GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITY

M E X I C O

PRIVATE LAND MECHANISMS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN MEXICO

GEF MEDIUM-SIZED PROJECT

PROJECT BRIEF

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acronyms and Definitions...................................................................................................................3Project Summary..................................................................................................................................4Project Goal And Objectives................................................................................................................5Detailed Project Description..............................................................................................................14Project Rationale And Objectives......................................................................................................14Context And Underlying Assumptions................................................................................................22Activities And Financial Inputs Needed To Enable Changes.............................................................22Sustainability Analysis and Risk Assessment.....................................................................................24Stakeholder Involvement During Preparation...................................................................................27Incremental Cost Analysis..................................................................................................................33Public Involvement Plan....................................................................................................................35Project Implementation Plan..............................................................................................................37Procurement, Disbursements, Auditing, and Reporting.....................................................................43Monitoring and Evaluation Plan........................................................................................................43

ATTACHMENT 1. Project’s Logical Framework..................................................................................ATTACHMENT 2 Information on MSP Proposer: Pronatura..............................................................ATTACHMENT 3. Procurement Under the Project...............................................................................ATTACHMENT 4. Reports, Disbursements, Audit and Special Account Progress Reports..................

Annex 1 Sites Selection Criteria.Annex 2 Project Benefits for the Indigenous Population Indigenous Conservation

in “Carricito del Huichol”.Annex 3 Site informationAnnex 4 Advisory BoardAnnex 5 Case Study: Private Reserve “Las Cañadas”Annex 6 Procurement Under the ProjectAnnex 7 Reports, Disbursements, Audit and Special Account for the Project Annex 8 Project Monitoring and Evaluation PlanAnnex 9 Site Selection Workshop Participants

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ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS

Private Land (PL)In accordance with the constitutional changes that give full ownership rights to ejidos and communities over their lands, private land refers to all lands legally owned by individuals, ejidos, communities as well as those government properties managed under quasi private property regimes (including the lands considered “vacantes” , “mostrencos” or under “dominio directo de la federación”). This means that the definition incorporates all lands considered as social property under Mexican law.

CONABIO

Comision Nacional de la Biodiversidad / National Commission on Biodiversity

CONANP Comision Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas / National Commission on Protected Areas.

FANP Fondo de Areas Naturales Protegidas / Protected Natural Areas Fund

Ejidos A Community Group Legally Formed To Hold Land .

GEF Global Environment Facility

GIS Geographical Information System

INE Instituto National de Ecologia / National Institute of Ecology

ISR Impuesto sobre la Renta / Income Tax

PA Protected Area

PROFEPA Procuraduria Federal Proteccion al Ambiente / Federal Attorney for the

Environment

PLMBC Private Land Mechanisms for Biodiversity Conservation

RAN Registro Agrario Nacional / National Agrarian Registry

SEMARNAT Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales/

Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources.

SINAP Sistema Nacional de Areas Protegidas / National System of Protected Areas

TAC Technical Advisory Committee

TNC The Nature Conservancy

ToR Terms of reference

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GEF MEDIUM-SIZED PROJECT BRIEF

PRIVATE LANDS MECHANISMS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN MEXICO

PROJECT SUMMARY

PROJECT IDENTIFIERS

1. Project Name:Private Lands Mechanisms for Biodiversity Conservation in Mexico

2. GEF Implementing Agency:World Bank

3. Country or countries in which the project is being implemented: MEXICO

4. Country eligibility:Date of ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity: March 11, 1993

5. GEF focal area(s), and/or cross-cutting issues:Biodiversity

6. Operational program:Biodiversity of Forest, Arid, Semi-Arid and Coastal Ecosystems (including wetlands).

7. Project linkage to national priorities, action plans and programs:- There is a growing recognition by the Government of the biological importance of private land and the need for greater private action to save the habitat and species that live there. Much of Mexico’s globally significant biological diversity even within the national system of protected areas is on private property, and many critical ecosystems are on private land still not covered by the system. As a result, the Mexican Government has recognized the importance of conservation of biodiversity on privately owned lands as a national priority.

- The recent Environmental Law includes specific provisions to promote the creation of policy and financial incentives for property owners and civil society to participate in conservation efforts. In addition, new agrarian and forestry laws have created new opportunities for the participation of private individuals and communities in the conservation and management of Mexico’s natural heritage.

- While it is known that an important share of Mexico’s biological diversity is held by ejidos and communities, the formal participation of these landowners in conservation efforts had, until recently, been limited to government permitted land uses on legally established protected areas. The recognition of full property rights of ejidos and communities over their lands (Reforma Agraria, 1995), which were previously held over a structure of social property, allow them to make use of a wider range of private land conservation tools. This broadens the scope for biodiversity conservation on these lands.

- Important changes have occurred in Mexico with regards to private and social interest in conservation. There has been an increase in NGO and civil society participation not only in public policy discussions about environmental issues, but also in direct actions taken for the conservation of globally significant biodiversity. The establishment of Private Reserves, such as those of Eden and Huitepec, in Quintana Roo and Chiapas respectively, and the work by the Friends of Sian Ka'an on transferable development rights, are examples of this trend.

- Pronatura itself perceives an increased interest in conservation by private landowners. Despite the fact that Pronatura has not formally advertised its program for biodiversity conservation in private lands, it received requests from over 40 landowners requesting assistance to conserve the biodiversity on their properties.

- Despite these policy changes and social interest and involvement, specific instruments and mechanisms to promote private conservation are not yet available to be implemented. This project aims precisely to develop and implement tools and incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of globally relevant biodiversity found on private land in Mexico in line with national policy objectives. It will be based on national, regional

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and local laws and regulations, promoting public and private programs to increase public and private sector interest and incentives to protect globally significant biodiversity. It builds upon Pronatura’s existing work and experience in private land conservation tools for global biodiversity conservation.

- The project therefore expects to provide a useful tool for other conservation initiatives such as the Mexico Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, the Indigenous and Community Conservation and the Protected Areas.8. GEF national operational focal point and the date of country endorsement:Endorsed: December 16, 1998PROJECT GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

Project rationale and objectives: Goal: To increase the area of privately owned land under protection in forest, arid, semi-arid and coastal ecosystems in Mexico through the use of Private Land Mechanisms for Biodiversity Conservation (PLMBC).

Indicators: Area protected and biological value of protected

sites: Measurable demonstration of successful conservation mechanisms and their ability to generate significant biodiversity protection on privately held lands, specifically: i). Protection of 20,350 has. through full implementation of private land conservation mechanisms in at least 5 sites under different legal ownership regimes. ii). An additional 15,000 has. subject to private protection.

Geographical spread and number of people reached: Wide dissemination of replicable tools, incentives and policies for conservation in private lands; On-site demonstration of effective, replicable approaches for conservation and sustainable natural resource management on private land.

Number of people, groups and sites within the potential sites database: Measurably more landowners, communities, ejidos, and other stakeholders directly involved in private land conservation.

Financial strength and long term program beyond GEF funding: Sustainable program to promote and catalyze private and public sector action for private land protection and, development of replicable mechanisms.

Rationale: Mexico’s biodiversity is of global importance and most globally significant biodiversity in Mexico is on private property, hence the importance of a conservation strategy for these lands. Unfortunately, the country’s biodiversity lacks adequate protection. Solely relying on conventional conservation methods, such as granting protected area status, is economically and socially impractical. New conservation models, such as PLMBC, are needed which entail negotiations with landowners to agree on conservation commitments.

PLMBCs offer various advantages: facilitate management and conservation, promote civil society participation, and do not depend on direct government action, promote a dialogue between economic and environmental goals and, can be a more economical option compared to conventional methods in the long term. There are PLMBC models in other countries, but they need to be adapted and validated.

Private land tools have not been developed in Mexico for several reasons: (1) a lack of legal and economic

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tools for private land conservation that have been validated and recognized in law and policy, (2) a lack of information available to landowners to use these alternatives, (3) few incentives, economic or otherwise, for landowners to conserve their land and, (4) insufficient capacity within NGOs to coordinate efforts and mobilize resources for the promotion and implementation of private land conservation mechanisms. As a result, there are insufficient alternatives to destroying productive ecosystems for the private landowner. Thus there is a definitive need to address these barriers to the adoption of PLMBCs in Mexico.Project Objectives: Indicators:1. Create a set of legal tools, financial incentives, and implementation techniques for private landowners that promote conservation and sustainable use of biologically significant lands.

Model Toolkit designed with components for use by Government, NGOs, technical and professional valuators, public registry, landowners, congressmen, including: Criteria for site selection. Methodology for baseline assessment. Methodology for management plan design. Methodology for the development of Monitoring

and evaluation plans. Criteria for tool selection for various land

ownership regimes. An environmental economic valuation

methodology. Guidelines for negotiation with landowners. Guidelines for the elaboration of Business

packages. Manual for the creation of NGO networks and

landowner associations. Manuals for the implementation of financial

mechanisms. Proposals for federal and state-level legal

mechanisms and incentives

2. Implement these tools and incentives in pilot sites A minimum of five demonstration projects implemented under different private ownership scenarios and in different Mexican States under different legal requirements.

Representative number and variety of replicable tools and incentives being implemented in pilot sites.

Protection of 20,350 has. through full implementation of private land conservation mechanisms in the 5 sites under different legal ownership regimes.

Sites report benefits for landowners including legal certitude, technical assistance, and projected economic benefits

3. Build support for policy and legal reforms that would facilitate replication of demonstration sites.

Proposals for legal recognition of the toolkit by state and federal legal systems being considered by legislators. Recognition and incorporation of the tools at least on four legal statutes.

Amendments being considered or actually implemented in valuation protocols and manuals that incorporate elements of the environmental

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valuation methodology. Specific policy proposals developed to widen the

legal options to enforce these mechanisms and to create new incentives for landowners and number of agencies (state, federal or municipal) considering or actually applying these policies.

4. Build capacity in PRONATURA and other NGO’s and relevant agents to implement PLMBCs.

More than 100 members of NGOs in Mexico qualified to use tools for conservation on private lands.

Number and membership of NGO Networks and Landowner associations.

Number of sites (in addition to pilot sites) in the PLMBC implementation process by Pronatura.

Number of sites in PLMBC implementation process by organizations other than Pronatura.

An appropriate fund and other financial mechanisms established to enable Pronatura’s private land biodiversity conservation program to continue beyond the life of the GEF project funding.

5. Disseminate lessons learned from pilot sites and implementation tools.

Lessons learned from pilot implementation disseminated to other conservation efforts in Mexico, including the Biological Corridors, Municipal and State level ecological land planning initiatives, and protected areas strategies.

Wide dissemination in Latin America of the toolkit among NGOs, landowners and others interested in conservation alternatives in private land.

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Project outcomes

Outcomes: Indicators:1.1. Validated Toolkit developedProduce a validated toolkit including: -Methodologies for baseline assessment,

economic valuation, management, monitoring and evaluation plans;

-Criteria for site and tool selection for various land ownership regimes; *

-Guidelines for negotiation with landowners and elaboration of business packages;

-Manuals for the implementation of financial and state-level legal mechanisms and incentives and,

-Manuals for the creation and maintenance of NGO networks and landowners associations.

-Manual on use of private land conservation tools to conservation NGO’s.

Toolkit documentation, peer reviewed, validated in pilot sites, and finalized for distribution.

2.1. Site implementation

Create in five pilot sites under different legal ownership regimes (individual, ejido and communal), PLMBC models in situ with local benefits that can be replicated throughout Mexico and elsewhere through implementation of private land conservation mechanisms

Five pilot sites implemented with private land conservation tools, criteria and methodologies in operation and covering 20,350 has.

Validated toolkit

3.1. Policy and Legal Reforms3.1.1. Acceptance of the various components of the toolkit as well as its legal recognition and strengthening by relevant decision-makers at state and federal levels

Relevant decision-makers –government officials and legislators- contacted at municipal and state levels where the five pilot sites are located. Recognition and incorporation of the tools in at least four municipal/state/federal legal statutes.

3.1.2. Acceptance and use of valuation methodology by valuation professionals in various fields.

Valuation methodology recognized/incorporated in the regular catalog of professional services.

3.1.3. Support for the creation of policies and incentives for private land conservation from conservation NGOs, state, and municipal governments.

Policy and regulatory initiatives dealing with private land conservation either implemented or in the evaluation process.

4.1. Capacity building4.1.1.Stronger capacity within NGO’s and governments as well as awareness and interest among landowners of the PLMBCs to potentiate their implementation and hence the expansion of private land under conservation.

160 key individuals trained: NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools.

1 NGO network and 2 landowners associations legally established.

4.1.2.Sufficient capacity within PRONATURA to manage current private land conservation sites and expansion of the program.

4 Trained regional program officers and technical experts within Pronatura.

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A long-term fundraising strategy in place to mobilize resources for private land activities.

Establishment of financial mechanisms to provide medium and long-term financial sustainability of the program for biodiversity conservation on private property.

New prospective sites and landowners identified in database and GIS for future expansion of the program.

5.1. Dissemination5.1.1. Widespread awareness of the Program and Toolkit

Program and Toolkit presentation through printed and electronic publications, manuals, CD ROM, internet and leaflets directed to various audiences.

5.1.2. Informed participation of key actors in promotional participatory workshops for NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools.

Good attendance and active participation of the identified key players in 4 workshops for individuals and organizations who commit to divulging the promotional material in their respective areas.

Full understanding of project objectives and tools measured by surveys and interviews.

5.1.3.Development of a report with lessons learned from pilot sites to be disseminated among all organizations and agencies in Mexico and the region involved in conservation activities on private lands through the already operational hemispheric network.

1 report summarizing the pilot sites individual reports.

5.1.4. Mainstreaming of innovative practices in regular professional training institutions.

Curricula accepted by an academic institution to offer a Diploma on environmental economic valuation.

Project Activities

1. Toolkit development (Total US400,000 of which GEF US198,000)1.1. Toolkit developmentProduce a validated toolkit including: Baseline assessment methodology, methodology

to elaborate management plans and economic valuation and methodology to elaborate monitoring and evaluation plans

Site selection criteria and methodology. Conservation strategy and criteria for tool

selection for various land ownership regimes. Guidelines to negotiate with landowners. Guidelines and standards for the elaboration of

Business Plans Manual for implementation of financial and

state-level legal maintenance mechanisms and incentives

Manual of landowner incentives Manual to create and maintain Private Land

Toolkit documentation, peer reviewed and finalized for implementation, including: Manuals, information available with step by step instructions on negotiating each private land conservation mechanism on ejido communal and individual owned lands

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Conservation Networks and Landowners’ Associations including a financial maintenance mechanism.

Manual on use of private land conservation tools to conservation NGO’s.

Joint development and evaluation of economic valuation methodology with valuation professionals to develop economic valuation methodology for private lands that incorporates environmental aspects.

Revisit 32 states legal framework to adequate the legal toolkit to be applicable in all States of Mexico

2. Site implementation (Total US425,000, of which GEF US200,000)2.1. Implement in five pilot sites under different legal ownership regimes (individual, ejido and communal), PLMBC tool kit to obtain local benefits that can be replicated.

Five pilot sites implemented with private land conservation tools, criteria and methodologies in operation and covering 20,350 has.

Identification of ‘best practices’ in planning, management and monitoring techniques for conservation sites that are protected by private conservation tools

Toolkit documentation, peer reviewed, validated in pilot sites, and finalized for distribution/broad application.

3. Policy (Total US100,000 of which GEF US35,000)

3.1. Consultations with NGOs, communities, local governments to determine strategies to address policy needs.

Public demands consolidated report.

3.2. Promote the acceptance of the various components of the toolkit as well as its legal recognition and strengthening by relevant decision-makers at state and federal levels.

Recognition and incorporation of the tools in at least four municipal/state/federal legal statutes.

3.3. Promote the acceptance and use of valuation methodology by valuation professionals in various fields.

Valuation methodology recognized/incorporated in at least 2 out of the 5 presently used valuation methods found in the regular catalog of professional services.

3.4. Framework study on incentives. Study produced.

3.5. Build support for the creation of policies and incentives by government agencies and their promotion among decision-makers

Promotion and acceptance measured both by results (Congressional approval) and survey and interviews.

4. Capacity building (Total US600,000, of which GEF US95,000)4.1. Four workshops to train 350 key individuals from NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools.

350 key individuals trained: NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools.

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4.2 Promote creation and legally constitute NGO networks and Landowners’ associations including the integration of Mexican conservation NGO’s into Latin America and Caribbean Private Lands Conservation Network.

1 NGO network and 2 landowners associations legally established

4.3. Training in GIS and land conservation stewardship of regional program officers of Pronatura in TNC and experience sharing with technical experts..

4 Trained regional program officers within Pronatura

4.4. Establishment of GIS and database management information standards in PRONATURA and creation of GIS databases.

GIS in operation.

4.5. Develop a long-term fundraising strategy to mobilize resources for the sustainability of the private lands program.

Endowment established with initial capitalization of US500,000 and fundraising strategy in place.

5. Dissemination (Total US200,000, of which GEF US130,000)5.1.Produce and distribute printed and electronic publications, manuals, CD ROM, internet and leaflets directed to various audiences to present Toolkit.

Printed and electronic publications, manuals, CD ROM, WebPages and leaflets distributed.

5.2. Organize workshops for key actors in NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools.

4 workshops for individuals and organizations who commit to divulging the promotional material in their respective areas

5.3. Toolkit distribution. Toolkit actively distributed to landowners, communities, conservation organizations, municipalities, and other government agencies.

5.4. Prepare a report with lessons learned from pilot sites to be disseminated among all organizations and agencies in Mexico and the region involved in conservation activities on private lands through the already operational hemispheric network.

1 report summarizing the pilot sites individual reports

5.5. Design curricula for a Diploma on environmental economic valuation to be offered by academic institutions.

At least one course has been integrated into the regular curricula and/or a Diploma (graduate) incorporated in the catalog of a major University.

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12. Estimated budget (in US$)

PDF Block A Project preparation

GEF:

Total GEF (MSP+PDF A)

Pronatura A.C.

MacArthur Foundation

Packard Foundation

The Tinker Foundation

J.P. Morgan

Co financing:

TOTAL PROJECT:

$ 25,000

$ 725,000

$750,000

$ 700,000

$ 35,000

$ 200,000

$ 140,000

$ 25,000

$1’100,000

$ 1’850,00013. Information on institution submitting Project Brief: Pronatura, A.C. is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to conserve priority flora, fauna and ecosystems of Mexico, and to contribute to the development of society in harmony with nature. (detail in Attachment 2)14. Information on proposed executing agency: Same as above.15. Date of original submission of project concept: March 5, 199916. Project Identification number: GM-P06592317. Implementing Agency Contact Person: Ricardo Hernandez Murillo: Environmental Specialist (TTL) email: rhernandez1@worldbank.orgKarin Shepardson: Global Environment Regional Coordinator email: kshepardson@worldbank.org18. Project linkage to Implementing Agency Program:

The World Bank is assisting the Government of Mexico since 1999 to develop with the GEF Secretariat and the other Implementing Agencies a Programmatic Framework for GEF support of global environment initiatives in Mexico over the next 5-10 years, expected to be completed this year under a broader program to design a 2001-2025 “Green Plan”. The Framework consists of a comprehensive approach that commits to measurable progress in conservation and sustainable use, while incorporating environment objectives into the country’s national strategies and plans. It is intended to translate the National Strategys presented before the CBD and the UNFCC into a cost-effective programmatic approach which among other things will evidence the complementarities, overlap or missing links in the Mexican portfolio, including the need for new instruments, mechanisms and innovative approaches.

Each of the projects in the funding pipeline supports different aspects of the national strategy. The present proposal could become one of the most important instruments to bridge the gap between the conservation objectives of government decrees to protect priority areas and the legitimate interest of the private owners of such lands, for carbon sinks, protection of watersheds or unique ecosystems. The Indigenous and Community Conservation project in Oaxaca, Michoacán and Guerrero also focuses on conservation through the voluntary participation of the indigenous and community land owners to protect biodiversity through non-governmental conservation regimes.

The toolkit which will be validated in the field will also be applicable to sustainable use projects such as

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Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use in 3 Priority EcoRegions, the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor project (which will complement mainstreaming as well as conservation activities) and the Conservation and Sustainable Use in the Biosphere Reserve of Sierra Gorda.

The linkage of the project with the World Bank program in Mexico in general is reflected by the leading role of the Institution in developing feasible concrete approaches to mainstreaming through environmental projects in natural protected areas, corridors, forestry and indigenous lands conservation initiatives, as well as in the rural development portfolio linking conservation and the search of income alternatives for the rural population which depends primarily on the natural resources. The principle of participation of private actors, including pequenos propietarios , ejidos and indigenous communities, and the support to decentralization and devolution of responsibilities, is high in the CAS and the Bank’s portfolio in the country, specifically through projects in the rural areas: Community Forestry, Marginal Areas, Rural Municipalities (under preparation) and Environmental Policy Reform (under preparation).

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DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION

PROJECT RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Mexico’s biodiversity is of global importance. Mexico is ranked fourth in terms of its biodiversity and is among the top 10 “megadiverse” in the world. The country is first in number of reptile species, second in mammals, and among the top four in plant species. Its unique position between the two most important bio geographic regions in the world, the Neoartic and the Neotropical have enabled not only a wide diversity of ecosystems, microecosystems and migratory patterns but also the evolution of an unusually large number of endemic species. To give some examples: eighty percent of all conifer species exist in Mexico, 51% of all migratory bird species of North America winter in Mexico every year while “butterflies, fish, whales, bats and turtles pass through the country seasonally”1 and, 52% of all reptile species in Mexico, which in turn represent 11% of all known species in the world, are endemic.

