Program areas at FMCN
Conservation: we promote the integrity of ecosystems and their ecological processes. FMCN invests in maintaining Mexico's biodiversity, which is its natural wealth. Biodiversity allows the integrity of ecosystems, whose processes provide environmental services that make life possible, including that of human beings. In 2023, the project Biodiversity Conservation in the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Gulf of Mexico (Sierra y Mar) made notable progress in improving the operation of protected areas (PAs) to which it provides support. Currently, Sierra y Mar is committed to developing a communication strategy that highlights the achievements and progress of the project, providing the PAs with the necessary tools to create their own content and communication materials independently. The Calakmul Conservation Fund, supported by the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), has established since 2017 a payment initiative for environmental services in the Pustunich and Yohaltun ejidos, located in the buffer zone of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. These annual payments have been vital to caring for valuable forest areas. At the same time, the Amigos de Calakmul association has maintained continuous monitoring of forest cover in these ejidos, and according to the findings of the 2022 report, the vegetation areas have not suffered significant alterations. The Endangered Species Conservation Fund (FONCER), financially managed by FMCN, has established itself as a key pillar for protecting biodiversity in Mexico. This long-term financial mechanism focused on the conservation of priority species and their habitats has reinforced PA management and specific conservation strategies for recovering and maintaining endangered species. Thanks to its perennial nature, FONCER continues to generate resources that will be allocated to future conservation initiatives, ensuring the country's constant protection of threatened wildlife. The Protected Areas Fund (FANP) celebrated 25 years, consolidating itself as a key financing mechanism for the conservation of biodiversity in Mexico. Thanks to a solid alliance with the CONANP and the support of a broad network of donors, the mechanism of this fund has been a pioneer in supporting the operation of 70 terrestrial and marine protected areas, covering 57% of the national terrestrial and 35% of protected marine territory. In 2023, it supported the updating of conservation strategies in priority PAs and reinforced the response to environmental emergencies in collaboration with CONANP, CONAFOR, the Secretariat of the Navy, and members of community brigades, which highlighted its fundamental contribution to sustainable administration of Mexico's natural resources through inter-institutional cooperation. The Fire and Restoration Management Fund (FOMAFUR) has played a fundamental role in addressing forest fires and promoting education on fire management. It has supported 108 projects from 54 local and community entities, extending its fire protection and management actions to 35 PAs and their areas of influence. In 2023, FOMAFUR completed 12 initiatives that improved the capacity of mixed community brigades through training and equipping. Likewise, our field partners established preventive measures such as firebreaks. Thanks to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) forest owners, the Monarch Butterfly Fund has been essential since its inception in 2000 to conserve the ecosystem services of the core area and preserve the migratory journey of this species. A total of 33 ejidos and indigenous communities, which own 91% (12,361 hectares) of the core area of the MBBR, have received support from this Fund in recognition of having conserved their forests. In 2023, the Government of Michoacan committed to economically strengthening the heritage fund and strengthening conservation initiatives vital to safeguarding the forests of the MBBR. In 2023, the Monte Mojino Fund continued its successful work in La Guasima, Sinaloa, and expanded its reach with a focus on the conservation of Tepuxta, an area of great water importance. Based on a new agreement with CONAFOR, the project seeks to reduce water vulnerability in Mazatlan and Irrigation District 111, benefiting the owners of 1,665 hectares of forest. This integrative approach has also promoted training in sustainable practices and environmental services for the community group, whose members consolidated their dedication to conservation through education and community participation. The Sustainable Financing for New Protected Areas (FINANP) project, promoted with the financial support of the German Cooperation through the KfW Development Bank, began a decisive stage in 2023 to strengthen the management of PAs. This effort seeks to preserve ecosystem integrity and promote sustainable use of natural resources. With the start of field activities, three federal PAs are strengthening strategic activities as part of their annual operational plans, which cover biological monitoring and environmental education, among other essential actions for conservation and sustainable management. In 2023, the Mesoamerican Reef Conservation project made significant progress in strengthening local capacities and protecting biodiversity. Since 2015, through 38 key initiatives, this project has encouraged economic and social progress in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Initiatives include the implementation of sustainable tourism practices, waste