fisheries.
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Copyright 1996, The World Wide Fund For Nature