Most Globally Significant Biodiversity Is On Private Property, Hence The Importance Of A Conservation Strategy For These Lands. But, how important is the role of private property in biodiversity conservation in Mexico? Given that eighty percent of land in Mexico is owned by ejidos and communities (as opposed to individuals or government), a strategy to ensure that current and future land uses are compatible with conservation in biodiversity rich areas under private property is of key importance. Data from CONABIO points out that many areas of critical habitat are still outside of SINAP, and most of them are under some form of private property (either owned by individuals, ejidos or communities). In addition, of all the land currently part of the National System of Protected Natural Areas (ANPs) 65% is privately owned. These means that most of globally significant biodiversity in Mexico on a complex mosaic of privately owned land.

New Conservation Models Are Needed. Under these conditions, it would be economically and socially impractical to protect all priority areas under conventional methods. Experience has shown that granting protected area status to populated areas and negotiating land uses later carries a high social burden that may result counterproductive in the interest of long term conservation. Hence, a sound alternative for effective long-term conservation in private land is of strategic importance to strengthen the overall conservation strategy of the country and new innovative conservation models, which incorporate private landowners early in the conservation process, are needed if social conflicts are to be avoided.

Pronatura considers Private Land Mechanisms for Biodiversity Conservation -PLMBCs as an alternative. Pronatura has identified private land mechanisms for biodiversity conservation –PLMBCs – as a promising strategy to promote partnerships between conservation non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and individual, ejidos, communities and private landowners to ensure long term conservation in their lands. The instruments or tools implemented provide transparency, legality and enforceability to the arrangements.

There Are Models In Other Countries, But They Need To Be Adapted And Validated. While it is true that private land conservation alternatives exist in other countries, such as those promoted by the Conservancy movement, these tools cannot be directly translated and applied to Mexican conditions, they still need to be adapted and tested in its social, cultural, economic and environmental reality. Pronatura has pioneered some of this work, which still is considered to be in

1 See: Mexico: Resource Conservation and Forest Sector Review; March 31, 1995; World Bank

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a pilot phase. The organization developed a study to identify potential tools for biodiversity conservation in private lands. The result was 14 tools applicable over a wide range of property regimes and that could be readily applied within the existing legal framework. This allowed the Program on Conservation in Private Lands to start implementing tools even before promoting legal reforms.

PLMBC are private agreements that are enforceable and commit landowners to conserve certain attributes of their land. These mechanisms provide owners of biologically significant land and conservation NGO’s a series of legal options to ensure that biodiversity is protected for future generations. Although there are various forms and models that private conservation tools may take, they can be generally seen as legal agreements between conservation NGO’s and landowners, whereby the landowner retains ownership of the property, but commits to conserve some of the attributes of the land. A third party or the conservation NGO itself carries out the necessary monitoring activities to ensure compliance.

Purchase Of Land Is Not Socially Feasible In Most Cases; Hence, Negotiations With Landowners Are Necessary To Agree On Conservation Commitments. Purchase of land is certainly an alternative considered in the toolkit, however, it is not one that will be implemented in this GEF proposal. Given the strong cultural linkages between indigenous communities and biodiversity, as well as the social development needs in rural areas, the purchase of land in many areas of Mexico is socially unfeasible. Land purchases under these conditions represent an option that may hinder to long term sustainable development objectives. Hence, it is a principle of this project that land purchases are the last option for conservation and it will therefore focus its efforts on alternatives that do not imply change in land ownership. As a result, a greater stress is placed on negotiation and reaching agreements with landowners.

Negotiations Are Central To The PLMBC Approach And Are Facilitated By The Methodology Being Developed At Pronatura. They allow for conservation-development trade-offs to be considered in negotiations. Private land mechanisms for biodiversity conservation have as a starting point the negotiation with landowners with regards to the need for conservation and the design of the management plan for the area. In this sense, they can accommodate and balance the needs of the landowner and those of society at large, allowing for the design of effective incentives for conservation. In order to reach agreement and facilitate negotiations, the approach developed by Pronatura takes an integral view at the landowners interest as well as the conservation values of each site. Information on these aspects is generated early into the process (i.e. the baseline) to allow both parties to assess conservation-development trade-offs carefully and, where feasible, identify win-win alternatives.

PLMBCs offer various advantages: facilitate of management and conservation, promote civil society participation, and do not depend on direct government action, promote a dialogue between economic and environmental goals and, is a more economical option in the long term.Hence, PLMBC have a significant potential of application in Mexico and offer a number of advantages that make them particularly valuable as a complement for other more conventional strategies for biodiversity conservation in Mexico:

They allow for detailed management plans at the landowner level, which facilitates the handling of biologically and socially complex areas. By being administered through private organizations –NGO’s- they overcome the problem of limited administrative capacity of government agencies that would arise if they were to manage thousands of properties.

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They are ideal for micro-conservation, which is particularly important in the case of endemic species.

There is a need for dialogue between environmental and economic goals at all levels, and because PLMBCs do not start with a protected area, the PLBCM do reduce a priori the negotiation space with the landowner. This facilitates the design of win-win solutions for the social conservation and private economic interests.

Given that the toolkit only considers the actual purchases of land as the last resort option, it enables the use of other more acceptable and less costly alternatives. Just to give an idea of this, the entire GEF medium size project would only be able to buy some 4,000 has. of average priced real estate, while just with the pilot sites, this project will conserve more than 30,000.

Its goal is to increase the amount of land under conservation through five objectives The projects overall goal of increasing the amount of privately owned land under protection in forest, arid, semi-arid and coastal ecosystems in Mexico is approached through five different but interrelated objectives: (1) development of legal and financial tools as well as the necessary criteria, guidelines and standards for the successful application of biodiversity conservation mechanisms in private land –i.e. the toolkit-, (2) application of some of the tools in selected pilot sites, (3) promotion of the necessary legal and policy reforms to facilitate the use of the conservation tools and, (4) capacity building and (5) wide dissemination of the toolkit among NGO’s, landowners and others interested in conservation alternatives in private land as well as coordination of their actions through networks and associations.

The strategy is therefore to develop, validate, disseminate and promote PLMBCTherefore, the project is designed to achieve its ambitious goal through the development and promotion of new field validated conservation alternatives that can be readily implemented by Pronatura and other’s beyond the life span of the project. The positive reaction from landowners, NGO’s and government agencies received so far reaffirms the belief of Pronatura that creating, enabling and empowering the actors will render the greatest conservation benefits in the shortest time span, rather than the direct implementation of private land tools by Pronatura alone.

Project Description

The project is structured around its five main objectives: Toolkit development, Site implementation, Policy promotion, Capacity building and Dissemination. The five components are closely inter-linked, with some outcomes serving as inputs for other components of the overall project, as is shown in the Matrix of Inter-linkage of Project Components and Activities that summarizes the input of the relevant actors participating in the design. (see Matrix/Table 2)

It is expected that this project will produce field-validated methodologies, guidelines and criteria that will significantly potential the extensive use of the PLMBCs. This project will, through a systematic application of the conservation tools in selected pilot sites, refine and field validate the tools developed to date in Pronatura. It will also carry out additional legal and incentive studies to complement the toolkit and ensure that it covers all relevant aspects of sustainable private land conservation.

Once developed and validated, the project will act to disseminate the toolkit and promote its acceptance and recognition within policy and legal frameworks.

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Expected Project Outcomes

The proposed GEF project will have the following expected outcomes:

Toolkit Development

The project shall develop, refine and validate a comprehensive toolkit for implementation of PLMBC. The toolkit will consist of the various methodologies, criteria and guidelines that may assist the user in the implementation of PLMBCs:

a) Criteria For Site Selection. It is important that selection of sites for implementation of PLMBCs. While biological values of the sites play an important role, the interests of the landowner and other socioeconomic considerations are equally relevant. Site selection criteria consider all these aspects under the categories of the biological values, threats to those values and, opportunity considerations.

b) Methodology For Baseline Assessment. The baseline consists of the basic biological, legal and economic conditions that need to be taken into consideration to assess the feasibility of implementing a PLMBC. The baseline assessment shall provide information such as the conservation value of the land, the economic status of the productive activities on the land and if the identified landowner has the necessary documentation to prove ownership. The baseline provides, among other things, the required land use restrictions necessary to conserve biological values, the possible legal tools to enforce the restrictions and the opportunity cost of conservation.

c) Methodology For Management Plan Design. This methodology will guide users in the development of the management plan for each property. The management plan considers the necessary actions needed to restore and/or maintain ecosystem integrity and functions.

d) Methodology For The Development Of Monitoring And Evaluation Plans. Monitoring and evaluation involves not only the biological aspects, which will allow for adaptive management of the site, but also the legal ones to ensure compliance. These monitoring and evaluation activities are typically delegated to an independent third party or to the conservation NGO.

e) Criteria For Tool Selection For Various Land Ownership Regimes. These criteria are intended to provide guidance on the conservation tool to be used given the various particular conditions of the property, its legal ownership regime, the duration of the conservation commitment and, the type of management and sustainable use that will be carried out, among others.

f) An Environmental Economic Valuation Methodology. Land markets in Mexico are not yet fully developed. Many transactions are guided by valuation professionals who provide a first estimate of land values that can be negotiated and adjusted. Insurance companies, Banks, Government agencies and private individuals all use these valuation estimates in their transactions. For government transactions there is even a National Valuation Commission that in 1999 alone, for example, carried out more that 8,000 land valuations and has more than 240 valuation professionals. To this we must add the private sector valuations and personnel. These estimates are provided by valuation professionals who adhere to standards set by the National Banking Commission. We believe that if economic incentives for environmental services are to be a reality, there must be an easily accessible way of deriving estimates of the value of these environmental services. One way of doing it is by developing a complementary modulus to existing valuation methodologies and creating capacity among valuation professionals to use it. Hence, we aim to develop a low cost valuation methodology that is within financial

17

reach of existing agencies and people using the services of valuation professionals, simple enough to be disseminated among valuation professionals and robust enough that can reflect environmental values. The environmental economic valuation, component of the tool kit, will provide an estimate of the monetary value of the environmental values in the land. This estimate could then be used both to justify the need for conservation and to assess the amount due for environmental services among other applications. The methodology developed as part of the toolkit is intended to be simple and standardized so that it can be implemented as part of conventional land valuations and indeed, applied by valuation professionals in both the private and public sectors.

g) Guidelines For Negotiation With Landowners. Two aspects are of key importance with regards to the negotiation with landowners: that they receive all relevant information to take an informed decision and, that legally and culturally appropriate channels of communication have been used in the negotiation process. In addition, the set of identified useful incentives for landowners to engage in PLMBC on their property shall be described here. These, and other considerations, will be part of the toolkit’s guidelines designed to provide both the landowner and the NGO a fair ground for negotiation and decision making.

h) Guidelines For The Elaboration Of Business Packages –BP-. The integral approach used in this project implies that attention needs to be paid to the social and economic needs of the landowner. The Business package is a set of actions leading to a sustainable use of the land’s resources, often involving a transition from unsustainable to sustainable practices. This plan addresses the cost, investments needed and actions involved as well as the expected profits of a transition to sustainability. Since the BP will vary significantly from site to site depending on the socioeconomic conditions, the toolkit will only provide a set of guidelines for the elaboration of the BPs in such a way as to ensure that the BP does effectively contain sustainable activities.

i) Manual For The Creation Of NGO Networks And Landowner Associations. The coordinated action of NGO’s and landowners, both for the exchange of experiences and the promotion of incentives are considered as an effective means to disseminate and encourage the use of PLMBCs. This manual shall provide information both on the legal aspects of creating networks and associations and on the economic options for maintenance of these groups.

j) Manuals For The Implementation Of Financial Mechanisms. The costs associated with a PLMBC, such as the management plan, business package, the monitoring and evaluation activities, need a long-term source of finance if they are to be successfully implemented. These manuals shall contain a description of various financial sources and possible arrangements to ensure that they provide these resources.

Proposals For Federal And State-Level Legal Mechanisms And Incentives. There is clearly a need to establish a sound dialogue between the PLMBCs and the existing policy and legal frameworks. This proposals will contain a description of various opportunities to foster PLMBC at the federal and state level by linking them to policy and legal provisions. This may also provide assistance on the development of policy and legal reforms that may be needed at federal and state level to effectively promote conservation in private lands.

Site Implementation

Protection Of More Than 20,000 has. through full implementation of private land conservation mechanisms in at least 5 sites under different legal ownership regimes (individual, ejido and communal) to create models that can be replicated throughout Mexico. While the pilot sites’ main

18

purpose is to validate the toolkit, they will also provide direct conservation benefits in the process, and this amounts to some 20,000 has. (See table 1).

Validation Of The Toolkit. Through its implementation in the field, the pilot sites shall provide practical insights into the various toolkit components. Implementation problems, limitations and refinement needs will all be part of the evaluation of the pilot sites that will provide feedback to the toolkit.

Policy

The pilot sites are intended to prove that the PLMBC are legally feasible and enforceable. That there is some scope for expansion among private landowners in similar conditions as those included as pilot sites. However, not all landowners in biodiversity rich areas will be convinced by the set of incentives used up to date. Likewise, despite the fact that the PLMBCs are legally enforceable, experience in Las Cañadas has showed that some legal reforms could greatly strengthen the enforceability of the mechanisms. That is why we believe that some economic incentives and legal reforms must also be promoted at this stage. These will ensure greater interest in the tools and hence the long term growth and sustainability of the program.

Promote The Acceptance Of The Various Components Of The Toolkit As Well As Its Legal Recognition and strengthening by relevant decision-makers at state and federal levels. This includes the development and active promotion of specific proposal for legal and policy reform. To date, Veracruz’s State Environmental Law already recognizes some of the tools as part of the State’s environmental strategy, thereby widening the legal options to enforce them and to create incentives for landowners. The project expects to replicate similar initiatives in other states and take them further to full implementation of a set of economic incentives, leading to the recognition and incorporation of the tools in –at least-, four municipal, state and or federal legal statues or instruments.

This expansion of the legal component of the toolkit is intended to incorporate relevant elements of the State Laws into the toolkit in order to strengthen the legal standing and enforceability of PLMBCs. It is understood as an expansion because some State laws allow additional mechanisms to be developed as has been already identified (D.F. example). In addition this component will allow us to identify needed or desirable legal reforms that will be then promoted as a policy activity.

Promote The Acceptance And Use Of Valuation Methodology by valuation professionals in various fields. It is the principle of this project that a change from “business as usual” is needed. In the case of economic valuation, the project will seek to make environmental valuation a routine procedure for valuation professionals so they can recognize and incorporate the valuation methodology in their regular catalog of professional services. Specifically, the project will seek to induce changes in at least 2 out of the 5 presently used valuation methods in the catalog.

Build Support For The Creation Of Policies And Incentives for private land conservation from conservation NGO’s, state, and municipal governments. The project will not be limited to recognition of the toolkit; it will also seek to create more incentives for landowners to conserve the biological assets on their land. To do so, the project will also develop specific and policy proposals that will promote before the appropriate agencies.

Legal recognition is not enough to enable PLMBC to be of interest for private landowners. There needs to be also some form of incentives that recognize and reward the flow of environmental goods and services that private landowners are guaranteeing through their commitment. Specific

19

policy proposals will be developed to this effect and expected to be either implemented or under evaluation before the project ends.

Capacity Building

Build Capacity Within NGO’s And Governments As Well As Awareness And Interest Among Landowners of the PLMBCs to potentiate the implementation and hence the expansion of private land under conservation. This involves not only informative meetings with different actors, but also technical training for 350 key individuals on the use of the PLMBCs. This component also involves the creation of a network and at least 2 associations to enable the expansion of private land under conservation.

Create Capacity Within PRONATURA to manage current private land conservation sites and expansion of the program. Pronatura intends to serve in the future as implementing agency for PLBCMs but also as advisor and active promoter of the toolkit. New prospective sites and landowners shall be identified in database and GIS for future expansion of the program. In order to maintain this useful and leading role in the expansion of the private land conservation mechanisms, PRONATURA needs to strengthen some areas of its operation., in particular, GIS and database capacity to identify and manage potential sites.. Under this component, critical habitat will be identified according to biodiversity site selection criteria and a database created with biological, ownership information and references to GIS systems for each identified site.

Another key component of this capacity building is strengthening the links and sharing experiences developed in other countries, in particular, but not exclusively, through The Nature Conservancy.

Additionally, one key element to create capacity within Pronatura to expand the program is the role of the 4 Ecoregional Coordinators to be fully trained under this component. Each of them shall be based in Pronatura’s regional offices, thereby covering most of the country and shall have a mandate to identify interested organizations, individuals and communities, promotion of the networks and organization of the training workshops.

This component also involves the development of a financially viable strategy within Pronatura to maintain the program beyond the life span of this project.

Dissemination

Program Presentation Documents. In order to disseminate the program’s objective and tools, there will be a set of leaflets, booklets and other materials in printed and electronic format produced by the project team. Given the wide variety of interested agents – landowners, lawyers, policymakers, conservationists and the general public – there is a need for materials specially targeted to each interested group in order to effectively disseminate the PLMBCs concepts and toolkit.

Lessons Learned. The project will accumulate significant experiences and lessons learned, not only about the implementation of the PLMBC, but also on areas of wider interest such as management plan implementation, biological monitoring and evaluation, among others. These experiences and lessons learned must be shared in order to allow other organizations to reflect upon them and be more effective in their work. For this reason, the project will produce and disseminate widely a report summarizing the pilot sites individual reports on these experiences, both in electronic and printed and through presentations at various fora.

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Promotional Participatory Workshops for key actors in NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools. The project will organize 4 workshops for individuals and organizations who commit to divulging the promotional material in their respective areas.

Mainstreaming Of Innovative Practices In Regular Professional Training Institutions. The project expects to achieve that a specifically designed curricula be accepted by an academic institution to offer a Diploma on environmental economic valuation.

Biodiversity Benefits Produced by Project.

While this project’s long-term objective is to impact large areas, the strategy is to work with property owners in specific demonstration sites, conducting joint efforts within protected areas and working with multiple landowners within ecosystems, thus affecting various properties in large conservation areas. By field testing the tools and validating them, the replicability of the private land tools for biodiversity conservation in a wide set of socioeconomic and environmental conditions is ensured. Pronatura will apply its efforts at demonstration sites with the best possible combination of biodiversity values, interest by multiple landowners, and the opportunity to address threats to different property types. This makes the toolkit a powerful complement to many on-going and future conservation initiatives. As a trade-off, this also implies that pilot site selection will not be guided only by the maximum protectable area. It is believed that learning lessons about incentives and tools to improve on them and disseminate robust mechanisms that allow others to replicate the successes is a valid aim that will have a greater impact in the long run. Focusing only on the size of the pilot sites would limit in turn the sample of property regimes and social conditions.

One of the pilot sites is a private owned land located in the buffer zone of one of the GEF financed selected protected areas, while other is located on a proposed Protected Area and the rest are part of an important biological corridor. As a result, the pilot sites effectively complement GEF supported efforts through the Natural Protected Areas Project (FANP). These cases exemplify the great opportunities to implement long term conservation strategies to enhance the protected area management work financed under FANP. The project is also designed to complement the government’s work in Protected Areas by designing and promoting the use of economic and legal alternatives for property owners to conserve their lands. Complementing PLMBCs with other conservation initiatives is not only desirable but feasible, in fact, there is already recognition of the valuable role that PLMBCs can play in other conservation efforts, like Protected Area Management Plans and in the conformation of Biological Corridors. The strategic selection of sites to maximize global biodiversity benefits is ensured through the effective application of the site selection criteria developed during Block A and expected to be further refined through the activities in this PDF.

Pronatura will not limit its activities on PLMBC to the five proposed pilot sites and will simultaneously work on additional sites which will result in a greater area being conserved as a direct result of the project. Greater global biodiversity benefits will also be ensured through the multiplicative effect of the conservation sites through the creation of the Networks and Associations. The project will produce a list of potential expansion sites along with possible implementing agencies. In fact, it is the expectation of the project that some of these sites will already be in the process of PLMBC implementation within the project’s lifespan.

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CONTEXT AND UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS

Pronatura’s network of regional offices will enable the organization to guarantee a wide dissemination of the project’s results. The Regional offices will provide training and disseminate manuals on the conservation mechanisms developed by the project. They will also develop a network of private reserves managed by ejidos, indigenous communities and private landowners. These conditions will allow the project to effectively provide tools and promote incentives to expand non-governmental land conservation mechanisms throughout Mexico. Pronatura is not undertaking this effort alone. Private conservation tools have already been tested in other countries, such as the USA, Canada, Costa Rica, and Spain. Pronatura is working with experts and initiatives around the world to tailor private mechanisms and develop economic incentives to stimulate long-term conservation in private land in Mexico. Pronatura has joined forces with The Nature Conservancy and other NGO partners in Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Peru to accelerate the development of these instruments, and to exchange information on the lessons from implementation in each country. By working together with experts and pioneers in the private land field in Latin America and the US, Pronatura will maximize this project’s impact on conservation of biodiversity in Mexico.

