MEXICO CONSERVATION TRUST


(Project MX0861)

W


WF's efforts to establish a Nature Conservation Fund in Mexico has received wide support. The Fund will ensure long-term funding for the conservation of biodiversity. The aim is to utilize income generated from the Fund's capital investment to provide grants to Mexican organizations involved in conservation.

Over the past decade, the increase in official involvement in conservation activities has been paralleled by a spurt of environmental NGOs in Mexico. But lack of funds has also seen hopes being dashed. There is optimism that the new Fund will attract up to US$100 million in capital assets over a five-year period from key donor institutions. This should enable pay-outs of about US$6 million a year in direct grants.

WWF has raised US$400, 000 from USAID and a number of foundations for the design-stage of the project. An advisory committee has been set up. Consultations have been held with international and business communities and other Mexico-based organizations. The initial capital for the Fund is expected to come from USAID (US$20 million) and the Mexican Government (US$10 million).

The scope for biodiversity conservation in Mexico is enormous. Although more than a hundred parks and reserves have been established, most lack funds, and many are too small to be viable. Besides, the existing protected area network is not representative of the scale of Mexico's biological diversity. A recent study showed that only about 10 to 30 per cent of the country's diversity was represented.

In other parts, Mexico's once extensive coniferous and tropical forests have been felled to make way for agriculture, and over-exploited for lumber, cellulose, and other products. Today, Mexico is a net importer of forest products, and pressure on natural forests is expected to increase following the signing of the North America Free Trade Agreement with the US and Canada. In tropical areas, the expansion of citrus groves is already eating into primary and secondary forest land.

Pressure from the market has also hit marine resources. Stocks of the giant squid and other species such as the totoaba (sea bass) became economically unviable a decade ago. Today, a number of Mexico's key fisheries including the Pacific sardine, shrimp, and giant sea bass are showing a marked decline.

Mexico's economy depends heavily on revenues from tourism. But not enough attention has been paid to planning or development of ecotourism. Environmental problems include sewage and litter, scenic scarring, coral reef destruction, and a flourishing souvenir trade in animals and plants.

The Nature Conservation Fund will be used for many urgently-needed programmes. These include biodiversity data collection, mapping, awareness campaigns, resource-management and community activities which will bring local groups such as ejidos, cooperatives, unions, and councils within the ambit of the programme.




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