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Cognisance, participation and protected areas in the Yucatan Peninsula

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2013

ISABEL RUIZ-MALLÉN ,
HELEN NEWING ,
LUCIANA PORTER-BOLLAND ,
DIANA J. PRITCHARD ,
EDUARDO GARCÍA-FRAPOLLI ,
M. ELENA MÉNDEZ-LÓPEZ ,
M. CONSUELO SÁNCHEZ-GONZALEZ ,
ANTONIO DE LA PEÑA  and
VICTORIA REYES-GARCÍA
ISABEL RUIZ-MALLÉN*
Affiliation:
Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellatera, Barcelona, Spain
HELEN NEWING
Affiliation:
Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NS, UK
LUCIANA PORTER-BOLLAND
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ecología, AC, Carretera antigua a Coatepec #351, El Haya, 91070, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
DIANA J. PRITCHARD
Affiliation:
School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, Sussex House, Brighton, Sussex BN1 9RH, UK
EDUARDO GARCÍA-FRAPOLLI
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CP 58190, Morelia, Mexico
M. ELENA MÉNDEZ-LÓPEZ
Affiliation:
Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellatera, Barcelona, Spain
M. CONSUELO SÁNCHEZ-GONZALEZ
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones Históricas y Sociales, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Av. Universidad s/n, 24030 San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche, Mexico
ANTONIO DE LA PEÑA
Affiliation:
Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, Av. Tancredo Neves 6731, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil
VICTORIA REYES-GARCÍA
Affiliation:
ICREA and Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellatera, Barcelona, Spain
*
*Correspondence: Dr Isabel Ruiz-Mallén Tel: + 34 93 586 8548 Fax: + 34 93 581 3331 e-mail: isabel.ruiz@uab.cat
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Summary

Local people's involvement in the management of conservation initiatives is central to ongoing debates on the relative merits of distinct biodiversity conservation models. Since different governance models provide distinct opportunities for local people to participate in the management of protected areas, their knowledge of these governance models and motivation to collaborate will vary. This paper analyses cognisance and participation in (1) government-imposed biosphere reserves and (2) community conservation areas, in which ecotourism projects take place. Qualitative and quantitative data (n = 205) were gathered in two indigenous communities in Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Whereas local cognisance of community-driven conservation initiatives is not always greater than cognisance of government-imposed Biosphere Reserves, local participation is always greater. Cognisance of and participation in conservation initiatives depend on the management approach, extent of external resource support, and a community's social organization. Gender and land holding status influence access to information about conservation initiatives, since men with land rights had more access than other people. More participatory mechanisms for decision-making and direct communication strategies between managers and local people are required to improve communities’ involvement in conservation.

Keywords

community-based conservationgenderknowledgeLatin Americalocal participationnatural resource management
Type
Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , September 2014 , pp. 265 - 275
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2013 

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