ACTIVITIES AND FINANCIAL INPUTS NEEDED TO ENABLE CHANGES

The following table lists the major project activities that will lead to specific project outputs:

1. Toolkit development (Total US400,000 of which GEF US198,000)- Produce:Baseline assessment methodology, methodology to elaborate management plans and economic valuation and methodology to elaborate monitoring and evaluation plansSite selection criteria and methodology.Conservation strategy and criteria for tool selection for various land ownership regimes.Guidelines to negotiate with landowners.Guidelines and standards for the elaboration of Business PlansManual for implementation of financial and state-level legal maintenance mechanisms and incentivesManual of landowner incentivesManual to create and maintain Private Land Conservation Networks and Landowners’ Associations including a financial maintenance mechanism.Manual on use of private land conservation tools to conservation NGO’s. Joint development and evaluation of economic valuation methodology with valuation professionals to develop economic valuation methodology for private lands that incorporates environmental aspects.- Revisit 32 states legal framework to adequate the legal toolkit to be applicable in all States of Mexico2. Site implementation (Total US425,000, of which GEF US200,000)- Conduct:Evaluation of baselines at pilot sitesNegotiation with landownersEconomic valuation of specific sitesLandowner incentive analysis

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- Implement Legal tool- Produce management plans- Produce monitoring and evaluation plans- Generate business plan for each pilot site)- Implement appropriate financial maintenance mechanisms- Document pilot site case and analysis3. Policy (Total US100,000 of which GEF US35,000)- Conduct:Consultations with NGOs, communities, local governments to determine strategies to address policy needs.Studies on incentives to be implemented by government agencies and their promotion among decision-makers.- Promote the acceptance of the various components of the toolkit as well as its legal recognition and strengthening by relevant decision-makers at state and federal levels - Build support for the creation of policies and incentives by government agencies and their promotion among decision-makers- Design curricula for a Diploma on environmental economic valuation to be offered by academic institutions.- Promote the acceptance and use of valuation methodology by valuation professionals in various fields.

4. Capacity building (Total US600,000, of which GEF US95,000)- Organize 4 workshops to train 350 key individuals trained: NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools- Promote creation and legally constitute NGO networks and Landowners’ associations including the integration of Mexican conservation NGO’s into Latin America and Caribbean Private Lands Conservation Network- Train in GIS and land conservation stewardship of regional program officers of Pronatura in TNC and experience sharing with technical experts- Establish GIS and database management information standards in PRONATURA and creation of GIS databases- Develop a long-term fundraising strategy to mobilize resources for the sustainability of the private lands program5. Dissemination (Total US200,000, of which GEF US130,000)

- Produce and distribute printed and electronic publications, manuals, CD ROM, internet and leaflets directed to various audiences to present Toolkit

- Organize workshops for key actors in NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools

- . Toolkit distribution

- Prepare a report with lessons learned from pilot sites to be disseminated among all organizations and agencies in Mexico and the region involved in conservation activities on private lands through the already operational hemispheric network

- Design curricula for a Diploma on environmental economic valuation to be offered by academic institutions6. Project Coordination (Total US100,000, of which GEF US67,000)- Install and operate the project management information system- Develop implementation plan for project

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- Coordinate regional activities- Manage the monitoring and evaluation activities- Organize and follow up on meetings of the Advisory Board

The Key Role for Dissemination

The success of this project depends not only on the involvement and active participation of many individual, communal, and indigenous landowners throughout Mexico, but also on the public support for the proposed policies, regulations and conservation approaches. Support can only arise from an adequately informed public about the purpose, objectives and progress of the project and its proposals. For this reason, the project will be proactive in the generation and dissemination of information for the public. Two main channels of information will be available: presentation leaflets and the internet.

The leaflets will provide general information about the project’s goal and objectives, activities and main achievements, while the web page, located at Pronatura website (http://www.pronatura.org.mx) will be used to disseminate a broad range of information including: background information , periodic progress reports, policy and legislative proposals developed by the project and contacts.

Other channels such as newspaper and magazine articles as well as participation at various fora are also considered as part of the overall effort to reach the broadest public possible to provide information about the project, its progress and its proposals.

While the dissemination through the leaflets will be limited by the amount printed, the website will be a reliable, free source of information. Several major environmental websites in Mexico have links to Pronatura website and it is regularly advertised in various publications, so that it has a significant and growing number of potential users.

SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS AND RISK ASSESSMENT

Sustainability Analysis

As mentioned earlier, a strategy of biodiversity conservation based on the expansion of conventional ANPs will face increasing financial and social limitations that have not yet been resolved for the existing reserves. PLBCMs are a sustainable strategy to achieve conservation that can complement existing efforts.

Social sustainability of the project is ensured given that PLBCMs facilitate the maintenance of the livelihoods of indigenous and other rural communities as well as allow them to maintain their control over their lands to satisfy their basic needs while ensuring conservation. PLBCMs are credible and enforceable compromises between conservation and development that are negotiated with landowners prior to implementation, making them a robust and sustainable approach to conservation in populated areas than the conventional protected area approach.

In addition, the long term nature of PLBCMs is also a positive feature. Landowners are faced with a serious long term decision rather than with a short term speculative one, in this sense, the PLCBMs are also a sound and sustainable strategy.

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To the extent that fiscal and economic incentives are implemented to truly reflect biodiversity values, landowner’s decisions will be compatible with global ones. One key challenge for the sustainability of the project is to make the incentives at least as long term as the PLBCMs used, i.e. to avoid short term schemes that will make the landowner skeptical and place a downward bias on the relative value he/she places on conservation. These considerations will be incorporated in the incentive schemes developed by the project. However, it must be recognized that the duration of government incentive schemes cannot be guaranteed by Pronatura. (See annex 4).

On the institutional front, sustainability requires means to facilitate and encourage adaptive management, as well as sound local NGO involvement. The design of the PLBCM project ensures these characteristics through the involvement of local NGOs in the monitoring activities. It is expected that these will not only reduce monitoring costs, but will also ensure that the need for management adjustments is detected early and that local civil society is involved and aware of conservation efforts in their region, enabling relevant lessons-learning in these regions.

With regards to financial sustainability of the project, Pronatura recognizes the need for both the necessary resources to implement the management plans in all the sites as well as funds for the expansion and operation of the program within Pronatura.

To achieve these objectives, Pronatura will create a trust for the entire program with an initial capitalization goal of US$ 500,000.

Several initiatives have emerged during the past years that will complement this strategy. Under the influence of this project, several regional funds are now in the designing phase:

Pronatura’s office in Yucatán, in collaboration with TNC offices in New York, have secured financial commitments totaling $500,000 for the acquisition of easements and promotion of other techniques in the Yucatán Peninsula;

Amigos de Sian Ka'an, El Eden Foundation and Pronatura have secured US$27,000 from PROFEPA‘s trust fund for the creation and acquisition of easements in Quintana Roo; Pronatura’s Northeast office is also seeking to establish a regional fund for the north of the country.

The emergence of regional funds is linked to the commitment of regional organizations who are well positioned to identify opportunities for conservation on the ground. Recognizing these efforts, Pronatura decided to support this strategy and will use its experience and fund raising capacity to strengthen these initiatives along with the creation of its land trust. If additional funds emerge, Pronatura will seek to form alliances with them to constructively collaborate with their efforts. It is believed that this may prove to be a sustainable approach thanks to the local NGOs commitment. The formation of alliances with local organizations is also one of the principles of Pronatura’s work.

In addition to the above, all sites, networks and associations created under the project will include a financial strategy to enable them to secure the necessary resources for their maintenance. The set of financial security strategies include: membership fees for associations, a share of income from commercial activities, fees from beneficiaries of environmental services, direct government subsidies, etc.

Risk Assessment

A positive set of conditions for expansion of the project has been created by the results achieved to-date by Pronatura. (1) The federal legal framework enabling the identification of fourteen PLMBCs

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and their application was researched under various land ownership regimes. (2) The project has been presented to the Federal Property Registry to seek its support and opinion, specifically regarding the legal aspects of conservation easements in Mexico and the procedures to register them on a land title. Results have been positive and have paved the way for successful easement implementation at the State level, where individual property title surveys are done and the easement is inscribed; (3) Mexico’s first conservation easement was successfully created by Pronatura in Veracruz; and, (4) a conservation easement manual has been produced.

In addition, the increased role of private alternatives as opposed to direct government action are likely to be embraced by the new administration, hence ensuring the continued support to this initiative by the incoming government.

However, there are some important risks and assumptions in the project which are worth noting as well as some indication of the severity of them:

The project faces four main categories of risks and assumptions: Policy and Law, Economy, Subjective personal or collective interests and, environmental. (M:Modest, S:Substantial)

Risk Severity

Risk reduction activities

Policy and Law. (M) Undoubtedly, major changes in policy and law that limit the ability of private individuals or groups to take conservation actions and be compensated for doing so would undermine the success of this project. So far, the project has received open support from the administration that is ending its period. The campaign proposals of the elected president are encouraging signals that the support will continue. Greater importance and support to civil society participation in public affairs, decentralization and a greater positioning of environmental issues in the political agenda all are proposals supportive and complementary to this project. Preliminary contact with the transition cabinet and the new environmental commission in the Senate have already taken place to present the project to the new government. Green accounting has also been in the new government’s political platform as well as a fiscal reform. In this sense, we believe that the project’s timing is ideal to provide concrete feasible proposals to the new government.

M Review and analyze proposals and initiatives of new government.

Generate and disseminate position papers among newly appointed government officials.

Economy. (S) Economic sustainability of the various components of the toolkit and implementation actions are essential for the success of the project. In this sense, general macroeconomic stability is required if business plans are to be feasible in the long term. In addition, the economic environment must, at the very least, provide a fair competitive ground for the sustainable activities proposed under the Business Plan to ensure economic viability of the sites. For the case of the economic valuation methodology, it is expected that the environmental policy environment and social awareness of environmental issues will improve and hence promote the viability and usefulness of the valuation methodology, increasing the number of market transactions take it into account.

It is clear that without the successful implementation of effective incentive mechanisms, the scope of PLMBC will be limited. Early experiences in PLMBC have shown that effective incentives can take many forms and do not necessarily depend on large funds. From support in the design of

S Carry out detailed analysis of incentive schemes that could be more effective for the landowner.

Generate and disseminate proposals for economic incentives to be implemented as government policy.

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management plans to direct investments different incentives have been successful in encouraging landowners to conserve the biodiversity on their lands. At present, governments at municipal, state and federal levels have at their disposal policy measures that could be effectively used to encourage private land biodiversity conservation. Lack of information and familiarity with the nature and purpose of economic incentives as well as decentralization processes not yet consolidated have, among other reasons, limited their implementation.Subjective personal or collective interests. (M) For the pilot sites to be effectively implemented, as well as the networks and associations to be formed, the interest by landowners, NGO’s and other implementing agents needs to be maintained and increased along the process, since commitments and responsibilities will grow with time.

This project has already supported the creation of three new local groups dedicated to private land conservation. Given the early interest in PLMBCs, we have good reasons to assume that this trend will continue and that many more such groups, some perhaps modeled on U.S. land trusts, are likely to follow to meet the management and monitoring needs of landowners. By using its experience to build a focused program to promote the needed changes to encourage private land biodiversity conservation in Mexico, Pronatura’s role will eventually evolve to be a catalyzer —as opposed to an implementing organization— of private land conservation initiatives.

Despite the fact that economic incentives will not be implemented at the start of the project, the project is based on the assumption that a significant number of landowners will be interested in the implementation of PLMBCs. Isolated cases of private-landowner-driven conservation initiatives have occurred for decades. One example of them is the Cattle Rancher’s Movement in the north of the country, who in 1987 formed the National Union of Diversified Cattle Ranchers (ANGADI). The purpose of the Union, which now includes more than a thousand members, was to promote the conservation of wild flora and fauna through sustainable use. Likewise in the southeast of the country, the creation of the Eden and Yum Balam in Quintana Roo is also evidence of private landowner conservation initiatives. But more meaningful for this project is the list of over 40 landowners that expressed their interest in biodiversity conservation mechanisms despite the fact that Pronatura had not been widely advertised.

M Creation of Networks and Landowner associations

Identification and promotion of activities of Networks and associations to ensure the interest and active involvement of landowners.

Environmental. (M,S) Factors such as natural disasters (like forest fires, floods) may impose severe changes in sites, not only from the obvious need to reform management, monitoring and evaluation plans but also from changes in the legal standing of the conservation tool.

M,S Ensure, as part of the site management plans, that appropriate risk-reduction activities are complied with.

STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT DURING PREPARATION

In order to effectively involve various stakeholders in the formulation of the project, an Advisory Board was formed. The Board is comprised of academic, business, NGO and landowner

27

representatives, including a representative of indigenous land tenants. (see Annex 4: Details on Project Board)

The Board discussed and continuously reviewed together with relevant actors in each case, the format and contents of each one of the components and specifically the inter-linkage among the components and the areas of interest/responsibility of the different stakeholders.

A cross-relationship matrix was developed and reviewed iteratively with different groups participating in the design and stating their main contributions to record inputs and help identify the main partners for each activity during implementation.

Project Component/Activity Cross-Relationship Matrix

Policy(US$ 100,000)

Capacity building (US$600,000)

Toolkit development (US$400,000)

Site implementation (US$425,000)

Dissemination (US$200,000)

Site

sele

ctio

n

Creation of GIS and database 2management in PRONATURA

Development of site selection methodology and criteria Information standards and creation of GIS databases 3

GIS standards

Pilot site identification 4

Lan

dow

ner

&N

GO

Net

wor

k

Promote creation and legally constitute an NGO network and Landowners’ association with an appropriate financial mechanism 5

Manual to create and maintain Private Land Conservation Networks and Landowners’ Associations. 6

2 Board input3 Marco Lazcano, El Eden (presently in Amigos de Sian Ka’an), November Workshop4 Board decission5 TNC and CostaRica Private Reserves Network recommendation6 Project Team

28

Eco

nom

ic V

alua

tion

Develop Economic valuation methodology for private lands that incorporates environmental goods and services. 7

Design curricula for a Diploma on environmental economic valuation to be offered by academic institutions. 8

Join development of economic valuation methodology’s ToR and evaluation of results with valuation professionals. 9

Economic valuation of specific sites 10

Bas

elin

e Develop baseline assessment methodology 11

Evaluation of baselines at pilot sites 12

Neg

otia

tion

Produce guidelines to negotiate with landowners 13

Conservation strategy and tool selection criteria 14

Negotiation with landowners 15

7 Juan Bezaury (presently in WWF Mexico), Board and November Workshop8 National Institute of Ecology9 Semarnat10 November Workshop11 Sergio Aguilar, Pronatura Veracruz, November Workshop12 Board13 Project Team14 Board and November Workshop15 Project Team

29

Ince

ntiv

esStudies on incentives that could be implemented at governmental level and their promotion among decision-makers. 16

Manual of landowner incentives 17

Landowner incentive analysis 18

Leg

al

Promote the legal recognition of the toolkit at State and Federal levels.19

Expansion of legal toolkit to be applicable in all States of Mexico20

Implement Legal tool 21

Site

M

anag

eme

Methodology to elaborate management plans 22

Produce management plans

Mon

itori

ng a

nd Methodology to

elaborate monitoring and evaluation plans

Produce monitoring and evaluation plans

Bus

ines

s pa

ckag

e Create Guidelines and standards for the elaboration of Business Packages23

Generate business plan for each pilot site

Fina

ncia

l m

aint

enan

ce Produce manual for implementation of financial maintenance mechanisms

Implement appropriate financial maintenance mechanisms 24

16 Board and Workshop with Senators17 Project Team18 Universidad Iberoamericana and Semarnat19 Roberto Zambrano, Pronatura Board20 November Workshop21 Project Team22 Alfredo Arellano, director of Sian Ka’an, and Rene Kantun, Ria Lagartos Reserve, November Workshop23 Ricardo Romero, landowner24 National Coordination Committee for GEF Projects in Mexico

30

Ena

blin

g ex

pans

ion

Development of proposals for legal strengthening and policy promotion of the toolkit at State and Federal levels, including their presentation to policy makers and legislators. 25

Pilot site case documentation and analysis.

Program and Toolkit presentation through printed and electronic publications, manuals, CD ROM, internet and leaflets directed to various audiences.26

Training workshops with NGO’s and other sectors on the use of the toolkit. 27

Coo

rdin

atio

n (U

S$10

0,00

0)

Training and experience sharing with TNC 28

Integration and meetings of the Project Advisory Board

Produce project management information system

Develop implementation plan for project

Monitoring and evaluation

Installation of regional coordinators and project staff

Development of a report with Lessons learned to be disseminated among all organizations and agencies involved in conservation activities on private lands

The participation mechanisms allow effective feedback to the project on a wide set of issues, from conservation criteria, landowner incentives and policy frameworks. Specifically the Board and stakeholders played a significant role in the identification of sites and selection criteria.

The advisory board drafted a selection criteria set which was then discussed and fine tuned in broader participatory exercises which concluded in a 3 day workshop with 25 organizations, scholars, NGO, park directors, conservationists. (Annex 9: Site Selection Workshop Participants)

25 Juan Bezaury, National Council for Natural Protected Areas26 November Workshop27 Pronatura28 Brian Houseal, TNC

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A set of criteria emerged from the workshop which was then applied to 19 candidates to select the 5 present sites.

Sites Selection Criteria (proposed by Workshop Participants).Obligatory (Yes all/No any)It is had the interest of the proprietors. It is had an organization in charge of the monitoring and surveillance. It is free of litigation. It lacks threats that make impossible their realization. Desirable (Percentage of satisfaction of wanted objectives).a) Biological That they present excellent ecosystems for the conservation of the biodiversity in Mexico. That the vegetable associations are in good conservation state or that the restoration of their natural conditions is feasible. Populations' of endemic, strange species presence or in extinction danger. Existence of conditions that they require to be protected by the importance for the entirety or part of the cycle of the life of flora species and wild fauna. Importance like biological corridor or migratory route. Importance like generator of environmental services. That he/she helps to reduce the man's impact on another conservation area due to the proximity or connectivity with other places. b) Legal That the proprietor has the title or certificate that it credits his property or real rights or the legitimate possession. That they are inscribed in the Public Registration of the Property or in the National Agrarian Registration or that it is feasible their inscription. That it is free of real obligations that commit their conservation. c) Opportunity That the community is interested in conservation programs. That they are properties whose ecosystems and species are threatened by the man's action. Presence of incentives that favor the conservation of the property. That they are places that represent cultural and biological linking that deserve their conservation. That it has committed economic resources for the conservation of the area. That being ejido land or communities have registered to the certification/title program (PROCEDE)

Table 1. Pilot sites (selected by Advisory Board.Site Locality Ecosystem Hectares Biodiversity Value/criteria“Carricito del Huichol”

Bolaños, Jalisco

Old growth forest

10,000 168 bird species, of which 31 are listed in NOM 59, 17 are endemic. 45 kinds of reptiles 29 are endemic.

Ranch “Las Cañadas”

Huatusco, Veracruz

Cloud forest 800 37 families including more than 200 species of fowl. Important environmental services to waterbasins.

Ejido Santa María Atarasquillo

Lerma, México

Pine Forest 300 30 species of mammals, 8 endemic; 20 of amphibious, 15 of which are under threatened and endemic status; 21 kinds of reptiles, all of them subject to protection; and more than 70 bird species.

Bahia de los Angeles

B. California Norte

Matorral Xerófilo

3,000 586 invertebrate species, 54 species of cartilaginous fish, 394 of bonny fish, 5 of marine tortoises, 20 of cetaceans.

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Tutuaca, Chihuahua

Temosacni, Chihuahua

Forest pine-Oak

6,250 Unique site for the mountain parrot, other species include the trogón orejón, aguila real and black bear.

TOTAL 20,350Note: these sites were identified using criteria developed during Block A of GEF funding. (Annex 1 describes the selection criteria in more detail.)

INCREMENTAL COST ANALYSIS

Baseline Scenario. Under the baseline scenario, Pronatura would limit its activities primarily to research and policy activities carried out from their central office and limited to ongoing work with stakeholders. A central part of this work would involve the development of the pilot site work but without the resources for a systematic approach that could lead to the development of the toolkit. Pronatura will also continue some research on the legal and private land mechanisms for biodiversity conservation under various regimes of private or community land ownership. It would also include the investigation of private land conservation tools from different countries that could be replicated in Mexico.

Baseline activities without GEF resources would be limited by available financing from Tinker Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, MacArthur and Pronatura resources. The Baseline Scenario would produce four activities for a cost of US$ 1’100,000.

Toolkit Development: Study of land tenure at a national level, and identify the main governmental programs that may affect the nation’s biodiversity, such as PROCEDE (Surveying, mapping and titling of communal and individual ejido properties), PISO (Incorporation of rural lands into urban use), and PROCAMPO (Rural production program that creates a perverse incentive to conservation by subsidizing the destruction of natural vegetation). As a part of the legal research process, a specific analysis would be done on the viability of introducing the ‘easement in gross’ concept, which led to the rapid growth of the US land trust movement. It may be possible to transfer this concept to federal and/or local environmental laws. The cost of the Legal Research Process work is estimated at US$202,000.

Dissemination and Participation: This process has been divided into three components:Local involvement: Implementation of a participatory process at the local level lead (workshops) by the Pronatura chapters to define and promote civil society’s participation in private land conservation. The cost of these activities is estimated at US$85,000.Stakeholder involvement: To successfully implement private land conservation contracts and legal tools it is necessary to have Notaries and Public Land Registries learn about and participate in the legal implementation of federal, state, and municipal options for private conservation. The project would also be presented to the National Notaries Bar. The cost of these activities is estimated at US$30,000.Governmental involvement: This strategy includes a presentation to the new President to enlist his support for private land mechanisms for biodiversity conservation. US$20,000. The cost of the Baseline Participation Process work is estimated at US $135,000.

