With and without the market. Diversifying community conservation initiatives in the ejido of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Mexico

Abstract

Market-based policy instruments have become increasingly important on the grounds of improving the effectiveness of environmental governance. In Mexico, as in many other parts of the world, conservation has passed from the instruments of command and control to the implementation of integrated conservation and development programs, and nowadays to market-based instruments. This article analyzes the community conservation strategy that has been implemented by the ejido of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The strategy is not based on the use of a concrete conservation scheme, but rather it uses a range of instruments, with different logics, aimed at strengthening a multiple or diverse community conservation strategy. In order to finance a project of carbon sequestration, the ejido has created two community conservation areas, an ecotourism project and has included a portion of its territory in the National Payment for Environmental Services. Having several conservation projects has enabled the ejido to diversify and reduce its dependency on external projects and agents. Keywords: community conservation, market-based instruments, carbon off sets, payment for environmental services.