Participatory conservation of wild felids in two hotspots of biodiversity in Oaxaca, Mexico

Background/Question/Methods

For highly biodiversity and inhabited subtropical and tropical regions around the world, the best approaches for habitat and species conservation are those that recognize the relevance of local people. Particularly where traditional groups have ancient roots with the surrounding ecosystems, evidence exhibited friendly nature-human coexistence. However, the mechanism on how local people are actively involved in conservation has been poorly documented. Mexico is a megadiverse country, where almost 60% of the territory is social tenure (62.6 million ha). Here, there are different participatory biodiversity conservation strategies, one of them is the “voluntary conservation areas” (VCA). This work presents an analysis of two cases in Oaxaca state, where collective action and local governance support preservation of habitat and species, like jaguar (Panthera onca). One, corresponded to six Chinantec contiguous communities who established VCA (26,770 ha; along 500-2,900 m gradient) with tropical humid forests. The other case was of three Zapotec contiguous communities with VCA (9,038 ha; along 1,633-2,800 m gradient), where tropical dry and temperate forests prevail. Methods included: compilation of jaguar and other wildlife registers from camera traps, review of community rules and agreements for conservation practices, mapping of VCA and forest cover, and community member interviews.

Results/Conclusions

During ten years with camera traps five of the six species of wild felids of Mexico were registered, in Chinantec area only the lynx (Lynx rufus) was not registered, while in Zapotec area Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) was not registered. Jaguar (Panthera onca) was registered in all communities and sampling years, and both VCA and zoned agricultural areas in Chinantec area, while in Zapotec area was registered solely in VCA in two locations out of four and only five sampling years. Forest cover for Chinantec area is 90%, while second area is 48%. The Chinantec communities has an intercommunity conservation agreement and a non-governmental organization for management activities of their natural resources, while Zapotec communities work independently with governmental agencies. Funding for monitoring activities depends on funding from government agencies, while surveillance and trail maintenance activities are carried out as a “tequio”, as a contribution to their community. Some governmental incentives for encourage for the inter-community organization were key for the conservation of biodiversity and to face the threats in the Chinantec case, but they are still a need for the Zapotec ones. Jaguars need protection in landscapes beyond strict protected areas and politics boundaries.