Pilot Site Implementation: Under the baseline scenario and without GEF funds there would be limited resources for actual implementation of private land conservation tools or the offering of incentives on any of the possible pilot sites. Further study would be possible on the potential mechanisms for each site but it is doubtful that enough replicable mechanisms could be successfully implemented to make an impact for private landowners or that the information could be sufficiently dispersed. Furthermore, Pronatura would be unable to generate global benefits by demonstrating private land mechanisms for biodiversity conservation in different legal environments or under the

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different types of private legal ownership in Mexico or demonstrate different types of private land conservation incentives, particularly non-financial. The cost of basic implementation of PLMBC on some of the pilot sites would cost some US$225,000.

Capacity Building And Coordination: Only implementing the baseline scenario the invigoration of capacities in Pronatura and in other local NGOs it was limited to the formation of a small group of people properly qualified in the use and application of private tools of conservation. The cost of basic capacity building and coordination would cost US$505,000.Project coordination: The cost of coordination would be US$33,000.

Overall, without the support of the GEF, Pronatura’s work would be limited in scope and geographical impact, research and consolidation of existing experiences would be the main priorities rather than nation-wide promotion in ecoregionally important areas. National efforts like the consolidation of the SINAP and the Biological Corridor Project will certainly advance, but PLBCM will only be marginally included and not actively used, hence missing the opportunities provided by these mechanisms.

Without the incremental funding from the GEF the project would be limited in scope to providing isolated local benefits for biodiversity on privately owned properties without sufficient capacity to build the outreach strategies and institutions needed to ensure conservation of globally important biodiversity. For example, efforts to preserve global biodiversity in Mexico would not benefit from private sector testing of instruments without the GEF’s additional funding to help ensure that a greater area of biodiversity in private lands (including the one under decree in the National Protected Areas System, SINAP) are under long-term private voluntary protection mechanisms. Hence, biodiversity conservation on private lands in Mexico under the baseline will be ad hoc and very limited in scale relative to the potential.

The Cost Of All The Baseline Scenario Work Is Estimated At US$ 1’100,000.

GEF Alternative.To produce globally significant results the private land conservation program depends on creating a model that can be replicated throughout the country. GEF financing will help create this possibility and will allow Pronatura to develop and disseminate private land mechanisms on a much wider scale, and to implement replicable projects, create outreach strategies to conserve Mexico’s biodiversity on private properties on a globally significant basis. GEF funding will also help with policy initiatives, the enforcement of Mexico’s current laws and regulations and accelerate potential advances in private land conservation. With the MSP, more than 100 members of NGO's in the whole country will be qualified to use tool for conservation on private lands, enlarging the coverage and global benefits of the project. Thus the necessary changes to create strong incentives and a validated, complete and sufficiently disseminated toolkit that can influence globally significant biodiversity will also not occur without successful implementation of the GEF project. (Table 3)

The GEF Alternative will require 36 months, and the program activities are designed to be catalytic, national and replicable in scope, reflecting the global biological significance of private and community lands. A minimum of five demonstration projects will be implemented under different private ownership scenarios and in different Mexican States under different legal requirements. The project activities will fall into six major categories (see below), with a total estimated cost of US$ 1,825,000.GEF Alternative (Total cost by component=Baseline+Incremental)Develop Toolkit. US$400,000.Implementation at Pilot Sites US$425,000

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Policy studies and promotion US$100,000Capacity Building US$600,000.Dissemination US$200,000Coordination US$100,000

Incremental Cost

The cost of the Baseline Scenario is estimated at US$1,100,000, and the cost of the GEF Alternative is estimated at US$1,825,000, resulting in an incremental cost of US$725,000. The Baseline costs and GEF Alternative costs are summarized in the Incremental Cost Matrix presented below.

Table 3. Incremental cost matrix (US$)Baseline scenario GEF Alternative Increment (GEF)

Develop toolkit 202,000 400,000 198,000Pilot site implementation 225,000 425,000 200,000Policy 65,000 100,000 35,000Capacity building 505,000 600,000 95,000Coordination 33,000 100,000 67,000Dissemination 70,000 200,000 130,000Total $1,100,000 $1,825,000 $725,000Percentage 60 % 100 % 40 %

Co financing:Pronatura/Category In Cash In KindGoods 260,000Consultant 20,000Operational Cost 420,000Total 20,000 680,000

Other sources/Source In Cash In KindMacArthur Foundation 35,000Packard Foundation 200,000The Tinker Foundation 140,000J.P. Morgan 25,000Total 400,000

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN

Stakeholder Identification and Participation Strategy:

Collective or individual land-owners, including indigenous communities, government agencies at local, state, and federal levels, conservation NGO’s, and Pronatura regional offices are all key stakeholders in the project. Specific community members—land owners, users, and neighbors of the properties included in the potential demonstration sites--will be identified and involved in project definition and implementation.

Land Owners

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Individual and communal landowners are the main stakeholders; they directly depend on their land for their economic livelihood and are aware that their management practices and land use choices affect their own quality of life. Joint assessments will be carried out with each property owner; to assess the land’s potential uses, economic benefits, and conservation options. During the preparation phase, Pronatura learned many lessons about how to work effectively with landowners. Building mutual trust and respect in a two-way relationship facilitates the exchange of information and leads to sound proposals and win-win choices. This philosophy will be the modus operandi for Pronatura in its work with all stakeholders. Special attention is being paid to indigenous stakeholders, where cross-cultural issues require additional care in our involvement and negotiation practices.

Indigenous Stakeholders (Additional information can be found in Annex 2)

Special attention will be paid to the continuing work with indigenous peoples under the project. Although the Agrarian Law establishes various forms of land tenure in Mexico, indigenous peoples’ land tenure is deferred to Regulatory Laws of Articles 4 and 27 of the Constitution. The legal code for these two articles does not yet exist because proposals that have been presented to Congress have not been approved, resulting in a legal vacuum for indigenous land tenure issues.

Until such norms and regulations are established, this project will respect the traditional practices and institutions that have evolved over the years among the indigenous communities through their assemblies and internal representative bodies. Pronatura will actively ensure that the project is presented and negotiated with indigenous communities in a way that allows them to freely use their decision making process to decide whether to participate and to determine land use limits and sustainable activities to be implemented. With the legal tools presented to them with this project, indigenous communities will be able to better defend their lands and natural resource rights. In this sense, Pronatura believes that PLMBCs represent a positive contribution to this issue and expects indigenous communities to embrace the concept and be able to use the tools effectively for their benefit.

Taking into account the World Bank’s policy on indigenous peoples, the project will strive to ensure that the development process respects their dignity, human rights and cultural uniqueness as a basis for all activities undertaken. Informed participation will play a key role in implementing cases dealing with indigenous lands. Direct consultation and incorporation of indigenous knowledge into the project are part of the process. The project is designed to respond to needs expressed by indigenous communities in conserving their lands. They will also be the main beneficiaries of any activities designed for conservation and sustainable development of their lands and resources. Special care will be taken to avoid or minimize adverse affects from project implementation. The project seeks to promote community independence by offering them greater tools to legally defend and sustainably manage their lands and resources. Training skills will be offered to ensure on-site project ownership by indigenous communities over the long term.

Government Stakeholders.

Local, state, and federal government agency staff and certain political office holders are key to the process of incentive and policy reform. At the federal agency level, CONANP, CONABIO, and other natural resource agencies are key supporters. It is important to enlist their help to build relationships with government ministries and agencies overseeing Agriculture, Forestry, and Finance, as well as the Federal Registry for Land. At the local and state level, officials in land use and revenue agencies will participate in the design and implementation of incentive and policy reforms; thus partnership with them during the project will be vital. They are part of the ‘bottom-

up’ effort to build solutions for private land conservation. Pronatura chapters and local partners will become involved in cultivating connections with these officials during the early months of the project, with assistance from the Private Land Conservation Advisory Board. Another important aspect of the political reform strategy is to involve key decision-makers from the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Finance, and Congress, in the creation of incentives for the conservation in private lands in Mexico. This process is more advanced, moving steadily forward from the beginning of the project. In August 1998, for example, a group of 7 senators invited by Pronatura traveled to Costa Rica to analyze their experiences with programs of economic incentives and their appointments of district attorneys for conservation. During the second half of 2000, the Commission of Senators and Federal Deputies will participate in a trip organized by The Nature Conservancy to the State of New Jersey, in order to learn about the North American experience with fiscal and economic incentives for the conservation in private lands. And in November 2000, Pronatura plans to carry out a workshop with environmental authorities, of the Ministry of Finance, and other key public managers—as well as NGO’s--on the possible creation of economic, fiscal and financial incentives.

Advisory Board.

To help Pronatura govern and manage the project overall, a Private Land Conservation Advisory Board composed of representatives from the several stakeholder groups has been established and will continue through the life of the project. The Board will provide advise to the coordination of the project, analyze evaluation reports and will have decision capacity over critical aspects of the project. As the project progresses, it will be natural to increase Board membership and to consider the formation of regional Boards. The Landowner’s association and the NGO Network will have close contact with the Advisory Board. (For details see annex 5).

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

The project duration is three years. Pronatura will implement planned activities with technical staff hired specifically for this project, and with technical assistance from The Nature Conservancy. This will be coordinated and supervised by a professional staff member of Pronatura A.C., who will be working as a full time Project Coordinator. The Implementation Plan is designed to allow the flexibility mentioned in the Sustainability Analysis and Risk Assessment section. A summary Implementation Table is provided below. A detailed Implementation Plan has been developed during the project preparation process.

Table 4. MSP Budget (US$)

Project Implementation Plan

The project will be completed in 36 months. The schedule to complete specific project outputs by project component and by project activity is provided in the two tables below.

Table 5: Project Implementation PlanIMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULEComponents MONTHS

6 12 18 24 30 36Toolkit Development ____ ]Pilot Site implementation ___________________________________ ]Policy. Build support for public policies and financial incentives for private land conservation from federal, state and municipal governments.

___________________________________]

Build capacity nationwide to implement private land conservation tools.

____________________________________]

Disseminate information and share expertise gained from five projects with other conservation NGO’s.

____________________________________]

In order to evaluate the project’s general impact and how it fulfills its goals and objectives, the following chart is provided, where each general indicator can be evaluated at the end of each project’s year.

Table 6: Project General Impact IndicatorsOUTCOME MEANS OF

VERIFICATIONUNIT YEAR

1YEAR

2YEAR

3Produce a validated toolkit Package ready for

implementationToolkit 1 - -

Five pilot sites under different legal ownership regimes

Legal Instrument Pilot site 2 3 -

Area under private protection Legal Instrument, Field Supervision

Hectares 3,800 20,350 20,350

Promote the acceptance of toolkit, legal recognition

Municipal-State-Federal Legal Statutes

Tools recognized

1 1 2

Promote the acceptance and use of valuation methodology

Regular catalog of professional services (5 valuation methods)

Valuation method revised

- 1 1

Build support for the creation of policies and incentives for private land conservation

Official Gazettes Initiatives approved by local or federal Congresses

1 1 1

Stronger awareness and capacity within NGO’s and governments

Survey and interviews Qualitative NA NA NA

Awareness and interest among landowners

Legal statutes Landowner association

- - 2

Technical and operational capacity in PRONATURA

Unit operating, Supervision

Project and GIS Unit

1 1 1

Fundraising and financial capacity in PRONATURA

Fund raising strategy and fund established

Capitalization

- US$100000

US$500000

Program and Toolkit presentation through printed and electronic materials to various audiences.

Web Page Dissemination Implementation materials

1 1 1

Informed participation of key actors in promotional participatory workshops

Project reports Workshops/Participants

2/80 2/80 -

Report with lessons learned from pilot sites

Report Report - - 1

Mainstreaming of innovative practices in regular professional training institutions.

Catalog and curricula of academic institutions.

Diploma - 1 1

Table 7: Chronogram of activitiesActivities/ months. 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 361. Toolkit.1.1. Methodology to carry out the baseline assessments. .1.2. Develop guidelines to negotiate with landowners. .1.3. Confrontation of the model developed for the National Conservation Land Program of Pronatura with the existing legal framework and legal practices in each States of Mexico.

.

1.4. A methodology to elaborate the management plans. .1.5. Methodology to elaborate Monitoring and evaluation programs. .1.6. Development of ToR and study on economic valuation methodology and evaluation with valuation professionals.

.

2. Conservation pilot sites.2.1. Development of site selection methodology and criteria. .2.2. Set the standards to collect information from potential sites. .2.3. Application of criteria to identify pilot sites and provide feedback for the criteria and methodologies. .2.4. Develop baseline assessments for the 5 pilot sites. .2.5. Implementation of the relevant legal tool for the 5 sites. .2.6. Develop monitoring and evaluation programs for each pilot sites. .2.7. Develop management plans for each pilot sites. .2.8. Pilot site case documentation and analysis. .3. Policy.3.1. Consultations with NGOs, communities, local governments to determine strategies to address policy needs.

.

3.2. Promote the acceptance of the various components of the toolkit as well as its legal recognition and strengthening by relevant decision-makers at state and federal levels.3.3. Promote the acceptance and use of valuation methodology by valuation professionals in various fields.3.4. Framework study on incentives 3.5. Build support for the creation of policies and incentives by government agencies and their promotion .

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Activities/ months. 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36among decision-makers.4. Capacity building.4.1. Four workshops to train 350 key individuals: NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools.

.

4.2 Promote creation and legally constitute NGO networks and Landowners’ associations. .4.3. Training in GIS and land conservation stewardship of regional program officers of Pronatura in TNC and experience sharing with technical experts.

.

4.4. Establishment of GIS and database management information standards in PRONATURA and creation of GIS databases. 4.1 Installation of basic GIS capacity (hardware and software).4.5. Develop a long-term fundraising strategy to mobilize resources for the sustainability of the private lands program..3. Personnel (Regional Coordinator, assistance, GIS operator)5. Dissemination5.1.Produce and distribute printed and electronic publications, manuals, CD ROM, internet and leaflets directed to various audiences to present Toolkit.5.2. Organize workshops for key actors in NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools.5.3. Toolkit distribution5.4. Prepare a report with lessons learned5.5. Design curricula for a Diploma on environmental economic valuation6. Coordination6.1. Produce project management information system .6.2. Develop implementation plan for project .6.3. Installation expenses for regional coordinators. .6.4. Monitoring and evaluation.5.5. Integration and meetings of the Executive Committee. .

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PROCUREMENT, DISBURSEMENTS, AUDITING, AND REPORTING.

Attachment 3 describes the procurement arrangements and procurement plan. Attachment 4 describes project disbursements, auditing, and reporting.

Disbursement by categoryCategory AmountEquipment/Goods 62,500Personnel 182,130Technical Assistance 374,000Training 20,000Operational Cost 86,370TOTAL 725,000

MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN

With regards to the overall project monitoring plan, one of the initial activities of the project will be the development of a Project Management Information System. This system will facilitate periodical evaluations of the project using the indicators proposed in the Summary Section. as well as the data necessary for effective financial controls of the project (disbursements, auditing and reporting) detailed in Attachment 4. The data from the monitoring plan will serve as the basis of the evaluation.

For the monitoring of implementation of PLMBC in pilot sites, the information system will be complemented by regular visits to the sites by the project coordinator. Several documents to be produced along the implementation process will serve as benchmarks to assess progress. These include the baseline development, the management plan, business plan and legal implementation. Once established the PLMBC monitoring plan will enter into operation and provide annual information on the biological and legal status of the site as well as on the business plan implementation.

The Advisory Board will be the main body responsible for evaluating the project on an annual basis. The evaluation will include the qualitative assessment of the project’s progress with regards to site implementation and toolkit development and also capacity building aspects such as the promotion and creation of networks and associations as well as policy considerations such as the policy and legal initiatives and the efforts to promote their implementation.

Pronatura will report regularly to the Bank on project implementation within the monitoring and evaluation plan and its results.

A total of $11,560 is budgeted for monitoring and evaluation activities.

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ATTACHMENT 1. PROJECT’S LOGICAL FRAMEWORK

Project’s Logical Framework

Narrative Summary Performance Indicators Means of Verification Important Assumptions

Project GoalTo increase the area of privately owned land under protection in forest, arid, semi-arid and coastal ecosystems in Mexico through the use of Private Land Mechanisms for Biodiversity Conservation.

Area protected and biological value of protected sites: Measurable demonstration of successful conservation mechanisms and their ability to generate significant biodiversity protection on privately held lands, specifically: i). Protection of 20,350 has. Through full implementation of private land conservation mechanisms in at least 5 sites under different legal ownership regimes. ii). An additional 15,000 has subject to private protection.

Geographical spread and number of people reached: Wide dissemination of replicable tools, incentives and policies for conservation in private lands, on-site demonstration of effective, replicable approaches for conservation and sustainable natural resource management on private land. (scope of application of implemented tools in pilot sites).

Number of people, groups and sites within the potential sites database: Measurably more landowners, communities, ejidos, and other stakeholders directly involved in private land conservation.

Final GEF Report List of individuals,

organizations and agencies participating in information sessions and training workshops

Report and evaluation of Site implementations

Membership of NGO Networks and Landowner Associations.

Financial mechanisms in place and other sources of funding.

Personnel in Pronatura assigned to the Program

No adverse changes will

occur in civil, agrarian and

land tenure laws.

No significant and negative changes in the environmental conditions in Mexico.

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Financial strength and long term program beyond GEF funding: Sustainable program to promote and catalyze private and public sector action for private land protection and, development of replicable mechanisms.

Objectives

1. Create a set of legal tools, financial incentives, and implementation techniques for private landowners that promote conservation and sustainable use of biologically significant lands.

Model Toolkit designed with components for use of Government, NGOs, technical and professional valuators, public registry, landowners, congressmen, including.- Criteria for site selection.- Methodology for baseline

assessment.- Methodology for management plan

design.- Methodology for the development of

Monitoring and evaluation plans.- Criteria for tool selection for various

land ownership regimes.- An environmental economic

valuation methodology.- Guidelines for negotiation with

landowners.- Guidelines for the elaboration of

Business packages.- Manual for the creation of NGO

networks and landowner associations.

- Manuals for the implementation of financial mechanisms.

Package ready for implementation

No adverse changes in the Constitution, local and State Civil Laws, Agrarian and Environmental Laws.

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- Proposals for federal and state-level legal mechanisms and incentives

2. Implement these tools and incentives in pilot sites.

A minimum of five demonstration projects implemented under different private ownership scenarios and in different Mexican States under different legal requirements.

Representative number and variety of replicable tools and incentives being implemented in pilot sites.

Protection of 20,350 has. through full implementation of private land conservation mechanisms in the 5 sites under different legal ownership regimes.

Sites report benefits for landowners including legal certitude, technical assistance, and projected economic benefits.

Legal Instrument General national policy objectives will be compatible with project’s objectives and strategy. No adverse policies will

be implemented to limit scope

of PLMBCs.

Increased interest in conservation at all levels and areas of government.

3. Build support for policy and legal reforms that would facilitate replication of demonstration sites.

Proposals for legal recognition of the toolkit by state and federal legal systems being considered by legislators. Recognition and incorporation of the tools at least on four legal statutes.

Amendments being considered or actually implemented in valuation protocols and manuals that incorporate elements of the environmental valuation methodology.

Specific policy proposals developed to widen the legal options to enforce these mechanisms and to create new incentives for landowners and number of agencies

Municipal-State-Federal

Legal Statutes

Significant interest by landowners to implement PLMBC even before government incentives are in place. Significant interest by NGO’s in the use of the toolkit to complement their conservation work.

46

(state, federal or municipal) considering or actually applying these policies.

4. Build capacity in PRONATURA and other NGO’s and relevant agents to implement PLMBCs.

More than 100 members of NGOs in Mexico qualified to use tools for conservation on private lands.

Number and membership of NGO Networks and Landowner associations.

Number of sites (in addition to pilot sites) in the PLMBC implementation process by Pronatura.

Number of sites in PLMBC implementation process by organizations other than Pronatura.

An appropriate fund and other financial mechanisms established to enable Pronatura’s private land biodiversity conservation program to continue beyond the life of the GEF project funding.

Survey and interviews. Legal statutes. Unit operating, Supervision. Fund raising strategy and fund established.

Interest by landowners of pilot sites will be maintained and allow for the implementation of PLMBCs.

5. Disseminate lessons learned from pilot sites and implementation tools.

Lessons learned from pilot implementation disseminated to other conservation efforts in Mexico, including the Biological Corridors, Municipal and State level ecological land planning initiatives, and protected areas strategies.

Wide dissemination in the Continent of the toolkit among NGOs, landowners and others interested in conservation alternatives in private land.

Report

Outcomes by category

Toolkit development

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Develop and publish a validated toolkit including: -Methodologies for baseline assessment, economic valuation, management, monitoring and evaluation plans; -Criteria for site and tool selection for various land ownership regimes; -Guidelines for negotiation with landowners and elaboration of business packages; -Manuals for the implementation of financial and state-level legal mechanisms and incentives and, -Manuals for the creation and maintenance of NGO networks and landowners associations

Toolkit documentation, peer reviewed, validated in pilot sites, and finalized for distribution.

Package ready for implementation

Site evaluation reports.

No major changes in legislative structure will occur so that toolkit will still be valid beyond project’s lifespan.

