Evaluation Summary of the Project "Protection of Biodiversity and Ecosystems of the Ameca-Manantlán Corridor"

Mexico is a “megadiverse” country in terms of biodiversity, with nearly 65.3 million hectares of forest cover. Faced with growing issues of social acceptability, the country must define new conservation approaches distinct from traditional protected areas in order to expand the portion of its territory dedicated to conserving its various ecosystems. In recent years, Mexico has lost significant portions of biodiversity-rich ecosystems, including mangroves, wetlands, arid and semi-arid zones, and certain forests. The National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) has expressed interest in adapting the French model of Regional Nature Parks (PNR) to the Mexican context. A pilot project in the Ameca watershed, in the state of Jalisco, is the foundation for a national reflection process that will lead to the definition of a new conservation category, or the adaptation of existing categories within Mexican legislation.