ii
Part 6: Reflections on strategy, outcomes and adaptations
Chapter 14 Reflections on the road traveled and the path ahead
Chapter 15 Reasons for hope: Mexicos evolving vision and needs for coastal and integrated
natural resources management
Chapter 16 An agenda for collaboration towards sustainable development in coastal regions
and communities in Mexico
Bibliography by Chapter for Further Reading Annex 1 Project Timeline 1995-2003
Endnotes
iii
FIGURES AND TABLES
FIGURES 1
Map of Mexico 2
Growth of tourism income, visitors and employment in Mexico 3
The shifting economic center in Quintana Roo 4
USAID Mexico strategic objectives and results framework 5
The results chain for a development or coastal management project 6
Mapping the four intermediate results onto the results chain 7
The ICM Policy Cycle 8
A hierarchy of co-management arrangements 9 Relationships
among program actors 10
Using the Xcalak site as a strategic point of entry for ICM in Quintana Roo 11
Xcalak Reefs National Park progress markers 12
Bahía Santa María 13
Examples of co-management at different levels of the stairway 14
Bahía Santa María progress markers 15 Chetumal
Bay 16
Advances toward a site-based approach in Chetumal Bay 17
The innovation process 18
Tourism growth in Quintana Roo 19
Reconnaissance of marina sites in the Gulf of California 20
Potential resource flow pathways for supporting ICM in Mexico 21
Moving toward co-management in the Costa Maya 22
Strategic partners are maturing organizations with a strong dynamic of adapting to new opportunities and situations
23 Participation in training and technical exchange programs
24 Participation in sustainable activities
25 A new perspective on donors and strategic partners in terms of capacity building and the four core
competencies of an NGO 26
Using sites as strategic starting points in Mexico: a more complete model of the experience 27
USAID Mexico Coastal Project and partner-related examples from the co-management repertoire
TABLES 1
Strategic and boundary partners in the C
3
EM project 2
Coastal Management Scorecard for Xcalak 3
Coastal Management Scorecard Bahía Santa María 4
Four essential organizational competencies 5
The RedMIRC perspective on the four essential competencies of NGOs
iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The U.S. Agency for International Development USAID and the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center CRC have worked together as partners on the global Coastal
Resources Management Program CRMP from 1985-2003. We are pleased to share the lessons gleaned from the Mexico experience with our Mexican colleagues and others worldwide. The
collaborative relationship between USAID and CRC was central and invaluable to the CRMP process, however the ultimate success of the program is a result of the efforts of literally
thousands of amigos in Mexico who have taken up the challenges with spirit, intelligence and dedication.
The greatest successes are the collaborations that have formed, weaving together both the many coastal initiatives in Mexico and the ever-growing network of leaders and professional
colleagues. The teams at CRC and USAID thank everyone involved in this effort for their continued leadership in addressing the increasingly complex issues that face our coasts. We are
grateful for the ambition, vision and hard work of those who helped guide the coastal management initiative through uncharted waters in Mexico.
The commitment and stewardship demonstrated by the program managers, field staff, and individuals from our primary partner organizations—Amigos de Sian Ka’an, Conservation
International, and the University of Quintana Roo—can not be overestimated. These change agents provided endless support to their local counterparts and to CRC, and helped navigate
through difficult times of policy development and community change. With warm respect and admiration, we have been privileged to work with community members
and leaders in Xcalak, Mahahaul, Laguna Guerrero, Raudales, and Chetumal in Quintana Roo along with La Reforma, Playa Colorado, Costa Azul, Dautillos, and Yameto in Sinaloa and feel
quite confident that their advances will continue. Similarly, our municipal partners in Othón P. Blanco, Navaloto, and Angostura and state agencies in Sinaloa, Quintana Roo and Baja
California Sur have hosted our program activities and have been keen participants in promoting management initiatives to enhance the quality of life in the coastal zone. The Autonomas
University of Sinaloa has been a steadfast and supportive partner. Finally, in efforts to promote nested governance among three levels of government and leverage activities throughout
Mexico’s vast coastal zone, the National Commission of Protected Areas, the National Institute of Ecology, and the Environmental Secretariat’s Direction of Gender Equity have provided
invaluable support. The program seized opportunities to link with other institutions associated with environment and democracy and greatly appreciated the synergies formed with other
USAID programs, including those of the Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, PA Consultants, International City and County Management Association, Coalición para la
Limpieza Activa del Recurso de Agua, and the University of Quintana Roo’s Training, Internships, Exchanges, Scholarships TIES program.