Site implementation

Create in five pilot sites under different legal ownership regimes (individual, ejido and communal), PLMBC models in situ with local benefits that can be replicated throughout Mexico and elsewhere through implementation of private land conservation mechanisms

Five pilot sites implemented with private land conservation tools, criteria and methodologies in operation and covering 20,350 has.

Validated toolkit.

Legal Instrument Interest by landowners of pilot sites will be maintained and allow for the implementation of PLMBCs.

Policy and Legal ReformsPromote the acceptance of the various components of the toolkit as well as its legal recognition and

Relevant decision-makers –government officials and legislators- contacted at municipal and state levels where the five

Municipal-State-Federal Legal Statutes

No adverse changes in the Constitution, local and State Civil Laws, Agrarian and

48

strengthening by relevant decision-makers at state and federal levels.

pilot sites are located. Recognition and incorporation of the tools in at least four municipal/state/federal legal statutes.

Environmental Laws.

Promote the acceptance and use of valuation methodology by valuation professionals in various fields.

Valuation methodology applied/validated in the regular catalog of professional services.

Regular catalog of professional services (5 valuation methods)

Build support for the creation of policies and incentives for private land conservation from conservation NGOs, state, and municipal governments.

Policy and regulatory initiatives dealing with private land conservation either implemented or in the evaluation process.

Official Gazettes

Capacity buildingStronger capacity within NGO’s and governments as well as awareness and interest among landowners of the PLMBCs to potentiate their implementation and hence the expansion of private land under conservation.

160 key individuals trained: NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools.

1 NGO network and 2 landowners associations legally established.

Survey and interviews Significant number of landowners and NGO’s interested in the toolkit

NGO’s and private sector role in conservation will be maintained if not increased in the future and recognized by public policy.

Sufficient capacity within PRONATURA to manage current private land conservation sites and expansion of the program.

4 Trained regional program officers and technical experts within Pronatura.

A long-term fundraising strategy in place to mobilize resources for private land activities.

Establishment of financial mechanisms to provide medium and long-term financial sustainability of the program for biodiversity conservation on private property.

New prospective sites and landowners

Unit operating, Supervision. Fund raising strategy and fund

established. Project evaluation reports. Pronatura’s annual report. List of participants in

workshops and informative meetings.

NGO network and landowners association legal documentation.

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identified in database and GIS for future expansion of the program.

DisseminationProgram and Toolkit presentation through printed and electronic publications, manuals, CD ROM, internet and leaflets directed to various audiences.

Program and Toolkit presentation through printed and electronic publications, manuals, CD ROM, internet and leaflets directed to various audiences.

Web Page.

Informed participation of key actors in promotional participatory workshops for NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools.

Good attendance and active participation of the identified key players in 4 workshops for individuals and organizations who commit to divulging the promotional material in their respective areas.

Full understanding of project objectives and tools: Surveys and interviews.

Project reports.

Development of a report with lessons learned from pilot sites to be disseminated among all organizations and agencies in Mexico and the region involved in conservation activities on private lands through the already operational hemispheric network.

1 report summarizing the pilot sites individual reports.

Report.

Project Activities

1. Toolkit development1.1.Development of site selection methodology and criteria.

Document with the criteria and methodology for site selection.

Toolkit documents and publications.

1.2. Manual to create Private Land Conservation Networks and Landowners’ Associations

Model contracts for Networks and Associations.

Detailed description of financial

Toolkit documents and publications.

No major legislative changes with regards to associations will occur.

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including a financial maintenance mechanism.

alternatives to maintain networks and association as well as requirements for each alternative.

1.3. Develop Economic valuation methodology for private lands that incorporates environmental goods and services.

Detailed environmental economic valuation methodology.

Estimated incremental cost of proposed valuation compared with conventional methods.

Toolkit documents and publications.

Terms of Reference for study Contract for study Consultant’s report

Methodology will not significantly increase standard valuation costs.

Future policies and regulations will encourage the use of this methodology.

1.4. Develop baseline assessment methodology.

Manual with the methodology produced and reviewed.

Toolkit documents and publications.

Reviewer’s report1.5. Produce guidelines to negotiate with landowners.

Manual for the Land Conservation NGO’s. Toolkit documents and publications.

Reviewer’s report1.6. Develop conservation strategy and tool selection criteria.

Document produced and reviewed. Toolkit documents and publications.

Reviewer’s report1.7. Manual of landowner incentives.

Document produced and reviewed. Toolkit documents and publications.

Reviewer’s report

No major changes in the economic policies.

1.8. Expansion of legal toolkit to be applicable in all States of Mexico.

Documents and manuals produced and reviewed.

Toolkit documents and publications.

Reviewer’s report

No significant changes of the Constitution, local civil Laws or the Agrarian Laws.

1.9. Methodology to elaborate management plans.

Manual with the protection, conservation and monitoring techniques.

Toolkit documents and publications.

Reviewer’s report1.10. Methodology to elaborate monitoring and evaluation plans.

Manual with the monitoring techniques for conservation easements in Mexico.

Toolkit documents and publications.

Reviewer’s report1.11. Create Guidelines and standards for the elaboration of Business Packages.

Document. Toolkit documents and publications.

Reviewer’s report1.12. Produce manual for Manual. Toolkit documents and

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implementation of financial maintenance mechanisms.

publications. Reviewer’s report

2. Site implementation2.1. Pilot site identification. Pilot site identification using criteria Documentation for each site

providing information on the relevance of the site with regards to the criteria

Recommendations by Executive Board

Changes of the landowner’s interest.

2.2. Evaluation of baselines at pilot sites.

Document with the baselines for the 5 sites. Baseline study for each pilot site.

Dramatic changes in the nature conditions.

2.3. Negotiation with landowners. An intention letter or the implementation legal tool.

Visit reports to the landowner Actual agreements being

reached with the landowner

Changes of the landowner’s interest.

2.4. Economic valuation of specific sites

At least 2 economic valuation for the specific sites.

Valuation studies Dramatic changes in the nature conditions.

2.5. Landowner's incentive analysis.

Landowner incentives identified and analyzed.

Document with incentive analysis

Changes of the landowner’s interest.

2.6. Implement Legal tool. Successful legal implementation Necessary legal documentation Changes of the agrarian and land tenure laws.

2.7. Produce management plans. Development and implementation of management plans.

Technical reports on site visits and management plans.

Implementation reports

Dramatic changes in the nature conditions.

2.8. Produce monitoring and evaluation plans.

5 documents with the monitoring and evaluation plans

Implementation of monitoring plans.

Monitoring and evaluation plans.

Activities report by those responsible of monitoring

Implementation reports

No significant changes in environmental conditions on site.

2.9.Generate business plan for each pilot site.

Successful development and implementation of business plans

Terms of reference for consultants

Consultant’s final report and Business plan.

No major changes in economic feasibility of planned activities.

2.10. Implement appropriate 5 financial maintenance mechanisms Legal documents proving No major changes in the

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financial maintenance mechanisms. developed and implemented. implementation and design of financial mechanisms.

economic environment occur and affect performance of mechanisms

2.11. Pilot site case

documentation and analysis.

Identification of “best practices” from 5 pilot sites.

Evaluation document for each site and lessons learned document.

Pilot site adequately chosen so that experience from them is relevant for other sites.

3. Policy

3.1. Consultations with NGOs, communities, local governments to determine strategies to address policy needs.

Public demands consolidated report. Survey and interviews

3.2. Promote the acceptance of the various components of the toolkit as well as its legal recognition and strengthening by relevant decision-makers at state and federal levels.

Recognition and incorporation of the tools in at least four municipal/state/federal legal statutes.

Municipal-State-Federal Legal Statutes

3.3. Promote the acceptance and use of valuation methodology by valuation professionals in various fields.

Valuation methodology recognized/incorporated in the regular catalog of professional services available in at least 2 out of the 5 presently used valuation methods.

Regular catalog of professional services (5 valuation methods)

3.4. Framework study on incentives.

Study. Study.

3.5. Build support for the creation of policies and incentives by government agencies and their promotion among decision-makers

Promotion and acceptance measured both by results (Congressional approval) and survey and interviews.

Official Gazettes.

4. Capacity building4.1.Information standards and Information standards implemented in GIS Toolkit publications. A critical mass of NGO’s

53

creation of GIS databases. and documented for dissemination. GIS operations manual will successfully implement the GIS standards

4.2. GIS maintenance standards Documentation with standards. Implementation of standards in GIS management.

Toolkit documents and publications.

GIS operations manual and databases.

4.3. Creation of GIS and database management in PRONATURA.

GIS capacity and Database. Database reports. Operations manual for GIS,

personnel involved and available hardware and software resources.

4.4. Training and experience sharing with TNC.

Week training trip in a TNC chapter. Components of TNC methodology adapted

to Mexican conditions.

Visit report by regional coordinators.

Analysis document of relevant components of TNC experience for implementation in Mexico.

4.5. Promote creation and legally constitute an NGO network and Landowners’ association with an appropriate financial mechanism.

Legal registration of the network and association.

Manual and statutes of network and landowners association.

Financial mechanisms in place

Legal documentation of networks and associations.

Documentation of financial mechanism.

Significant numbers of NGO’s and landowners will be interested in the tools and will be interested in forming the Networks and Associations.

4.6. Toolkit publication, Training manual, CD ROM andProgram presentation materials for landowners.

4 different Manuals (1000). Manuals for NGO’s (200). CD ROM version of toolkit (200). Information of the project in the Pronatura’s

Web.

Publications. Publisher contracts

Changes of the agrarian and land tenure laws.

4.7. Training workshops with NGO’s and other sectors on the use of the toolkit.

4 Regional workshops. Documentation presented at workshops.

List of participants for each workshop.

4.8. Design curricula for a Diploma on environmental economic valuation to be offered by academic

Methodology translated into curricula for a Diploma on economic valuation.

Document with the curricula. At least one academic institution will be interested in developing the Diploma.

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institutions.

5. Dissemination 5.1.Produce and distribute printed and electronic publications, manuals, CD ROM, internet and leaflets directed to various audiences to present Toolkit.

Printed and electronic publications, manuals, CD ROM, WebPages and leaflets distributed.

Web Page.

5.2. Organize workshops for key actors in NGO, communities, government agencies and landowners; on the use, implementation and benefits of private land conservation tools.

4 workshops for individuals and organizations who commit to divulging the promotional material in their respective areas

Project reports.

5.3. Toolkit distribution. Toolkit actively distributed to landowners, communities, conservation organizations, municipalities, and other government agencies.

Web Page

5.4. Prepare a report with lessons learned from pilot sites to be disseminated among all organizations and agencies in Mexico and the region involved in conservation activities on private lands through the already operational hemispheric network.

1 report summarizing the pilot sites individual reports

Report.

5.5. Design curricula for a Diploma on environmental economic valuation to be offered by academic institutions.

At least one course has been integrated into the regular curricula and/or a Diploma (graduate) incorporated in the catalog of a major University.

6. Project Coordination6.1. Produce project Implementation of a management 9 intermediate project All relevant management

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management information system information system management reports requirements considered.

6.2. Develop

implementation plan for project

Development and implementation of the project plan implementation.

Project implementation plan. Project’s progress report.

All inputs for implementation adequately considered.

6.3. Installation of regional coordinators.

Training for coordinators at Pronatura central office.

Provision of material facilities for the work of coordinators.

Inventory of facilities provided to coordinators.

Visit reports by coordinators. Training documents provided to

regional coordinators Contracts of regional

coordinators

All major installation expenses and requirements are considered.

6.4. Monitoring and

evaluation.

Effective monitoring and evaluation of regional coordinators.

Evaluation reports to the regional coordinators (4 per year per region)

Relevant information gathered during visit.

6.5. Integration and

meetings of the Executive

Committee.

3 Executive Committee Meetings for year. 2 sites visit by the Committee. 2 interviews with specific landowners.

Meeting reports (3 per year). Visit reports Interview reports

Active participation and interest of Executive Board Members.

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ATTACHMENT 2 INFORMATION ON MSP PROPOSER: PRONATURA

1. Full Legal name of the Institution: Pronatura, A.C.

2. Background: Legally Established: August 21st, 1981; Registry No. 3725 October 30, 1981.

General Purpose: Pronatura has four programs: private lands and biodiversity conservation; sustainable natural resource use and management; environmental education; and information sharing and consultation with policy and decision-makers. Mission: Our mission is to conserve priority flora, fauna and ecosystems of Mexico, and to contribute to the development of society in harmony with nature.

3. Type of Organization: Pronatura is a private, non-profit organization. The General Assembly is the highest level for the Foundation and selects the President and the members of the Board. It is made up of all the active and founder members of the organization.

Pronatura has been working nearly 19 years since 1981 to conserve Mexico’s rich biodiversity. The organization works through all the work of its regional offices in Chiapas, Veracruz, the Yucatan Peninsula, Sonora, Nuevo Leon, and the Baja California Peninsula, from its national office in Mexico City. De-centralized field work, through a network of locally based Pronatura chapters, and its work with other NGO’s enables the organization to combine local action with a regional and national vision of long-term conservation policy and strategies.

The organization’s private lands work builds on all of its other activities, from developing conservation mechanisms and sustainable development incentives, biosphere reserve establishment and management, reforestation projects, education, evaluation of specific bioregional management plans, leadership and ecological training, ecotourism development, and environmental policy activities.

The Director is nominated by the General Assembly, which (i) names the Executive Director and (ii) establishes the general policy for the organization and conservation activities. It is made up of a President, an Executive Director, and eight voting members, who serve without compensation (there are four principals and four substitutes).

4. Governing Board Members: Mauricio Ruiz Galindo, President Gastón Luken, Vice President José Sarukhán, Scientific Vice President Martín Gutiérrez, Secretary Guillermo Barroso, Treasurer Alfredo Chiquini, Commissioner

Directors Dr. Flavio Chazaro, General Director Gabriela Solis, Director Pronatura Peninsula deYucatan, Rosa Maria Vidal, Director Pronatura Chiapas, Ernesto Ruelas, Director Pronatura Veracruz, Ruben Lara, Director Pronatura Peninsula de Baja California, Ernesto Enkerlin, Director Pronatura Noreste, Elena Chavaria, Pronatura Sonora.

5. Membership: magazine 350, general membership 300

6. Sources of revenue for Pronatura and the Private Lands Program:The Private Lands Program had total cumulative revenue of $279,363.00 over the past five years which has enabled it to steadily grow the program. However, with the increasing number of threats to Mexico’s biodiversity and the increasing interest in private lands conservation a significantly higher level of support is needed.

Funding sources include: The Mexico Trust fund for Protected Areas, private sector donations from major national and international corporations such as Grupo Modelo, S.A. de C.V., Aerovías de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. among others, grants from foundations like The Tinker Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. Mac Arthur Foundation, magazine subscriptions, membership.

7. Recent activities/programs, in particular those relevant to the GEF MSP for Private Lands:

Private land conservation program

Pronatura has had extensive experience in the development and implementation of private lands mechanisms in Mexico for nearly 19 years. The organization has been very successful in its legal, education, implementation and policy work for private conservation, and is recognized in Mexico as the primary organization for working for biodiversity conservation on all types of privately owned land. In March of 1986 Pronatura created the first Land Trust and Private Reserve in Mexico recognized by the Environmental Authority and located in Huitepec in the State of Chiapas. The Trust was established with the cooperation and assistance of both the landowner and the Government of Mexico and is just one of the legal tools used by Pronatura for privately owned land protection. As part of the activities of the program in October of 1998 the first ecological easement in Mexico was constituted in Huatusco, Veracruz, that protected in perpetuity 180 hectares of cloud forest, one of the most threatened ecosystems in Mexico.

Pronatura has had a cumulative budget totaling about $279,363.00 for its private lands activities over the past five years. Some of its major sponsors and supporters include, World Wildlife Foundation, The Tinker Foundation, John D. and Catherine C. Mac Arthur Foundation, GEF Block A and The Nature Conservancy. Pronatura has received funding for its training, policy and implementation work, which are all important parts of its program. Pronatura’s Private Lands Group in Mexico City has a staff and consultants of 4people including, 1 forest engineer, 2 legal staff, research and the Director Martin Gutierrez. All of

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these work closely with Pronatura’s field offices and with over 10 local NGO’s throughout Mexico to develop and implement private lands biodiversity conservation.

On- Site Implementation:Conservation and Development Program in the Chiapas Highlands. Promotion of a network of private conservation areas managed by local communities to maintain aquifers, threatened species and representative ecosystems.

Pronatura’s first experience with the conservation of third party lands happened when a foreigner's property were donated to the Foundation Arte Sophia in Valle de Bravo, State of Mexico. The result is 10 hectors of oak forest critical for the monarch butterfly are now conserved in perpetuity.

In November the Director of Cuatrociénegas Biosphere Reserve in Coahuila requested us to carry out a study on private conservation tools for the ejido “2 de Enero” located in the gypsum dunes of the Reserve.

Private Lands Training:

Pronatura has organized a number of training workshops on Private Lands tools in Mexico. These include one of the first private lands conservation workshops in Mexico, where 27 representatives of NGO’s, directors of protected areas and government representatives participated. In March of 2000 Pronatura carried out the second workshop of Deprived Conservation in Baja California, with the participation of 28 representatives of NGO’s, research centers and landowners. A third workshop was done in Xalapa, Veracruz, with the participation of 29 landowners and communities. Pronatura has additionally published a “Introduction Manual to conservation easements in Mexico” with two thousand copies already distributed by its regional offices.

Private Lands Policy Work:Pronatura took 8 senators to Costa Rica to learn the valuation of environmental services provided by forests and natural ecosystems and as an incentive for conservation. Thanks to this work it was possible to schedule the attainment of economic incentives and legal systems / district attorneys for the conservation of lands between the Senate and Pronatura.

In 1996, the results of the investigations and potential structures of work were presented to the National Council of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP) where the regular of the Secretary of environment Natural Resources and Fishes gave the guarantee so that Pronatura worked in the given topic the potential that exists in the country.

In 1998 personnel's of Environmental Politics’ Address January traveled to Costa Rica to evaluate the advance of the Center of Environmental Right and Natural Resources (CEDARENA) in the use of ecological easements and incentives for conservation.

In March of 1999 a workshop on incentives for biodiversity conservation was held in the Senate, with the participation of government officials, non- government organizations and legislators. In this same month, a study of private instruments was prepared for the conservation of terrestrial ejidos in the Biosphere Reserve of Calakmul , Campeche, as part of an initiative seeking to develop a carbon sequestration project in the region.

Private Lands Networking and Capacity Building for Replication of Private Lands ToolsPronatura has also worked internationally for over five years. In 1996 the Commission of Environmental Cooperation of North America commissioned Pronatura for the “Identification of Successful Mechanisms of Non Government participation in parks and adjacent areas in Canada, United State and Mexico”. Under this project Pronatura worked with an expert in each country and developed a range of appropriate conservation options, from the use of

59

conservation easements in United States and Canada to the tools of the Land Trust movement. At the same time Pronatura began a complete investigation of the legal and other aspects of the application of conservation easements in the North American Union and compared the results and the application of private lands tools with the private lands legislation of Spain, Costa Rica, Brazil and Colombia. A study of the Mexican legislation was developed which identified the most effective legal tools for the conservation of private and social property in Mexico.

Pronatura’s environmental policy work includes presentations to the first international conference of Private Lands Organizations in Costa Rica. Pronatura also continues to participate and formally present in international private lands mechanisms for the annual National Land Trust Rallies organized by the US Land Trust Alliance in the United States.

Other Pronatura accomplishments:

Policy WorkPronatura participated in the creation of the Mexican Fund for Nature Conservation (FMCN) analyzed and helped design the GEF/Mexico Protected Natural Areas Program, and still participates on the National Board. As Regional NGO Focal Point for Mesoamerica, Pronatura participates on the National Coordinating Committee for GEF Projects and GEF Council Meetings.

Capacity buildingPronatura organized a workshop on “Training Mexican NGO’s for Biodiversity Conservation,” through which Pronatura provided training on improved administrative practices, project evaluation and operation. The objective of this event was to make NGO’s work more effective and efficient.

Legal WorkPronatura developed the Legal Information System for the Environment (SILA) that serves to address on-site protection issues to resolve resource use questions and use with local communities.

On-Site ConservationPronatura manages conservation projects in two areas within the GEF/Mexico Protected Natural Areas Program in the Yucatan peninsula.

In the Yucatan peninsula, Pronatura has developed a Management Plan Support Program for Ria Lagartos and Ria Celestun which includes an analysis of threats to the two reserves, their causes and solutions. In Ria Celestun a Tourism Program and Micro-business Crafts Production Project are being developed and Pronatura Yucatan is developing a Nature Guide Training Course for Ria Celestun and Sian Ka’an.

Prioritization of sites and actions for conservation of the Baja California Peninsula to identify key environmental threats and the prioritization of actions that can reduce them and promote improved biodiversity use.

Community Participation and Education Programs One of Pronatura’s main areas of work is environmental education and community development. Some of its programs in these fields and their objectives are:

Cloud Forest Conservation and Rural Development in Northern Chiapas: improve agricultural and forest management through participatory methods appropriate for communities.

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Conservation and Sustainable Development Program in the Zoque Tropical Forest. Seeks to reduce population pressures on fragile zones within the Ocote region of Chiapas while improving local living conditions.

Program for Public Involvement and Environmental Education in Coastal Wetlands of Sonora. Community work to promote improved management of coastal resources.

Economic development programs in Calakmul (an area whose administration is financed by the GEF) include an organic agriculture program which promotes production of organically grown corn with 650 campesinos in Calakmul, and an organic honey program which produces and markets organic honey from the area.

Communication and Environmental Training in Chiapas. Courses on Gender Perspective in Sustainable Development projects, Environmental Legislation and Project Cycle Management.

Prioritization of Needs, Opportunities and Actions for Conservation in Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas to link global, national and local conservation needs to local opportunities.

Restoration of the Colorado River Delta. Creation of a data base of the area to promote and influence planning, information sharing and decision making for conservation and restoration of the area in Sonora.

Flora and Fauna Conservation:National Bird Program. Integrates bird conservation activities in Pronatura offices in different regions of the country. Manage the Aquatic and Land Flora and Fauna Protection Reserve in Sierra de Alamos and Cuchujaqui River region and management of lands adjacent to the Los Alamos Reserve in Sonora.

8. Contact person

Name/Title: Flavio Chazaro Rámirez., Executive DirectorAspergulas Nº 22, Col. San ClementeMéxico, Distrito Federal, C.P. 17140(525) 635-5054 tel.(525) 635-6365 fax

e-mail: flaviochazaro@pronatura.org.mx

For the Private Lands Project

Name/Title: Martín Gutiérrez Lacayo.Coordinator – Legal CoordinatorAddress: Aspergulas Nº 22, Col. San ClementeMéxico, Distrito Federal, C.P. 17140(525) 635-5054 tel.(525) 635-6365 fax

e-mail: martingutierrez@pronatura.org.mx

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ATTACHMENT 3. PROCUREMENT UNDER THE PROJECT

Procurement Responsibilities. Pronatura will be responsible for carrying out procurement of goods and services, according to the Procurement Plan shown in Table 1.

ProceduresProcurement of goods financed by the Grant under the project would be carried out in accordance with procedures acceptable to the Bank, whereby at least three quotations will be requested and the goods will be purchased at a reasonable price, account being taken also to other relevant factors such as time of delivery and efficiency and reliability of the goods. Consultants’ services will be procured in accordance with Individual Consultant/ Qualification-based procedures acceptable to the Bank, taking into consideration the competence of the consultants providing the services.

Procurement Methods. As generally expected in Medium-Sized Projects financed by a GEF Grant, the limited amount of procurement will result in small sums for goods and services. No works are expected to be financed by this grant. Procurement methods to be used are described in Table 1.

Goods. The Grant will finance the purchase of hardware, software for data bases and GIS processing, satellite images, maps, and materials for courses and workshops.

Consulting Services. The project will select individual consultants on the basis of their expertise and experience in the required fields. No consulting firms are contemplated.

Operational Costs. The grant will finance operational costs such as operation, office equipment, insurance for equipment procured under the project, office materials and utilities and communication expenses required for the implementation of the project and the cost of an external audit.

Procurement Monitoring. Pronatura will establish procedures for monitoring project execution and impact, procurement implementation, including monitoring of contracts for goods and services modifications, variations, and extension of completion periods. Pronatura will maintain detailed records of procurement activities financed under the Grant.

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ATTACHMENT 4. REPORTS, DISBURSEMENTS, AUDIT AND SPECIAL ACCOUNT FOR THE PROJECT PROGRESS REPORTS

Pronatura will prepare and forward to the Bank annual reports covering progress in achieving the activities and targets corresponding to each disbursement period, linking them to indicators for project activities ( Table 3). The annual report shall be delivered at least one month prior to the end of the disbursement period .

Disbursements The following table sets forth the Categories of items to be financed out of the proceeds of the Grant, the allocation of the amounts of the Grant to each Category and the percentage of expenditures for items to be financed in each Category.

Table 1: Allocation of Grant Proceeds

Project financial statements will include a statement of receipts, sources and uses of funds, and undisbursed balances of the Special Account. The funds flow statement will indicate sources (GEF) and expenditures in accordance with main project components and disbursement categories. Project financial statements will show actual payments against those budgeted. Information reported will include the value of contracts signed, i.e. commitments, relative to actual payments.

Pronatura will maintain separate records and accounts for project expenditures as well as a register of assets purchased with Grant funds. Pronatura will also have the responsibility for preparing the project’s financial statements, including balance sheets and sources and uses of funds statements, according to broadly accepted accounting standards.

Auditing of the project accounts will be done following existing auditing arrangements of Pronatura, that have been judged satisfactory by the Bank. Project accounts, including the Special Account will be audited, in accordance with appropriate auditing principles consistently applied, by independent auditors (Price Waterhouse Coopers). Audit reports will be sent to the Bank no later than four months after the end of Pronatura’s Fiscal Year.

A Special Account will be opened by Pronatura in US dollars in a commercial bank acceptable to the Bank. The initial deposit will be limited to US$250,000, corresponding to the estimated project expenditures for the first twelve months of the project. The Special Account would be replenished every year in accordance with the procedures set out in the Grant Agreement Letter provided that satisfactory progress and achievements of the annual targets stated in Table 3 have been met.

The annual replenishment application will be sent at least one month prior to the end of the disbursement period, and will be supported by the following documentation:

reconciled statement from the commercial bank in which the account is established showing all transactions in the Special Account (Statements of Expenditures and supporting documents will be maintained by Pronatura and available for Bank review);

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annual reports covering progress in achieving the activities and targets corresponding to each disbursement period; and

forecast of Grant funds needed to be covered by the withdrawal application, adjusting for any under-expenditure during the previous period.

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Annex 1 Sites Selection Criteria.

Annex 2 Project Benefits for the Indigenous Population Indigenous Conservation in “Carricito del Huichol”.

Annex 3 Site information

Annex 4 Advisory Board

Annex 5 Case Study: Private Reserve “Las Cañadas”

Annex 6 Procurement Under the Project

Annex 7 Reports, Disbursements, Audit and Special Account for the Project

Annex 8 Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

Annex 9 Site Selection Workshop Participants

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Annex 1. Site Selection Criteria.Requirements:

OBLIGATORY

Carricito del Huichol

Las Cañadas, Veracruz

Moxbiquil/ Huitepec, San Cristobal de

las Casas, Chiapas

Ejido el Maguey, Durango

Rancho Baldivia, Reserva de la Biosfera del

Triunfo, Chiapas.

YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO

It is had the interest of the proprietors. X X X X X It is had an organization in charge of the monitoring and surveillance.

X X X X XIt is free of litigation.

X X X X XIt lacks threats that make impossible their realization.

X X X X XPercentage of satisfaction of wanted objectives. 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

DESEABLE

a) Biological That they present excellent ecosystems for the conservation of the biodiversity in Mexico.

YES YES YES YES YES

That the vegetable associations are in good conservation state or that the restoration of their natural conditions is feasible. YES YES YES YES YESPopulations' of endemic, strange species presence or in extinction danger. YES YES YES YES YES Existence of conditions that they require to be protected by the importance for the entirety or part of the cycle of the life of flora species and wild fauna.

YES YES YES YES YES

Importance like biological corridor or migratory route. YES YES YES YES YES Importance like generator of environmental services. YES YES YES YES YES That he/she helps to reduce the man's impact on another conservation area due to the proximity or connectivity with other places. YES NO NO NO YES Percentage of satisfaction of Biological objectives.

100% 85.72% 85.72% 85.72% 100%b) Legal That the proprietor has the title or certificate that it credits his property or real rights or the legitimate possession.

YES YES YES YES YES

That they are inscribed in the Public Registration of the Property or in the National Agrarian Registration or that it is feasible their inscription. YES YES YES YES YESThat it is free of real obligations that commit their conservation.

---- YES YES YES YES Percentage of satisfaction of legal objectives.

100% 100% 100% 100% 100%c) Opportunity That the community is interested in conservation programs. YES --- YES YES ---That they are properties whose ecosystems and species are threatened by the man's action. YES YES YES YES NO

Presence of incentives that favor the conservation of the property. NO YES YES NO YES That they are places that represent cultural and biological linkings that deserve their conservation. YES NO YES NO YES That it has committed economic resources for the conservation of the area. YES YES YES YES YES That being ejido land or communities have registered to the certification program and titulation (PROCEDE). NO --- ---- NO ---Percentage of satisfaction of opportunity objectives. 66.67% 75% 100% 50% 75%TOTAL 11 12 13 12 13

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Requirements:

OBLIGATORY Island Sacred

Spirit, South Baja

California

Ejido Santa María Atarasquillo, State of Mexico

Ejido Tutuaca, Chihuahua.

Community of Green Water,

Baja California

Ranch of the family López

IF NO IF No IF No IF No IF No

It is had the interest of the proprietors. X X X X X It is had an organization in charge of the monitored and surveillance. X X X X XIt is free of litigation. X X X X XIt lacks threats that make impossible their realization. X X X X X

Percentage of satisfaction of Obligatory objectives. 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%WANTED

a) Biological

That they present excellent ecosystems for the conservation of the biodiversity in Mexico.

YES YES YES YES YES

That the vegetable associations are in good conservation state or that the restoration of their natural conditions is feasible. YES YES YES YES YESPopulations' of endemic, strange species presence or in extinction danger.

YES YES YES YES YESExistence of conditions that they require to be protected by the importance for the entirety or part of the cycle of the life of flora species and wild fauna.

YES YES YES YES YES

Importance like biological corridor or migratory route. YES YES NO YES NO

Importance like generator of environmental services. NO YES YES YES YESThat he/she helps to reduce the man's impact on another conservation area

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due to the proximity or connectivity with other places. YES YES NO NO NO Percentage of satisfaction of biological objectives.

85.72% 100% 71.43% 85.72% 71.43%b) Legal That the proprietor has the title or certificate that it credits his property or real rights or the legitimate possession. YES YES YES YES YESThat they are inscribed in the Public Registration of the Property or in the National Agrarian Registration or that it is feasible their inscription. YES YES YES YES YES

That it is free of real obligations that commit their conservation. YES YES YES --- YESPercentage of satisfaction of legal objectives.

100% 100% 100% 100% 100%c) Opportunity That the community is interested in conservation programs. --- YES YES YES ---That they are properties whose ecosystems and species are threatened by the man's action. YES YES YES YES YES Presence of incentives that favor the conservation of the property.

YES YES YES NO YESThat they are places that represent cultural and biological linkings that deserve their conservation. YES NO YES NO YESThat it has committed economic resources for the conservation of the area.

YES YES YES NO YESThat being ejido land or communities have registered to the certification program and titulation (PROCEDE). --- YES YES NO ---Percentage of satisfaction of opportunity objectives.

100% 83.34% 100% 28.58% 100%TOTAL 13 15 15 10 12

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ANNEX 2

PROJECT BENEFITS FOR THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION INDIGENOUS CONSERVATION IN “CARRICITO DEL HUICHOL”.

The project and the local indigenous people will benefit from including the concerns and needs of local populations in private lands conservation and management. The growing role of indigenous people in conservation has lead to the development of new management concepts for protected areas in which indigenous peoples act as partners or managers of conservation projects with both conservation NGOs and government development agencies. By integrating the goals of environmental conservation and the protection of indigenous people’s rights to land and self-determination, these conservation partnerships address the challenges faced by both conservationists and indigenous peoples.

In 1996, the state delegation of the National Indigenous Institute (INI) developed a proposal to establish a biosphere reserve encompassing the Huichol´s traditional lands. Currently Pronatura and Bosque Antiguo A.C. (local NGOs) are attempting to establish a smaller reserve, “El Carricito” in the southeast border of the Huichol territory. INI, who did not include the Huichol in the development of the biosphere reserve proposal, failed to gain local support for the proposed reserve. In contrast, Pronatura’s recent efforts to establish “El Carricito” focus on building local support and participation n the development of the reserve proposal and appear to be more successful.

The Huichol live in northwest Mexico in the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Durango and Zacatecas (Appendix 1). The total Huichol population is estimated to be near 20,000, and is concentrated in northern Jalisco and eastern Nayarit. The Huichol territory in northern Jalisco is politically divided into three indigenous communities – San Andrés Cohamiata, Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán, and San Sebastián Teponohuaxtlan and its annex Tuxpan de Bolaños (Appendix 2).

The three communities encompass approximately 400,000 hectares in the southern extensions of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The varied topography of the region represented by a mosaic of river valleys, high mesas, and steep slopes that rise to over 3,000 meters, has produced a variety of microenvironments that are exploited by the Huichol for subsistence farming, hunting, fishing, and cattle production (Shaefer and Furst 1996, Weigand 1972, 1978). The diverse topography and geographical isolation of the region has also resulted in high biological diversity and the preservation of threatened ecosystems of the Sierra Madre Occidental (CIPAMEX 1997).

“El Carricito” was identified as an important area for conservation during an eleven-month field study conducted by CIPAMEX in 1995. The study was developed to identify the remaining old-growth pine-oak forest in the Sierra Madre Occidental and to assess the status of the endemic bird population of this habitat. “El Carricito” is a high plateau approximately 37-40 Kilometers long located in the Sierra de los Huicholes or Sierra de Bolaños in northeast Jalisco (Appendix 3). The proposed reserve core area is approximately 10,000 hectares and includes pine, oak, and pine-oak forests (90%) and low deciduous forest (10%). “El Carricito” also includes the largest remaining area of old-growth pine-oak mesa forest in the Sierra Madre Occidental. To date, CIPAMEX has registered 168 species of birds in the area, including sixteen species endemic to Mexico and thirty endangered species.

CIPAMEX notes that the preset conservation status of “El Carricito” is due to its inaccessibility: there are no roads through the area and steep slopes on all but one side of the plateau naturally restrict access. In addition, there are no settlements within “El Carricito”, and the use of natural resources within the area is limited to small-scale ranching and domestic use of timber by neighboring Huichol and mestizo populations. Over half of “El Carricito”, is owned by private owners of the municipality of San Martín

de Bolaños, Chimaltitán, and Bolaños (35%) and the Ejido Puente de Camotlán (20%). The Huichol community San Sebastián and its annex Tuxpan de Bolaños own the remaining forty-five percent of “El Carricito”.

Conservationists have recently identified indigenous people’s homelands as important regions for the creation of future protected areas. Researches also often credit indigenous peoples with tradition of respect and stewardship for the environment and a desire to protect and control their land and natural resources. The willingness of indigenous people to work with outside groups to achieve these goals has further encouraged the formation of alliances between conservationists and indigenous peoples. However, proponents of cooperative conservation projects musts also be prepared to address the challenges of working within indigenous peoples diverse economic, social, and political systems that often are very different from their own.

The Huichol in Mexico illustrate many of the themes that researchers have recognized as potential resources to further the development of conservation partnerships. The Huichol communities have inhabited the highlands of the southern Sierra Madre Occidental for almost 2,000 years, and yet the region remains an important reservoir for biological diversity. In addition, the Huichol´s traditional religion, which is rich in natural symbolism and intertwined with the natural environment, suggests a sense of respect for and stewardship of the environment within the Huichol culture. Furthermore, the Huichol are concerned about the protection and control of their land and resources, and share similar goals with outside organizations to gain national recognition and legal protection of their territory, sacred sites and ceremonial centers in central Mexico.

In contrast, the Huichol culture also provides potential obstacles for the development of conservation partnerships. The Huichol economy is dependent upon continued exploitation, and not sole preservation, of their land and natural resources for survival. In addition, the Huichol´s political system and decision making processes within these systems are very different from those of outside government agencies and conservation organization. Both factors offer potential challenges to outside organizations that wish with the Huichol in the development of protected areas in their territory.

The Huichol live in the southern extensions of the Sierra Madre Occidental in northwest Mexico, in northern Jalisco, eastern Nayarit, and southern Durango and Zacatecas (Appendix 1). Archeological evidence, including temple architecture and maize types dated to AD 200, suggests that the Huichol have occupied the highlands of the Sierra Madre Occidental for at least 1,800 years. The total Huichol population is estimated to be between 18,000 – 20,000 (INEGI 1995:18, Ortíz Silva 1998). The Huichol population is concentrated in northern Jalisco in the municipality of Mezquitic and Bolaños and in the Tecual region of eastern Nayarit. (Table 1). In addition, the Huichol have increasingly migrated to urban centers in Nayarit and Jalisco, such as Tepic and Guadalajara, and to the pacific coast of Nayarit. An estimated 70% of the Huichol population in Jalisco is between the ages of 0 and 30, with 23% between 36 and 56, and only 3% between 51 and 81 years (INI and UCIHJ 1996:17).

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Table 1 Population Of Principal Huichol Settlements In Northern Jalisco

San Andrés Cohamiata 332Tuxpan de Bolaños 243Las Latas 241San Sebastián Teponahuaxtlán 231San Miguel Huastita 220Nueva Colonia 143Pueblo Nuevo 128Ratonita 75Las Guayabas 55Chonacata 40Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán 37Techalotita 21

Populations from 1990 Mexican National CensusSource: Rojas 1993:196

The Huichol, which literally means “people that live in places with spiny plants (acacias)” continue to speak their indigenous language. The Huichol language belongs to the Uto-Aztecan language family. According to the 1990 National Census of Mexico, only 17% of the total Huichol population is monolingual, with the majority speaking both Huichol and Spanish (INEGI 1995:91).

The Huichol territory in northern Jalisco is divided by the Chapalangana river, which lows north to south through the Sierra Madre Occidental in to the Río Grande de Santiago, or Río Lerma, and into the Pacific Ocean north of San Blas, Nayarit. The Huichol in this area referred to in the literature as the Chapalangana Huichol to distinguish them from other Huichol populations in Jalisco and Nayarit. The physical geography of this region reflects the origins of the Sierra Madre Occidental, which was formed by volcanic activity in the Tertiary period (Bauml 1989). Today, deep canyons, are cut into the volcanic deposits by westerly flowing rivers, which have formed a mosaic of valleys, mesas, and steep slopes rising to over 3,000 meters that typify the mountain range. The varied topography creates a variety of microenvironments that are exploited by the Huichol for subsistence (Table 2). In addition, the diverse topography and geographical isolation of the region has resulted in high biological diversity and the preservation of both endemic and endangered species and threatened ecosystems of the Sierra Madre Occidental (CIPAMEX 1997).

Table 2Micro-Ecological Zones Of The Chapalangana Region

The high sierra and the upland llanos (2,400–3, 200 meters)The high slopes of the upper courses of the tributaries (1,800-2,500 meters)The mesas between the middle courses of the Chapalangana tributaries and Chapalangana river canyon (1,300-1,900 meters)The lower and middle barranca slopes (900-1,400 meters)The Chapalangana river and the lower courses of its tributaries (700-900 meters)

Source: Weigand 1972

The territory of the Chapalangana Huichol is comprised of three indigenous communities, San Andrés Cohamiata (Tateikie), Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán (Tuapurie), and San Sebastián Teponohuaxtlan (Wauta) and its annex Tuxpan de Bolaños (Tutsipa). Rancherias, consisting of clusters of scattered farms form the basis of the community settlement pattern, and are in turn grouped into districts and

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around small towns. The population of a ranch may range from four or five people - to extended families with as many as fifty individuals. Each ranch is comprised of a compound of structures including a one-room living area and a xiriki, or ancestor- god house, which is used to store ceremonial objects. The structures are traditionally made of stone and adobe with grass-thatched roofs.

The local political organization within the Chapalangana region is comprised of two overlapping political systems: the traditional governments and the Union of Huichol Indigenous Communities of Jalisco (UCIHJ). As representatives of the communities, the traditional governments and the UCIHJ are the bodies through which the Huichol interact with the larger political systems of the state and nation as well as outside development and, more recently, conservation organizations. A governor leads the traditional government, which is divided between civil and religious hierarchies. Each of the indigenous communities has a politically independent traditional government. Tuxpan de Bolaños is politically independent of the larger community and has its own traditional government. The officers of the traditional government serve for one year and are chosen by the kawiteros, a council of elders, usually shamans who are greatly respected in the Huichol community.

Like the traditional governments, the UCIHJ also represents the communities, however there are differences in the level of state control and authority between the two political structures. Unlike the traditional government officials, who are chosen by the kawiteros and who represented the individual indigenous communities, the officials of the UCIHJ are elected and represent the entire Huichol population in northern Jalisco. In addition, the state government supervises the UCIHJ elections, which are held every three years. The UCIHJ is comprised of a general assembly of fifteen voting delegates and 54 consolidated non-voting delegates. The UCIHJ and traditional governments are integrated through the participation of the four traditional governors in the general assembly of the UCIHJ.

The traditional governments and the UCIHJ are the political representatives of the community members. As representatives, they are responsible for informing the communities about local and regional issues that effect their territory. However, the political representatives do not have the authority to make community decisions. The Huichol have been described as a “culture consensus” (Chávez 1998), and through community assemblies everyone, including women, young people and the elderly, can vote (Ortíz Silva 1998).

Although governmentally independent of each other, the three Huichol communities also fall under the jurisdiction of several municipalities. In Jalisco, the boundaries of the Huichol communities fall within the municipality of Mezquitic, Bolaños, and small portions of the municipality of San Martin de Bolaños and Chimaltitan. To further complicate matters, the Huichol lands fall under the jurisdiction of municipalities in different states. In addition to the state supervision of the UCIHJ elections, the municipalities are responsible for the annual accreditation of the selected traditional government officials, that collection of the yearly community contribution, or tax, and handle serious charges of murder and cattle thieves within the Huichol communities.

In recent years, the social and political organization within the Chapalangana region has undergone an important transformation that may be credited to national policy reform implements in the late 1980s. In 1988, President Carlos Salinas de Gortari implemented the National Solidarity Program (PRONASOL). An “anti-poverty” program with an emphasis on popular discourses on autonomy and self-help, the social reforms encouraged by the PRONASOL program led to the creation of the UCIHJ, which has played an important role in the two protected area proposals.

