Government conservation policies on Mexican coastal areas: is ?top-down? management working?

• DOI: 10.15517/rbt.v59i4.3414
• Publication Date: 2014-07-29T18:47:29Z
• Authors: Héctor Nava; M. Teresa Ramírez...
• Keywords: manejo costero; 0106 biological sciences; Conservation of Natural Resources; costa del Pacífico mexicano; QH301-705.5; Biología; Conservation; 01 natural sciences; coastal management; Bathing Beaches; 11. Sustainability; Humans; 14. Life underwater; Biology (General); arrecifes coralinos; Mexico; áreas naturales protegidas; políticas gubernamentales; Coral Reefs; Natural Protected Areas; conservation; conservación; 15. Life on land; government policies; Environmental Policy; 13. Climate action; Mexican Pacific coast; coral reefs; Environmental Monitoring

Marine and terrestrial ecosystems are declining globally due to environmental degradation poorly planned resource use. Traditionally, local government agencies have been responsible of the management natural reserves preserve biodiversity. Nonetheless, much these approaches failed, suggesting development more integrative strategies. In order discuss importance a holistic approach in conservation initiatives, coastal underwater landscape value biological/environmental indicators coral reef were assessed using study case Zihuatanejo, Guerrero area. This area shelters representative structures Eastern Pacific coast its biodiversity archaeology enhance high explored both marine geomorphosite two sites on Zihuatanejo area: Caleta de Chon Manzanillo Beach. Sedimentation rate, water transparency, chlorophyll total suspended solids recorded each site for characterization. 50 photo-quadrants five transects surveyed between 3-4m depth record coverage (%) living corals, dead algae, sand rocks. The status reefs was by mortality index (MI). Landscape values showed that had important scientific aesthetic values, being Beach with highest potential initiatives (TtV = 14.2). However, face elevated sedimentation rates (up 1.16 kg/m2d) low transparency (less 5m) generated land use changes increased soil erosion adjacent High corals (23.6%) algae 29%) confirm (MI 0.5), reflecting poorly-planned management. Current conditions result "top-down" strategies as Federal Municipal authorities do not coordinate, disregard community management, ignore intimate relationship realms. work confirms approach, considering areas; should include communities decision-taking processes done authorities.