Local non-governmental organizations have come together through networks such as the RedMIRC Quintana Roo Coastal Management Network, ALCOSTA Alliance for the
Sustainability of the Coast of Northwestern Mexico, and the IMAC, Mexico Conservation Learning Network. Time and again they have demonstrated their dedication to helping
v communities wisely plan for and manage their coastal resources. In addition to USAID, other
donors who have supported the program include the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, Summit Foundation, Homeland Foundation, Fundo Mexico para la Conservación de la
Naturaleza, North American Wetlands Conservation Council, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These donors have consistently shown patience and confidence and offered wisdom and
guidance as well as funds to help the many additional local initiatives of our partners thrive. Finally, we would like to acknowledge our colleagues at USAID. Paul White, Richard Volk,
Heather Huppe, Sharon Murray, and Barbara Best, have played key roles as members of the greater Mexico team and time and again provided valuable support and guidance to a truly
unified effort. CRC hopes that this report adequately reflects the high quality of work of all these valued friends
and colleagues. We also hope that the legacy of this effort will inspire and influence further capacity building and innovative work in coastal management efforts in Mexico. We look
forward to continuing to work along side our partners in Mexico toward the ultimate goal of ensuring healthy ecosystems and good management that will yield long-term benefits for the
people of each coastal place.
vi
PROJECT TEAM 1996 – 2003
Amigos de Sian Kaan Marco Lazcano, Executive
Director Alejandro Vega Zepeda1
Arturo Can Moo Carelia Rodriquez Perez
Carlos López Santos Carlos Vidal
Concepción Molina Islas Dana Wussenich
Frida May Juan José Di Donna Argülles
Juan Bezaury Creel Jorge Carranza Sánchez
Laura Susana Rivera Maria Luisa Villareal Sonora
Orlando Iglesias Barron Rosa Maria Loreto Viruel
Ricardo González Hunt Wady Hadad López
Conservation International Maria Angeles Carvajal,
Executive Director, Gulf of California BioRegion
Alberto Medrano Alejandro Robles
Alonso Islas Ana Luisa Toscano
Armando Villalba Loera Ernesto Bolado Martínez
Francisco Zamora Arroyo Humberto Gurrola López
Juan Manual Garcia Julia Acuña
Mauricio Cervantes Abrego ISLA
Antonio Cantu Ma. Elena Martínez Delgado
University of Quintana Roo Francisco J. Rosado May,
Rector Alejandra Dzay Graniel,
Alfredo Ramírez Ann Snook
Antonio Iturbe Posadas Bonnie Campos
Carmen Sarmiento Mariscal Eddie Ellis
Eduardo Galicia Zamora Efrain Villanueva Arcos
Elma Llovera Elsa Domínguez Tejeda
Enrique Mota Flores Erwin Babb
Felipe Medina Felipe Villanueva Silva
Gerardo García Contraras Héctor Gamboa Perez
Lourdes Castillo Luis Sánchez Cataño
Lourdes Somarriba Magali Cabriolé
Ma. Carmen Brito Ma. Carmen Pedroza
Ma. Carmen Sarmiento Ma. Teresa Chan González
Omar King de la Rosa Natalia Armijo Canto
Rafael Romero Mayo Sissi Carvallo Matos
Susanne Kissmann
RedMIRC Adriana Y. Olivera Gómez
Carlos López Santos Maria Luisa Villarreal
José Humberto Alvarez Josefa Gómez Lara
Raúl Contreras Castillo
Coastal Resources Center Stephen B. Olsen,
Director Amber Neville
Carlos García Saez Don Robadue
Jennifer McCann Josh Cinner
Lynne Hale Michael Abbey
Pam Rubinoff Patty Harrington
Townsend Goddard Extended CRC Team
Bill Matuszeski Emilio Ochoa
Maria Haws Mark Amaral
Neil Ross Rocio Brambila
USAIDMexico Paul White, Mission Director
Charles Schnell Citlali Cortes
Daniel Evans Frank Zadroga
Heather Huppe Jane Marks
USAIDEGAT Water Team Richard Volk, Coastal and
Aquatic Programs Barbara Best
Mike Philley Sharon Murray
Tom Rhodes
Conserving Critical Coastal Ecosystems
vii
ACRONYMS
ALCOSTA Alliance for the Sustainability of the Coast of Northwestern Mexico
AMMT Asociación Mexicana de Marinas Turisticas. Mexican Marina Tourism Association
ANDAH Aquacultura Association of Honduras
ANUIES Asociación Nacional de Instituciones y Universidades de Educación Superior.