A broad program for social modernization, PRONASOL focuses on social services, infrastructure provision, and poverty alleviation, as well as on the improvement of the perceived poor state-civil relations between government agencies and local communities, as well as the need for organizations at the community level which can act as intermediaries.

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The target group for PRONASOL social reforms is poor peasants, the urban poor, and indigenous groups. Indigenous peoples are targeted through economic and political support to the government agency. INI´s most important initiative through the PRONASOL program was the creation of the Regional Solidarity Fund, whose goal is to give local development investment decision making to autonomous regional councils of representative indigenous organizations. In the Huichol territory in northern Jalisco, the Regional Solidarity Fund was implemented by INI in 1990. For the Huichol region these funds signified an important advance in the social mobilization processes of the communities. INI credits the PRONASOL program and the Regional Solidarity Fund with initiating these social changes that for the first time led to the development of political coalitions within the Huichol Communities.

Table 3 lists the distribution of land within the three indigenous communities in the Chapalangana region. Almost half of the region is classified as mountainous terrain unsuitable for either crop or cattle production. The Huichol economy is dependent upon their land and natural resources for survival. Rising populations and the continued use of limited resources have had negative impacts on the environment from agricultural erosion and overhunting.

Table 3Land Distribution In The Chapalangana Region

Comunidad Indígena Surface Area (hectares)

Total Crop Land Pasture MountainousSan Andrés Cohamiata 74,940 8,000 36,940 30,000

Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán 76,720 7,672 38,360 30,688

San Sebastián Teponohuaxtlán and annex Tuxpan de Bolaños

240,443 36,067 84,156 120,224

Total392,103(100%)

51,739(13%)

159,456(41%)

180,912(46%)

Source: INI 1996

The Huichol economy is based on slash and burn agriculture. Traditionally, the Huichol farm on the steep slopes of the canyons, not on the flat mesas, using machetes, digging sticks, hoes, and wooden plows pulled by draft animals (Schaefer and Furst 1996). However, the increasing land shortages have lead to the recent use of mesas for agricultural land and the introduction of tractors to farm these fields. The Huichol do not terrace their fields, leading to the heavy erosion of agricultural fields on the canyon slopes. Only thirteen percent of the land surface of the Huichol territory is suitable for agriculture. The scarcity and poor quality of soil, only thirteen centimeters thick, has resulted in the low population density, dispersed settlement pattern, and small harvests that typify the Chapalagana region. Land tenure within the communities is communal, with families assigned individual plots. Fields are tended cooperatively with friends, other relatives, and neighbors, and planting begins with the rainy season in June.

The main crop cultivated by the Huichol is maize. The Huichol plant five varieties of maize (red, blue, white, yellow and speckled or black). Maize, beans and squash are planted together, with the corn stalks

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serving as poles for the beans and the squash covering the ground. Garden crops include gourds, tobacco, amaranth, chilies, watermelons, cowpeas, sorghum, avocados, onions, and tomatoes. Field and garden crops are augmented with gathering with plants, hunting and fishing. Wild plants utilized by the Huichol include the prickly-pear cactus, mesquite and guamuchil fruit, various tubers, mushrooms, seeds, and maguey hearts. Domestic animals include dogs, turkeys, cattle, mules, donkeys, pigs, sheep, goats and chickens. The Huichol also hunt deer, rabbit, turkey, peccary, iguana, tree squirrels, and dove, eagles and hawks for subsistence and ceremonial purposes, and, fresh water fish are caught seasonally in the Chapalanga canyon. Both deer hunting and fishing are ritually important and are done cooperatively. Hunting was formerly economically important for the Huichol but has been replaced with a reliance upon domestic animals, due partly to overhunting.

The main sources of cash income are livestock, artisans, or craft production and wage labor. Over forty percent of the land within the Chapalagana region is suitable for pasture land. Cattle are produced in the Chapalagana region for sale to the external market, however, intermediaries often buy the cattle from the Huichol for a low price. Stores in the larger ranch and towns in the Chapalagana region sell a wide variety of consumer goods ranging from salt and canned items to batteries, plastic toys and school supplies. Crafts from beaded jewelry and gourds to woven bags and yarn paintings are sold to tourists and museums in urban centers such as Guadalajara and Tepic. An estimated forty percent of the Huichol also travel to the Pacific coast of Nayarit or urban centers in central Mexico to look for work for up to eight months a year. Individuals and families travel to coastal plantations to harvest beans, corn, cotton and tobacco in commercial farms to augment their income, but the pay is low and working conditions harsh and dangerous.

The Jesuits established the first missions in the Sierra Madre Occidental in the eighteen century. However, after the Jesuit expulsion in 1767 missionary activities were not vigorously reinitiated in the region until the mid twentieth century. The Franciscans returned to the highlands of the southern Sierra Madre Occidental in 1953 and focused on Christianizing the Huichol and neighboring Cora and Tepehuan. The Huichol have generally rejected the missionaries conversion attempts, and have not permitted the establishment of missions in the communities of San Sebastián and its annex Tuxpan de Bolaños and Santa Catarina. The two currently active Catholic missions are located in Guadalupe Ocotán in Nayarit and in San Andrés in Santa Clara. In addition, since early 1980s fundamentalist evangelical missionaries have increased activities in northern Jalisco and within the Huichol settlements in eastern Nayarit.

The Huichol religion is based in nature and includes the personification of animals and natural forces. The Huichol religion could be divided in two categories: solar, including the sun, a deer person who creates a bridge between man and the deities, and eagle woman; water. Most of the ritual activity, at the level of household groups clustered around a district temple, is concerned with creating a balance between these two categories (solar and water), which are associated with the dry season and wet season respectively.

The deer-maize- peyote symbol complex is also an important component of traditional Huichol religion. The most sacred plant in the Huichol culture is the peyote cactus. Peyote contains the alkaloid mescaline, which is used by Huichol in religious ceremonies, as medicine, and in cooperative labor activities (Bauml 1989). Peyote does not grow in the mountain homeland of the Huichol, who organize annual pilgrimages to Wirikúta, the sacred peyote desert in north-central San Luis Potosí, to ritually harvest the cactus. The Huichol peyote is at the same time itself and deer and maize, which are the most sacred game animal and food crop in the Huichol culture.

Improved healthcare has contributed to growing populations that must be sustained on a resource base that is geographically limited by territorial boundaries as well as increasing encroachment by no-indigenous settlers. The case of the Huichol illustrates that respect for the nature environment – which is a

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fundamental component of Huichol culture – does coexist with subsistence needs that lead to negative impacts on the environment. The challenge for conservationists who wish to work with the Huichol is to draw upon the respect within the Huichol culture for the natural environment, while attempting to create a balance between the Huichol’s subsistence needs and the biological integrity of the environment.The original size of the Huichol territory in the Sierra Madre Occidental was about double the current size due to the encroachment of mestizo ranchers and ejidos on comunidad lands. Their territory loss is a major concern for the Huichol (and other indigenous people), who are increasingly attempting to gain legal recognition and protection of their lands through demonstrations, legal battles, or conservation initiatives.

Table 3.4.Contested Regions Within The Huichol Territory In Northern Jalisco

Comunidad Indígena Contested regions Land area in conflict (he)

San SebastiánTeponahuaxtlánAnd Tuxpan de Bolaños

Puente de Camotlán (Ejido)HuajimícBarranca del Tule (Ejido) 36,000

Santa CatarinaCuexcomatitlán

Private property owners(mestizo ranchers) 3,000

San Andrés Cohamiata

Zacatecas: El Refugio (ejido)Durango: San Lucas de JalpaHuazamota.Nayarit: San Juan Peyotán (ejido)Santa Rosa (ejido)Santa Barbara

72,000

Source: Procuraduría para Asuntos Indígenas de Jalisco 1998, Rivera

Table 3.4. lists the regions within the Huichol comunidades in Jalisco whose ownership is currently being contested with mestizo populations bordering the Huichol’s territory. Note that the Huichol are contesting both ejido lands and private properties in Jalisco, as well as lands along the state borders of Nayarit, Durango, and Zacatecas.The Mexican NGO, AJAGI, is providing legal assistance to the Huichol to contest these land incursions. In addition, the Huichol recently demanded that the government help resolve their territorial disputes. There are many benefits from cooperative conservation projects with the Huichol, including the respect for nature within their culture, the community concerns over control of their land, and the ability to gain legal protection of their territory, and sacred sites.

In 1998, Bosque Antiguo A.C. with the assistance of Pronatura participated in the General assembly of the Comunidades Wirraritari in San Sebastian. State and federal government officials attended the meeting where the community would consider the creation of the conservation preserve “Haka Mayewe” (El Carricito). The traditional governors of Tuxpan of Bolaños and San Sebastián, the President of the Union of Indigenous Communities Huicholas of the State of Jalisco (UCIHJ), the president of the Council of Old men, and the treasurer of the UCIHJ all attended. The most important serious issues were the recent invasions in the frontier between Nayarit, Jalisco and other areas. After a heated session the government's delegation left. Then Jorge Rojas, member of Bosque Antiguo A.C., arrived to discuss the creation of the protected area. After a session of questions and answers, Maurilio de la Cruz, President of the Council, received a unanimous community vote in favor of the conservation preserve. The agreement was signed October 1, 1998.

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ANNEX 3. SITE INFORMATION

1. CARRICITO DEL HUICHOL, JALISCO

The region is established in the northwest of the State of Jalisco. The community encompasses municipalities of San Sebastián Teponahuaxtlán and its annex Tuxpan of Bolaños. The extension is of 10 000 hectares. The territory basically has pine forests, evergreen oak, in which prevails an infinity of vegetable and animal kinds; however we can consider to key kinds for the conservation. Thus we have rare kinds, endemic, threatened and until the record of two new kinds. In particular, this is the case a kind of Coreopsis (Compositae), the one which was determined as a kind new for the science or yet not described. In similar form, this case of Penstemon bolanus (Scrophulariaceae), also endemic to the zone of Bolaños. Therefore both kinds represent cases of endemic species restricted and therefore they could be catalogued as rare, vulnerable or threatened according to the UICN (1995). Other type of registered standard, represent it those endemic kinds with interval wider, some of these cases are Agave ornithobroma (Agavaceae), and Vaccinium stenophyllum (Ericaceae), and Quercus praineana (Fagaceae), endemic to zones of the states of Sinaloa, Nayarit and Jalisco, Axiniphyllum durangense (Compositae), Cuphea calcarata (Lythraceae) and Quercus praeco (Fagaceae) that they are endemic for zones of Nayarit and Jalisco. Finally the case of Bidens acrifolia (Compositae) known only of populations disyuntas between the south of Sinaloa and east of Jalisco. In addition to 168 kinds of fowl, of those which 31 are located within NOM 59, being 17 of they endemic. United to this have to be 45 kinds of those which reptiles 29 are endemic.

El Carricito del Huichol,

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2. CAÑADAS, HUATUSCO, VERACRUZ.

“Las Cañadas”, is located in the municipality of Huatusco to the southeast of Xalapa, State of Veracruz, in this area are protected 118 there has of Forest Mesófilo of Mountain or fog Forest, the one which only has an one percent of the total of the national territory and is characterized by having a minimal human and alone disturbance those natural as the fall of some trees, this type of vegetation are described elements of boreal origin, as the marangola ( Mexican Cletra), the pepinque ( Virginia Ostrya), the liquidambar (Liquidambar macrophilla) (Carpinus caroliniana), and other of tropical affinity for example the "cocoa" (Mexican Tapiriria). Within the forest we can mention other kinds that compose them as: in the arboreal stratum we find the walnut (Juglans pyriformis), several kinds of encinos (Quercus spp.) and with these associate I crash it (Dendropanax arboreus) and the elm (Mexican Ulmus). In addition to that they have to be also portions of pastizal of regeneration, this classification groups to the acahuales in different ages or regeneration stadiums of the forest, mature departing of a stratum arbustivo, with dominant kinds as the shames lid or chomapique (Finicky wagleri), happening to a secondary composition with some kinds of pioneer trees that they are of rapid growth, as the chicuábil (Rapanea miricoides), the guajillo (Leucaena pulverulenta) and the acacia (Acacia penatula); within these pastizales can be found some isolated trees, that operate as hangers and help to the fact that the fowl and the bats fulfil better his paper of dispersores. Between the kinds that certify the existing fauna of the reservation, prevail the fowl threatened as the gavilan pollero (Acciper cooperi), tecolote (Ciccaba virgata), mulatto (Melanotis caerulescens); protected as the chivizcoyo (Dendrortyx barbatus), green tucancillo (Aulacorhynchus prasinus), squealer sparrow-hawk (Buteo magnirostris) and rare as the huichi white tail (Campylopterus hemileucurus), yellow coa (Trogón violaceus), red coa (Trogón collaris), the pendulum (Momotus momota), préstame your tapiche (Basileuterus culicivorus) and the chipe Mexican king (Basileuterus rufifrons). All the previous considered by NOM-059 ECOL 1994. In addition to a long ready of 37 families that include more than 200 kinds of fowl. The area presents important environmental services, related to the maintenance of the stability of the hydrological basins of the region of Huatusco, since of she born several creeks that they can provide of water to a great population of the municipality of Huatusco.

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Las Cañadas, Huatusco

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3. ATARASQUILLO, LERMA, ESTADO DE MÉXICO

Santa Maria Atarasquillo, is located in the state of Mexico, in the municipality of Lerma, has a climate cold to temper with rains in Summer. The type of vegetation is of coniferous prevailing kinds of Oyamel (Abies religiosa), Pine (Pinus montezumae), Aile (Alnum sp.), ecosystem that harbors an infinity of kinds of flower and fauna, between those which we have to more than 30 kinds of mammals, of those which eight are endemic of the region; considering also a list of 20 amphibious of those which 15 are under the status of threatened and endemic; concerning reptile we have 21 kinds of those which all are you held to protection; and in fowl have to be more than 70 kinds in which more than 50% are considered susceptible to protect. United to this the zone represents an important area of water reception, for the basin of Mexico as well as for the region of Lerma. The vegetation that covers the property increases significantly the capacity of retention of water, since the vegetable cover represents obstacles to the superficial runoff something which facilitates the breakthrough of the water to the soil and subsoil and avoids at the same time the erosion of the soil.

Santa Maria Atarasquillo

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4. BAHÍA DE LOS ANGELES, BAJA CALIFORNIA

The Bay Archipelago of Los Angeles is found included in the zone fitoflorística north proposed for the California Gulf by Espinoza - Avals (1993). In this zone exists a flower alternation labeled between winter and summer, reflex of the wide climatic variations. In this zone are presented 51 endemic kinds for the gulf. The Rhodophytas are the better represented, with a total of 62 kinds (14 endemic). In second place are found the Chlorophytas, with a total of 14 kinds (an endemic) and finally the Phaeophytas with 11 kinds (five endemic).

In this region are not found kinds of algae that are under some protection state, according to the NOM-059-ECOL/1994. The high primary productivity of the region of the Large Islands of the California Gulf, including the marine area that surrounds to the Bay Archipelago of Los Angeles, maintains a high complexity ecosystem, diversity, abundance, and economic importance current so much as and potential. In total, they have been reported for the area 586 kinds of invertebrates, 54 kinds of cartilaginous fish, 394 kinds of bony fish, five kinds of marine tortoises, 20 kinds of cetacean and a kind of pinniped. Since these figures reflect only the reported kinds in the scientific literature, the real biological wealth of this zone is found yet underestimated.

Bahía de los Angeles, Baja California Norte

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5. EJIDO TUTUACA, CHIHUAHUA

It is located in the center region of Chihuahua, it is a of pine forest - encino ecosystem in the one which basically we find kinds of fowl as mountain parrot, in the one which have been recorded more than 200 nests and it is the only one place in the world where it can be observed mountain parrot during all year round, also we find trogón orejón, black bear (in danger of extinction), aguila real (aquila chrysaetos).

Tutuaca, Chihuahua

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6. LAS BUFAS, DURANGO

It is located in the center - west of the state of Durango, in the one which are found basically pine forests - encino. In this area are found kinds of fowl of importance concerning conservation between those which are found the mountain parrot, the one which is found in danger of extinction, in this zone nestle but of 25 nests, the guacamaya green threatened, the same as the trogón orejon and the buho spotty, which are protected by the NOM 059.

Las Bufas, Durango

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7. MOXBIQUIL-HUITEPEC, CHIAPAS

It is found in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, it is a form of Forest Mesófilo of Mountain ( fog forest) ecosystem of the most threatened of the world, of which 46% it we have in Latin America, In Mexico only is covered 1% of the total territory with this type of ecosystem, the importance bases in which here is found the quetzal, in addition to 390 kinds between those which emphasize the tanguiara aliazul (in danger of extinction). In addition to 112 kinds of mammals as jaguar, cute spider, ocelot, jaguar, tapir, nauyaca, all these threatened kind.

“Moxbiquil”, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas

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8. ISLA ESPÍRITU SANTO, BAJA CALIFORNIA

It is located in the region of the Sea of Genteel, in California Decrease South, it is a area with a form of dry and warm climate, but in her are found a considerable quantity of kinds of flower and fauna. In bloom they have to be 40 families with 100 kinds of plants between those which are classified cactaceas, leguminous, gramineous, compounds; in addition to mammal as coyote, gray fox, deer, lamb borrego cimarrón hare and more than 20 kinds more than those which 14 are endemic; in reptile has more than 20, considering to seven as threatened.

Isla Espíritu Santo

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9. RANCHO EL PAVAL, EN LA RESERVA DEL TRIUNFO.

It is found in to the Biosphere Reserve of El Triunfo in the Mapastepec, Municipality in Chiapas, it is a form of Forest Mesófilo of Mountain ( fog forest) ecosystem of the most threatened of the world, of which 46% it we have in Latin America, In Mexico only is covered 1% of the total territory with this type of ecosystem, the importance bases in which here is found the quetzal, in addition to 390 kinds between those which emphasize the tanguiara aliazul (in danger of extinction). In addition to 112 kinds of mammals as jaguar, cute spider, ocelot, jaguar, tapir, nauyaca, all these threatened kind. The extension is of 110 hectares. Thus we have rare kinds, endemic, in danger species like: the Pava o Pajuil (Penelopina nigra), the Tapir (Tapirus bairdii), Jabalí (Tayassu tajacu), Venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus), Ocelote (Felis pardalis), Tigrillo (Felis wiedii), the Onza (Herpailurus yaguaroundi) and the Jaguar (Panthera onca).

El Paval, Mapastepec, Chiapas.

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ANNEX 4. ADVISORY BOARD

In 1998 was integrated an Advisory Technical Committee (Advisory Board) of the Project of Private Mechanisms for the Conservation of the Biodiversity whose main objective is the one of advising, to recommend and to take decisions in clear and objective form.

The members of the Committee represent different interests in topics related with the land tenure and the conservation of the natural resources.

So far they have met in 5 occasions, having their own Internal Regulation and of Operation.

Their members are: Mauricio Ruiz Galindo y Gómez, manager with coarse experience in conservation topics, founder of

Pronatura A.C., member of the National Council of Protected Natural Areas. Is part of the Directive Council of the National Fund for Areas Natural Protected administrated for the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of the Nature. Inside the Committee it represents entrepreneur and conservation.

Gerardo Ceballos González, outstanding investigator and academic, with doctorate in biology, it was advisory of the Secretary of environment Natural Resources and Fishes, highlighting their works in the Mexican Southeast. As integral of the Committee it represents the technical and scientific aspect.

Juan Bezaury Creel, WWF General Director, profession architect, specialist in public politics and environment, Integral of the National Council of Sustainable, Forest Development and of Protected Natural Areas among other, his professional capacity had been properly grateful covering important positions in The Nature Conservancy, Friends of Sián Ka´an and at the moment in the WWF. It represents the interests of an International Organism dedicated to the Conservation.

Oscar Servín González, lawyer, legal representative of the Real state Group GUTSA, as well as the Posadas Hotel Group, his role in the Committee is to represent the interests of the real state and Hotel sector of our country.

Ricardo Romero González, Private Landowner, profession engineer, proprietor of the Ranch “Las Cañadas”, in the State of Veracruz, place where we establish the first conservation easement in Mexico and of the first ones in Latin America. It represents to the interests of the small proprietors.

José Carlos Fernández Ugalde, Economist, at the moment acts as Regular of the General Director of Political Analysis of the Unit of Social participation and Transparency of the environment Secretary and Natural Resources. It represents the Government's institutional posture.

Deocundo Acopa. Leader of social movements in Mexico representative of several organizations Ejidales and Communal, Advisory of the Government of the Republic in agrarian topics. Unfortunately he died a year ago. It represented the position of proprietor’s ejidales, indigenous and communal.

Flavio Cházaro Ramírez, General Director of Pronatura, Doctor specialist in acuaculture, with general experience in the handling of NGOs and protected natural areas, represents feeling of local NGOs and her intervention in the collaborated management of Natural Protected Areas.

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Internal Regulation of the Advisory Board:

COMITÉ TÉCNICO PARA EL PROYECTO DE MECANISMOS PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN DE TIERRAS PRIVADAS

PRONATURA, A.C.

REGLAMENTO INTERNO

MISSION

Ampliar la cobertura natural protegida del país mediante la conservación de tierras biológicamente importantes de propiedad privada

OBJECTIVES

Compartir conocimientos, experiencias y aptitudes para la selección de sitios específicos para ampliar el proyecto de “Mecanismos para la conservación de tierras privadas de Pronatura, A.C.”.

