Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en México Informe Nacional

The report examines Mexico's progress toward the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework's '30x30' goal, focusing on the potential of OECMs to complement existing Protected Natural Areas (ANP). It identifies that while Mexico has a strong legal framework for social land ownership (ejidos and communities), inclusive conservation is hindered by state failure to enforce Indigenous rights, contradictory public policies, and budget cuts. The document details various conservation modalities, such as Wildlife Management Units (UMA) and Community Forest Management (MFC), and uses three case studies to highlight local motivations for conservation, primarily linked to water security and sustainable livelihoods. It concludes that for OECMs to be effective and inclusive, Mexico must establish transparent recognition processes, align agricultural subsidies with conservation incentives, and ensure the free, prior, and informed consent of local rights-holders.

• Mexico has achieved 20.8% coverage for marine and coastal protected areas, exceeding the Aichi Target 11, but its terrestrial and inland water coverage stands at 13.2%, which is 3.8% below the 17% commitment.
• Social property (ejidos and communities) is critical for conservation in Mexico, as it encompasses approximately 67% of water resources and 70% of forests, with communities responsible for nearly 90% of national forest production.
• Inclusive conservation in Mexico is facilitated by a constitutional framework recognizing Indigenous autonomy and social land ownership, but it is restricted by the state's failure to enforce legal frameworks, systematic non-compliance with prior consultation for Indigenous Peoples, and the imposition of large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Public policies in Mexico are often contradictory; while SEMARNAT and CONAFOR pay for forest protection, SADER provides subsidies (via PROCAMPO and PROGAN) that encourage agricultural intensification and deforestation.
• The '30x30' Roadmap for Mexico identifies three main agendas: the effective management and expansion of Protected Natural Areas (ANP), the creation of a national system for the recognition and reporting of OECMs (including the National Registry of OECMs - RENOM), and inter-institutional coordination.
• Several existing modalities in Mexico have the potential to be recognized as OECMs, including Biocultural Corridors, Wildlife Management Units (UMA), restricted military zones, Ramsar sites, and archaeological sites.
• Financial constraints significantly impact conservation; in 2025, SEMARNAT faced a budget cut of 36.8%, representing a loss of over 25,874 million pesos, which directly affects key conservation actions.
• Case studies of Rancho La Inmaculada, Ejido Noh-Bec, and the Community of San Francisco Telixtlahuaca demonstrate that local motivations for conservation are driven by the desire to secure water resources, maintain intergenerational livelihoods, and preserve cultural identity.

APA

Hesselbach, H., & de la Maza, R. (2025). Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en México Informe Nacional. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1809/Final_Mexico_Country_Report.pdf

Chicago

Hesselbach, Hilda, and Roberto de la Maza. Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en México Informe Nacional. WWF International, 2025. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1809/Final_Mexico_Country_Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hesselbach |first1=Hilda |last2=de la Maza |first2=Roberto |title=Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en México Informe Nacional |publisher=WWF International |date=December 2025 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1809/Final_Mexico_Country_Report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hesselbach2025del, author = {Hesselbach, Hilda and de la Maza, Roberto}, title = {{Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en México Informe Nacional}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2025}, month = dec, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1809/Final_Mexico_Country_Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }