title: Strategic Actions to Value, Conserve, and Restore the Natural Capital of Megadiversity Countries: The Case of Mexico.
abstract: Decisionmakers need updated, scientifically sound and relevant information to implement appropriate policy measures and make innovative commitments to halt biodiversity loss and improve human well-being. Here, we present a recent science-based synthesis on the biodiversity and ecosystem services of Mexico, intended to be a tool for policymakers. We describe the methodological approach used to undertake such an assessment and highlight the major findings. Organized into five volumes and originally written in Spanish (Capital Natural de México), it summarizes the available knowledge on the components, structure, and functioning of the biodiversity of Mexico; the threats and trajectories of anthropogenic impact, together with its conservation status; and the policies, institutions, and instruments available for its sustainable management. We stress the lessons learned that can be useful for similar exercises in other megadiverse developing countries and identify major gaps and strategic actions to conserve the natural capital in light of the challenges of the Anthropocene.
authors.affiliation: José Sarukhán is the national coordinator of the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), in Mexico City, Mexico. Tania Urquiza-Haas ( turquiza@conabio.gob.mx ) is the coordinator of ecosystem assessments at CONABIO. Patricia Koleff is the director of analysis and priorities at CONABIO. Julia Carabias is a professor in the School of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City. Rodolfo Dirzo is a professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University, in Stanford, California. Exequiel Ezcurra is a professor at the University of California and director of the Institute for Mexico and the United States, in Riverside. Sergio Cerdeira-Estrada is the coordinator of marine monitoring at CONABIO. Jorge Soberón is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Institute at Kansas University, in Lawrence.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarukhán
authors.affiliation: José Sarukhán is the national coordinator of the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), in Mexico City, Mexico. Tania Urquiza-Haas ( turquiza@conabio.gob.mx ) is the coordinator of ecosystem assessments at CONABIO. Patricia Koleff is the director of analysis and priorities at CONABIO. Julia Carabias is a professor in the School of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City. Rodolfo Dirzo is a professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University, in Stanford, California. Exequiel Ezcurra is a professor at the University of California and director of the Institute for Mexico and the United States, in Riverside. Sergio Cerdeira-Estrada is the coordinator of marine monitoring at CONABIO. Jorge Soberón is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Institute at Kansas University, in Lawrence.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Urquiza-Haas
authors.affiliation: José Sarukhán is the national coordinator of the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), in Mexico City, Mexico. Tania Urquiza-Haas ( turquiza@conabio.gob.mx ) is the coordinator of ecosystem assessments at CONABIO. Patricia Koleff is the director of analysis and priorities at CONABIO. Julia Carabias is a professor in the School of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City. Rodolfo Dirzo is a professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University, in Stanford, California. Exequiel Ezcurra is a professor at the University of California and director of the Institute for Mexico and the United States, in Riverside. Sergio Cerdeira-Estrada is the coordinator of marine monitoring at CONABIO. Jorge Soberón is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Institute at Kansas University, in Lawrence.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koleff
authors.affiliation: José Sarukhán is the national coordinator of the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), in Mexico City, Mexico. Tania Urquiza-Haas ( turquiza@conabio.gob.mx ) is the coordinator of ecosystem assessments at CONABIO. Patricia Koleff is the director of analysis and priorities at CONABIO. Julia Carabias is a professor in the School of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City. Rodolfo Dirzo is a professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University, in Stanford, California. Exequiel Ezcurra is a professor at the University of California and director of the Institute for Mexico and the United States, in Riverside. Sergio Cerdeira-Estrada is the coordinator of marine monitoring at CONABIO. Jorge Soberón is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Institute at Kansas University, in Lawrence.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carabias
authors.affiliation: José Sarukhán is the national coordinator of the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), in Mexico City, Mexico. Tania Urquiza-Haas ( turquiza@conabio.gob.mx ) is the coordinator of ecosystem assessments at CONABIO. Patricia Koleff is the director of analysis and priorities at CONABIO. Julia Carabias is a professor in the School of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City. Rodolfo Dirzo is a professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University, in Stanford, California. Exequiel Ezcurra is a professor at the University of California and director of the Institute for Mexico and the United States, in Riverside. Sergio Cerdeira-Estrada is the coordinator of marine monitoring at CONABIO. Jorge Soberón is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Institute at Kansas University, in Lawrence.
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dirzo
authors.affiliation: José Sarukhán is the national coordinator of the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), in Mexico City, Mexico. Tania Urquiza-Haas ( turquiza@conabio.gob.mx ) is the coordinator of ecosystem assessments at CONABIO. Patricia Koleff is the director of analysis and priorities at CONABIO. Julia Carabias is a professor in the School of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City. Rodolfo Dirzo is a professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University, in Stanford, California. Exequiel Ezcurra is a professor at the University of California and director of the Institute for Mexico and the United States, in Riverside. Sergio Cerdeira-Estrada is the coordinator of marine monitoring at CONABIO. Jorge Soberón is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Institute at Kansas University, in Lawrence.
authors.forename: Exequiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ezcurra
authors.affiliation: José Sarukhán is the national coordinator of the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), in Mexico City, Mexico. Tania Urquiza-Haas ( turquiza@conabio.gob.mx ) is the coordinator of ecosystem assessments at CONABIO. Patricia Koleff is the director of analysis and priorities at CONABIO. Julia Carabias is a professor in the School of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City. Rodolfo Dirzo is a professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University, in Stanford, California. Exequiel Ezcurra is a professor at the University of California and director of the Institute for Mexico and the United States, in Riverside. Sergio Cerdeira-Estrada is the coordinator of marine monitoring at CONABIO. Jorge Soberón is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Institute at Kansas University, in Lawrence.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cerdeira-Estrada
authors.affiliation: José Sarukhán is the national coordinator of the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), in Mexico City, Mexico. Tania Urquiza-Haas ( turquiza@conabio.gob.mx ) is the coordinator of ecosystem assessments at CONABIO. Patricia Koleff is the director of analysis and priorities at CONABIO. Julia Carabias is a professor in the School of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City. Rodolfo Dirzo is a professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University, in Stanford, California. Exequiel Ezcurra is a professor at the University of California and director of the Institute for Mexico and the United States, in Riverside. Sergio Cerdeira-Estrada is the coordinator of marine monitoring at CONABIO. Jorge Soberón is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Institute at Kansas University, in Lawrence.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soberón
keywords: conservation instruments; ecosystem assessment; environmental stewardship; science–policy gaps; sustainable resource use