Llevar a cabo cinco casos de estudio como una primera etapa del proyecto.

Revisar, corregir o aprobar los criterios de selección de sitios que se diseñaron para el proyecto.

Asesorar a los miembros del equipo de trabajo en temas relacionados con las acciones de conservación privada en México y en otros países.

Proponer cambios en la estructura del proyecto.

Difundir el conocimiento del proyecto en el ámbito de sus competencias.

Proponer nuevos miembros que deberán conformar el Comité Técnico Asesor.

Artículo 1°.- El presente Reglamento tiene por objeto regular el funcionamiento y operación del Comité Técnico Asesor del Proyecto de Mecanismos para la Conservación de tierras privadas en México operado por la Dirección de Política Ambiental y Recursos Naturales de Pronatura, A.C.

Artículo 2°.- Para efectos del presente Reglamento, se entenderá por:Autoridades: Cualquier tipo de ente gubernamental de carácter administrativo.Capítulos: Las oficinas regionales de Pronatura.Comité: Comité Técnico Asesor del Proyecto de Mecanismos para la Conservación de tierras privadas en MéxicoCONANP: Consejo Nacional de Áreas Naturales ProtegidasCoordinación: Persona encargada de presidir el ComitéDirector General: Director General de Pronatura, A.C.

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Proyecto: Proyecto de Mecanismos para la Conservación de Tierras PrivadasOrganización: Pronatura, A.C.Propiedad Privada: Cualquier tipo de tenencia de tierra que permite el dominio absoluto de la propiedad incluyendo la transmisión y gravamen de los títulos. (Pequeña propiedad, ejidos y comunidades).Socios: Los capítulos, el Environmental Law Institute y The Nature Conservancy.Zonas Prioritarias de Conservación: El estudio de priorización de áreas de conservación que llevó a cabo la CONABIO.

Artículo 3°.- Corresponde al Comité fungir como órgano colegiado de consulta de la Coordinación, a fin de compartir conocimientos, experiencias y aptitudes para la selección de cinco lugares específicos para aplicar el proyecto como casos de estudio.

Artículo 4°.- Para cumplir con la finalidad establecida, el Comité contará con las siguientes facultades:

1. Opinar sobre criterios biológicos, legales y de oportunidad que sirvan para la selección de sitios propicios para la aplicación del proyecto.

2. Aportar recomendaciones a la Dirección para el funcionamiento del proyecto.

3. Promover acciones tendientes a difundir el conocimiento del proyecto a nivel Nacional.

4. Promover y Sugerir a la Coordinación el estudio de nuevos sitios y nuevas acciones de conservación privada.

Artículo 5°.- El Comité se integrará por los siguientes miembros y mantendrá un balance en composición entre los miembros:

Representante de la Comunidad Científica.

Representante de la Comunidad Social que tenga pleno conocimiento de la situación agraria, ejidal y comunal.

Representante de propietarios privados (incluye un suplente).

Abogado especialista en temas inmobiliarios.

Asesor de Política Ambiental reconocido por autoridades y sociedad civil.

El Director General de Pronatura o la persona que para tal efecto designe en representación de las oficinas regionales de la organización.

El Coordinador del Proyecto.

Un coordinador del Comité que será elegido y aprobado por el Comité en su momento.

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Se podrá aumentar el número de miembros del Comité, siempre y cuando sea en forma balanceada y de común acuerdo.

Artículo 6°.- Cuando la naturaleza del asunto se requiera, el Coordinador a petición de los miembros del Comité podrá invitar a Socios, funcionarios de la Autoridad u otras agrupaciones no gubernamentales o individuos, a efecto de que los mismos formen parte temporal del Comité e intervengan en las decisiones del pleno.

ARTÍCULO 7°.- PARA QUE UNA PERSONA PUEDA SER MIEMBRO DEL COMITÉ, SE DEBERÁ:

I. Comprometer a guardar la confidencialidad de los temas tratados en las reuniones.

II. No utilizar a título personal o institucional los documentos e información proporcionada por los demás miembros o por la Coordinación a título personal, debiendo en su caso solicitar por escrito el uso de información y y proporcionar los créditos correspondientes.

III. No utilizar al Comité para fines personales.

Artículo 8°.- Son compromisos de los miembros del Comité:

a) Asistir a las reuniones ordinarias que se convoquen.

b) Proporcionar la información necesaria que el Comité solicite a fin de apoyar y realizar sus tareas.

c) Exponer sus opiniones, ideas y sugerencias para el proyecto.

d) Evaluar periódicamente el funcionamiento del Comité y del proyecto

Artículo 9°.- Son obligaciones del Coordinador:

a) Presidir las reuniones del Comité.

b) Convocar a las sesiones.

c) Mantener informados a los miembros del Comité de todos los aspectos relacionados con el Proyecto.

d) Instrumentar y llevar a cabo el seguimiento de las acciones, sugerencias y acuerdos que emita el Comité.

e) Solicitar a los integrantes del Comité, toda la información que sea necesaria para el mejor funcionamiento del proyecto.

f) Invitar a las personas o Autoridades de acuerdo a lo señalado en el artículo 6°.

g) Asegurar la asistencia mínima de las reuniones.

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h) Levantar las minutas de las reuniones del Comité y circularlas entre los miembros.

Artículo 10°.-

a) Las reuniones deben ser abiertas y operativas, pueden llevarse a cabo por teléfono, correo electrónico o fax cuando así se estime necesario.

b) Se tomarán los acuerdos por mayoría de votos (51%).

c) El Comité podrá celebrar cesiones extraordinarias que podrán realizarse en cualquier momento, siempre que lo amerite el caso y que sea aprobada por la totalidad de los miembros.

Artículo 11°.- El Comité tendrá una vigencia definida, por el tiempo de duración del proyecto.

Artículo 12°.- Las reuniones deberán efectuarse en las oficinas de la Organización o en su defecto en el domicilio indicado por el coordinador. Para el caso de los miembros que radiquen fuera de la Ciudad de México de la Organización se compromete a cubrir los gastos de común acuerdo con el miembro respectivo.

Artículo 13°.- las recomendaciones que emita el Comité deberán ser emitidas opor escrito contando con la firma de todos los miembros.

Artículo 14°.- Por acuerdo del Comité el presente reglamento puede ser modificado, cuando así se estime necesario.

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Annex 5: Case Study: Private Reserve “Las Cañadas”

The ecological reservation "Las Cañadas", is located in the municipality of Huatusco to the southeast of Xalapa, State of Veracruz, it is the first site in the country in which was constituted a " Ecological Servitude" (October of 1998) through the one which was achieved to protect 118 hectares of relicts of Forest Mesófilo of Mountain or fog Forest, of which only has an one percent in the whole national territory. This ecosystem is characterized by having a minimal human and alone disturbance those natural as the fall of some trees.

In this type of vegetation are described elements of boreal origin, as the marangola (Mexican Cletra), the pepinque (Virginia Ostrya), the liquidambar (Liquidambar macrophilla) (Carpinus caroliniana), and other of tropical affinity for example the "cocoa" (Tapiriria Mexican). Also, we can mention other kinds that compose them as: in the arboreal stratum we find the walnut (Juglans pyriformis), several kinds of encinos (Quercus spp.) and with these associate I crash it (Dendropanax arboreus) and the elm (Ulmus Mexican). in addition to that have to be also portions of grass regeneration, this classification groups to the acahuales in different ages or regeneration stadiums of the forest, mature departing of a stratum shrub, with dominant kinds as the shames lid or chomapique (Mimosa wagleri), happening to a secondary composition with some kinds of pioneer trees that they are of rapid growth, as the chicuábil (Rapanea miricoides), the guajillo (Leucaena pulverulenta) and the acacia (Acacia penatula); within these grass can be found some isolated trees, that operate as hangers and help to the fact that the fowl and the bats fulfil better its paper of dispersion.

Between the kinds that certify the existing fauna of the reservation, prevail the fowl threatened as the gavilan pollero (Acciper cooperi), tecolote (Ciccaba virgata), mulatto (Melanotis caerulescens); kinds protected as the chivizcoyo (Dendrortyx barbatus), green tucancillo (Aulacorhynchus prasinus), squealer sparrow-hawk (Buteo magnirostris) and rare kinds as the huichi white tail (Campylopterus hemileucurus), yellow coa (Trogón violaceus), red coa (Trogón collaris), the pendulum (Momotus momota), préstame tapiche (Basileuterus culicivorus) and the chipe Mexican king (Basileuterus rufifrons). All the previous considered by the NOM-059 ECOL 1994. In addition to a long ready of 37 families that include more than 200 kinds of fowlThe area in mention, presents important environmental services, related to the maintenance of the stability of the hydrological basins of the region of Huatusco, since of she born several creeks that to provide of water to a great population of the municipality of Huatusco.

In spite the good quantity of visitors that receives, “Las Cañadas” does not count on efficient equipment for the control of disasters. As consequence, part of its vegetation has been seriously damaged by practical of dismantle on the part of a private company that began to effect activities with the purpose of construction of a highway, injuring seriously to all the ecosystem. Also, it is not counted on material of signing normative, interpretive and preventive, therefore the educational function and of conservation of the reservation has not been attended. This set of situations make to the extremely vulnerable Reservation to natural or provoked greater catastrophes as some forest fire or the interference of persons detached from the conservation.

Causes that they have generated this condition.

As the ecological reservation "Las Cañadas" is not a Protected Natural Area, decreed by the Federal Government, it does not count on governmental budget that guarantee its protection of external agents, therefore we can consider that this natural area protected through legal instruments of private order is found of certain form a so much lack of greater economic

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support, since only survives practically of the ecoturism and it does not count on the necessary personnel, qualified, equipped and sufficient. Also it lacks sufficient sings that guide the activities of the visitors and that prevents to the external agents, that the area in question is an Ecological Servitude.

However, it is necessary to recognize that this factors or threats sum are only the primary consequence of the little value that the society grants to him/her/you to the conservation of the natural areas, product of the few information and education that the same receives on the importance and environmental services that offers said area of private conservation.

On the other hand, the development of the private reservation "Las Cañadas" today it has been and it is one success of Pronatura, by virtue of the fact that it has been converted into an important pillar within program of private and social lands conservation implemented by the Organization, reason by the one which have committed us not unique to preserve it, but also to establish the measures and prevention and alertness systems in order to avoiding or stopping actions of third persons that illegally intend to invade and to injure said reservation.

Steps to create a conservation easement or private conservation mechanism. Once the contahe contact with the landowners has been made and the interest has been explored in conserving its lands, it is necessary to make a series of steps that they allow to document the legal and biological conditions of the properties, as well as, the identification of the current uses and futures that could be given and the location of the most appropriate areas for potential conservation ends and uses of under impact.

To make this it is necessary to elaborate that internally have called “base line”, the one which, it is the integrative document that contemplates the physical, biological, social and legal conditions of a property, in order to establishing the best conservation forms, protection and monitoring.

A private lands base line is made up of a legal and biological/external elements:

First it is necessary to document the elements that allow us to identify the properties and their main legal conditions and of security, such as: Landowners Document type bases of the property. Limit and boundaries. Certificates of Inscription. Freedom of obligations. Certificate of I don't owe tax. Topographical rising. Location inside the plans of urban classification.

To cover this part it is necessary to go to the Public Registrations of the Property and the Trade of the State that it is, offices of cadaster of the municipality, notaries and in their case, to verify data with the neighbors. As well as, to make a document and bibliographical investigation.

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To elaborate the component biological and external the following steps should be followed: 1. Identification and location of the properties. 2. Gathering of the biophysical information. 3. Field recognition. 4. Establishment of environmental units. 5. Rising of specific information. 6. Planning of the conservation and future uses. 7. Definition of handling actions, conservation, surveillance and monitoring.

Once it is had the information in a basic portfolio, in the one which, they are integrated maps, topographical letters, of floor use, pictures areas, and a database integrated in a System of Geographical Information, you proceeds to the negotiation with the proprietors on the main biological attributes of their properties and the limitations or more appropriate use restrictions to guarantee their viability and conservation.

Already agreement positions and geo-indexed the environmental units and their limitations, you proceeds to elaborate a draft of the legal instrument that it is, servitude, usufruct, trust, etc., which is presented to the selected public notary and he/she notices made and hour for the signature of the document.

Signed and protocolized you proceed to their inscription in the Registration I Publish of the Property and the Trade. Once registered the contract the organization in charge of monitored and to watch over the execution of the same one, it will present a program of activities to avoid nuisances to the proprietors and to fix the reaches of their functions.

It programs of Handling of the Ranch. To achieve that the conservation ends are completed faithfully, it is necessary that a Program of Handling is elaborated where settle down half-filled, such as: - Prevention, control and mitigation of fires. - Control measures and handling of plagues and illnesses. - Work of handling and conservation of floors. - Signaling of areas. - Establishment of alternative economic of under impact.

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Annex 6 Procurement Under the Project

Procurement Responsibilities. Pronatura will be responsible for carrying out procurement of goods and services, according to the Procurement Plan shown in Table 1.

ProceduresProcurement of goods financed by the Grant under the project would be carried out in accordance with procedures acceptable to the Bank, whereby at least three quotations will be requested and the goods will be purchased at a reasonable price, account being taken also to other relevant factors such as time of delivery and efficiency and reliability of the goods. Consultants’ services will be procured in accordance with Individual Consultant/ Qualification-based procedures acceptable to the Bank, taking into consideration the competence of the consultants providing the services.

Procurement Methods. As generally expected in Medium-Sized Projects financed by a GEF Grant, the limited amount of procurement will result in small sums for goods and services. No works are expected to be financed by this grant. Procurement methods to be used are described in Table 1.

Goods. The Grant will finance the purchase of hardware, software for data bases and GIS processing, satellite images, maps, and materials for courses and workshops.

Consulting Services. The project will select individual consultants on the basis of their expertise and experience in the required fields. No consulting firms are contemplated.

Operational Costs. The grant will finance operational costs such as operation, office equipment, insurance for equipment procured under the project, office materials and utilities and communication expenses required for the implementation of the project and the cost of an external audit.

Procurement Monitoring. Pronatura will establish procedures for monitoring project execution and impact, procurement implementation, including monitoring of contracts for goods and services modifications, variations, and extension of completion periods. Pronatura will maintain detailed records of procurement activities financed under the Grant.

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Annex 7 Reports, Disbursements, Audit and Special Account for the Project

Progress ReportsPronatura will prepare and forward to the Bank annual reports covering progress in achieving the activities and targets corresponding to each disbursement period, linking them to indicators for project activities ( Table 3). The annual report shall be delivered at least one month prior to the end of the disbursement period .

Disbursements The following table sets forth the Categories of items to be financed out of the proceeds of the Grant, the allocation of the amounts of the Grant to each Category and the percentage of expenditures for items to be financed in each Category.

Table 1: Allocation of Grant ProceedsCategories Amounts

1. Goods2. Technical Assistance (consulting services, training, & studies)3. Pilot sites4. Operational Costs5. Publications6. Workshops7. Other

$136,434 445,000 35,000 25,000 30,000 75,566 3,000

TOTAL $ 750,000 Closing date is January 15, 2003.

Project financial statements will include a statement of receipts, sources and uses of funds, and undisbursed balances of the Special Account. The funds flow statement will indicate sources (GEF) and expenditures in accordance with main project components and disbursement categories. Project financial statements will show actual payments against those budgeted. Information reported will include the value of contracts signed, i.e. commitments, relative to actual payments.

Pronatura will maintain separate records and accounts for project expenditures as well as a register of assets purchased with Grant funds. Pronatura will also have the responsibility for preparing the project’s financial statements, including balance sheets and sources and uses of funds statements, according to broadly accepted accounting standards.

Auditing of the project accounts will be done following existing auditing arrangements of Pronatura, that have been judged satisfactory by the Bank. Project accounts, including the Special Account will be audited, in accordance with appropriate auditing principles consistently applied, by independent auditors (Price Waterhouse Coopers). Audit reports will be sent to the Bank no later than four months after the end of Pronatura’s Fiscal Year.

A Special Account will be opened by Pronatura in US dollars in a commercial bank acceptable to the Bank. The initial deposit will be limited to US$250,000, corresponding to the estimated project expenditures for the first twelve months of the project. The Special Account would be replenished every year in accordance with the procedures set out in the Grant Agreement Letter provided that satisfactory progress and achievements of the annual targets stated in Table 3 have been met.

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The annual replenishment application will be sent at least one month prior to the end of the disbursement period, and will be supported by the following documentation:(a) reconciled statement from the commercial bank in which the account is established

showing all transactions in the Special Account (Statements of Expenditures and supporting documents will be maintained by Pronatura and available for Bank review);

(b) annual reports covering progress in achieving the activities and targets corresponding to each disbursement period; and

(c) forecast of Grant funds needed to be covered by the withdrawal application, adjusting for any under-expenditure during the previous period.

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Annex 8 Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

Project Monitoring and Evaluation PlanProject Activity Targets /2000-2001 Targets /2001-2002 Targets /2002-2003

Activity 1:

Manuals of options of private and social conservation.

Conclude legal studies: private conservation options.

Publish 1000 copies of the manual.

Activity 2:

Manual to promote involvement of local organizations, landowners and communities.

Database of organizations interested in conservation of private lands.

Two regional workshops (NE & SE).

To carry out three regional workshops. (Sea of Cortez, Gulf and Coast of the Pacific).

Memoirs of the shops.

Activity 3:

Cases of study.

Three pilot cases (Narrow canyons, Reed, Moxbiquil/Hui - tepec.)

Final document with the integration of the cases.

To have four cases (Santa María Atarasquillo, Isla Espiritu Santo and La Victoria, Rancho Baldivia).

I document final with the integration of the cases.

To have three cases (Public land the Maguey, Community Agua Verde, Rancho López).

I document final with the integration of the cases.

Activity 4:

Incentives for the conservation

Document with final studies and national strategy.

Workshop with Authorities, legislators and private groups.

Administration with responsible authorities and incorporation in the juridical framework.

Set in place, start operating, launch planning for the program of incentives.

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Annex 9 Site Selection Workshop Participants

TALLER “MECANISMOS DE CONSERVACION DE TIERRAS”

NOMBRE GRUPO O ASOCIACIÓN TELEFONO EMAIL

Alexandra Ponette Sierra Gorda (5) 652 68 23 Alexandraponette@hotmail.comGmaldo@mail.internet.com.mx

María Elena Mesta Centro Mexicano del Derecho Ambiental (CEMDA)

(5) 211 24 57 Ext. 16 Memesta@cemda.org.com

Lucía Castro Barragán Instituto de Historia Natural (61) 2 36 63 Ihndan@acnet.net

Grant Swanson The Nature Conservancy (99) 20 20 03 Swansontnc@aol.com

Carlos Castillo Sánchez Reserva de la Biosfera “El Pinacate y Gran Desierto”

(62) 17 01 73 Ccastill@ine.gob.mxEl_pinacate@hotmail.com

José María Guerra Limón

Reserva Flora Natural y Refugio de Fauna Silvestre Ajos-Bavispe

(62) 12 70 6456 16 69 Cell

Ajosguer@son1.telmex.net.mx

Alfredo Arellano Guillermo

Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka´an- INE

(98) 83 05 63 Siankaan@groo1.telmex.net.mx

Allison Dutcher Pronatura Sonora (622) 1 15 05 Allison@campus.gym.itesm.mx

Meredith de la Garza Pronatura Sonora (622) 1 15 05 Meredith@campus.gym.itesm.mx

Armando Turrent Desarrollo y Ecología, S.A. de C.V. Aturrent@infoabc.com

Elisa Corcuera The Nature Conservancy 001 (480) 5 17 15 93 Elisa_c@hotmail.com

Rick Turner The Nature Conservancy 001 (409) 5 59 15 16 Rturner@tnc.org

Jorge Brenner Pronatura Noreste, A.C. (8) 3 28 40 33 Jbrenner@pronatura.org.mx

Citlali Tovar Pronatura Chiapas, A.C. (967) 85 000 Citlallic@mundomaya.com

Marcos Lazcano Amigos de Sian Ka´an, A.C. (98) 84 95 83(98) 87 30 80

Mlazcano@cancun.com.mx

Georgina Echaniz DASSUR (28) 18 20 28(28) 18 23 88

Dassur@edg.net.mx

Sergio Aguilar Pronatura Veracruz (28) 8 65 45(28) 18 65 46 Fx

Chencho@edg.net.mx

Julio César Gallardo Pronatura Veracruz (28) 18 65 45(28) 18 65 46 Fx

Juliogallardo1@yahoo.com

Ricardo Hernández Banco Mundial (5) 4 80 42 00 Rhernandez1@worldbank.org

Rene Kantun Palma INE- Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Lagartos

(985) 3 00 58(985) 3 00 68

Rialagar@tizimin.com.mx

Miguel Angel Cruz Nieto Pronatura Noreste (8) 3 28 40 33 Mangelcruz@pronatura.org.mx

Sergio Jimenez Lezama Organización Vida Silvestre, A.C. (OVIS, A.C.)

(8) 3 29 14 29(8) 3 29 14 25 Fx

Sjimenez@vto.com

Rogelio Manriquez Pronatura, A.C. (5) 6 35 50 54 Rog_man@latinmail.com

Martin Gutiérrez Lacayo Pronatura, A.C. (5) 6 35 50 54 Martingutierrez@pronatura.org.mx

Alejandra Bacmeister Pronatura, A.C. (5) 6 35 50 54 Abacmeister@pronatura.org.mx

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