National Association of Institutions of Higher Education. ASK
Amigos de Sian Ka’an, A.C. BEMAMCCOR Belize-Mexico Alliance for Management of Common Coastal Resources
C
3
EM Conservation of Critical Coastal Ecosystems in Mexico [Project]
CD Committee for the Conservation and Development in Bahía Santa María
CECARENA Center for Natural Resource Conservation
CESPEDES Private Sector Center for Sustainable Development Studies
CIAD Centro de Investigación Alimentación y Desarrollo – Research Center for Food and
Development CIMEX Conservation
InternationalMexico CLARA
Coalición para la Limpieza Activa del Recurso de Agua. Clean Water Coalition. COBIOTEC
The College of Biologists in the Technical [Education] System, Chetumal, Quintana Roo
CONACYT National Science and Technology Commission
CONANP Comisión Nacional de Areas Protegidas - National Commission for Protected Areas
CONAPESCA National Fisheries Commission
CRC Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island
CRIP Mexico Fisheries Research Center
CRMP I Coastal Resource Management I Program, funded by USAIDGENV, operated by
CRC 1985-1995 CRMP II
Coastal Resource Management II Program, funded by USAIDGENV, operated by CRC, 1996-2003
CCD Comisión para Conservación y Desarrollo - The voluntary planning commission for
Bahía Santa María CyD
Conservación y Desarrollo. The Conservation and Development Trust Fund for Bahía Santa María
ECOSUR Colegio de la Frontera Sur – College of the Southern Border
FY Fiscal Year
FONATUR National Tourism Promotion Foundation
GAA Global Aquaculture Alliance
GTC Grupo de Trabajo de la Bahía de Chetumal - Chetumal Bay Working Group
GEF Global Environmental Facility
GIS Geographical Information Systems
GMP Good management practice
GOC Gulf of California
ICM Integrated Coastal Management
IMAC Mexico Conservation Learning Network
IND Indicator INE
Instituto Nacional de Ecología – National Ecology Institute of Mexico IR Intermediate
Result LOP
Life of Project MEO
Municipal Ecological Ordinance MIRC
Manejo Integrado de Recursos Costeros – Integrated Coastal Management
Conserving Critical Coastal Ecosystems
viii
MPA Marine Protected Area
NGO Non-government organization or civic associations
OEM Ordinamiento Ecológico Marino - Ecological Marine Ordinance
OET Ordinamiento Ecológico Territorial – Ecological Zoning Ordinance
PAN Partido Acción Nacional National Action Party.
POET Programa de Ordinamiento Ecológico Territorial – Ecological Zoning Ordinance
PRI Partido Revolucionario Institutional The Institutional Revolutary Party
PROARCA Programa Ambiental para Centroamérica - Environmental Program for Central
America PROFEPA
Federal Environmental Law Enforcement Agency in Mexico RACE
Rapid assessment of conservation economics RCP
Resource Cities Program RedMIRC
Red de Manejo Integrado de Recursos Costeros – Quintana Roo Coastal Management Network
SEMARNAP Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales y Pesca – Environmental
Secretariat of Mexico, prior to 2000, including Fisheries SEMARNAT
Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales – Environmental Secretariat of Mexico, post-2000.
SEDESOL The Secretary of Social Development
SEDUMA Secretaría de Desarollo Urbano y Medio Ambiente – Secretary of Urban Development
and Environment SICOMA
Sistema de Información de la Costa Maya – Costa Maya GIS SO Strategic
Objective TIES
Training, Internships, Exchanges, Scholarships. A program of USAID. UAS
Autonomous University of Sinaloa UQROO
University of Quintana Roo URI
University of Rhode Island USAIDGENV US Agency for International Development – Global Environment Center
USAIDMexico US Agency for International Development – Mexico Program WWF
World Wildlife Fund WILD
Women in ICM—Leadership Development ZMFT
Zona Marítima Federal Terrestre - The federal coastal and marine zone ZOFEMATAC
Zona Marítima Federal Terrestre y Areas Costeros – Federal Maritime Zone Program
Conserving Critical Coastal Ecosystems
1
PART 1 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 - AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAM