Realities and pending issues in the scientific research in natural protected areas in mexico

Abstract

In order to offer useful recommendations for sustainable management of natural protected area(s) (NPA) in Mexico, scientific research should address not only ecological but also economic and social aspects as well. For most part, all NPA or to be designated NPA in Mexico have some anthropogenic interaction or a human settlement, and the majority live in poverty. Management of NPA should include poverty relief and livelihood alternatives developed specifically for the local populations. This work emphasizes the aspects of scientific research in Mexican NPA that need to be developed. It stresses the need for multidisciplinary and multi-institutional scientific research related to sustainable use of natural resources and updates information related to NPA integration. To obtain a sustainable bio-cultural heritage, the information provided supports CONANP efforts to integrate its sustainability model of nature with human capital to improve performance of NPA. To this end, scientific research in NPA is indispensable, for it is the only “in vivo laboratory model” available to test public sustainability policies not only for the protected area but also for the survival of the planet. This is the ultimate goal of the National Network of Protected Natural Areas (RENANP-CONACYT).