title: Local understandings of conservation in southeastern Mexico and their implications for community-based conservation as an alternative paradigm.
abstract: Since the 1990s national and international programs have aimed to legitimize local conservation initiatives that might provide an alternative to the formal systems of state-managed or otherwise externally driven protected areas. We used discourse analysis (130 semistructured interviews with key informants) and descriptive statistics (679 surveys) to compare local perceptions of and experiences with state-driven versus community-driven conservation initiatives. We conducted our research in 6 communities in southeastern Mexico. Formalization of local conservation initiatives did not seem to be based on local knowledge and practices. Although interviewees thought community-based initiatives generated less conflict than state-managed conservation initiatives, the community-based initiatives conformed to the biodiversity conservation paradigm that emphasizes restricted use of and access to resources. This restrictive approach to community-based conservation in Mexico, promoted through state and international conservation organizations, increased the area of protected land and had local support but was not built on locally relevant and multifunctional landscapes, a model that community-based conservation is assumed to advance.
authors: Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats-ICREA Pg Lluis Companys, 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain. victoria.reyes@uab.cat
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Reyes-Garcia
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Ruiz-Mallen
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Porter-Bolland
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Garcia-Frapolli
authors: Edward A
authors: EA
authors: Ellis
authors: Maria-Elena
authors: ME
authors: Mendez
authors: Diana J
authors: DJ
authors: Pritchard
authors: María-Consuelo
authors: MC
authors: Sanchez-Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006802:Human Activities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D011639:Public Opinion
keywords: Latin America; Latinoamérica; conservation paradigms; indigenous and community-conserved areas; paradigmas de Conservación; protected areas; áreas de conservación comunitaria e indígena; áreas protegidas