management, economic valuation of ecosystem services and coral restoration, contributing to the well-being of reef communities, and addressing the challenges of climate change. Since its inception in 2004, the Gulf of California Fund has strengthened the region's ecological and social vitality, funding 136 initiatives. Recently, an external evaluation highlighted the importance of adopting innovative strategies to expand the impact and ensure the permanence of FGC. In the second half of 2023, FGC continued to supervise the subprojects of the 2021 call, focusing on critical areas such as fisheries management, sustainable tourism, and species monitoring in the quest to enhance marine and coastal conservation, as well as raise the quality of life of local communities. The Private Coastal Lands Fund, active since 2013, has provided essential support to six initiatives by four local organizations in Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, and Nayarit, key areas for conservation. These projects have ensured the conservation of 37,567 hectares through the payment of property taxes and the implementation of conservation and sustainable management strategies. In 2023, this Fund continued the technical and administrative monitoring of these initiatives, significantly preventing illicit activities and maintaining the legal integrity of the lands. In April 2023, the Marine and Coastal Monitoring project ended, marking a milestone for researching and conserving Mexico's marine and coastal ecosystems. Together with the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), it promoted remote sensing technologies and identified the distribution of the red mangrove. It consolidated the infOCEANOS metadata platform, which provides a solid foundation to avoid duplicate efforts and guide future research toward critical areas for the knowledge and management of marine resources. The Cuenca de Los Ojos (CLO) project, implemented by the organization with the same name, guards nearly fifty thousand hectares in northern Sonora, favoring the conservation of grasslands and essential ecosystems. Through alliances with academic institutions and other entities, CLO promotes the protection of native species, relying on scientific research to guide its practices. In 2023, his team moved forward with the grazing plan and remained constantly trained in regenerative ranch management. In synergy with CONAFOR and CONANP, the activities of the rural combat brigade against forest fires in Agua Prieta have also been reinforced. In the reporting year, Rancho El Uno (ReU), under the management of CLO, continued to advance in managing its herd of 367 bison, highlighting the effectiveness of the low-stress management system that has been successfully implemented for two years. It also focused on conservation actions for the ecosystem of the Chihuahuan desert, promoting biodiversity and the maintenance of grasslands. With funds from the German Cooperation and the management of the KfW Development Bank, the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Mountains and Mountain Ranges (CoSMoS) project developed in 2023 the general operational plan that will guide its actions for the next five years, focusing on conservation and restoration of 18 PAs managed by CONANP and its areas of influence.
Capacity Building: we consolidate professional competence and personal leadership, as well as institutional competitiveness and capacity for sustainable development. Leadership in the Mesoamerican Reef Leadership Program (MAR-L) is a pivotal platform to increase the scale of conservation projects, strengthen capacities, and generate synergies between Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. In 13 years, it has trained 145 leaders and incubated more than 80 initiatives. In 2023, it concluded the preparation of its tenth generation with 21 leaders focused on strengthening the ecological and community resilience of the region. In 2023, the Kaanbal Suut project completed training its third generation of leaders, successfully delivering modules in financial sustainability, communication, and fiscal and legal matters, training 20 organized groups. Based on this project, it concluded three alliances and is developing another five. With 80% female leadership, the groups we work with have positively impacted the activities of about three thousand people. Additionally, progress was made in mapping systemic challenges and defining strategies, culminating in the formation of a community alliance to address local problems. The Kanan Kay Alliance (AKK) has been a catalyst in marine conservation, achieving the decree of 17 Fishing Refuge Zones (FRZ) that protect more than eighteen thousand hectares and reinforcing the commitment of three communities to design new FRZs. With the joint work of its partners, including fishing and tourism cooperatives, AKK has contributed to the recovery of fisheries and habitat conservation, achieving a 52% increase in biomass of key species in 12 years.
Sustainable Management: we promote the long-term use of natural resources. Investment in sustainable management provides livelihoods by using natural resources without compromising the well-being of future generations. The Coastal Watershed Conservation in the Context of Climate Change (C6) project strengthened the management of ten PAs with returns from endowment resources. This effort is based on collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico Fund (FGM) and FONNOR (Northwestern and Western Fund), and promotes community participation. The project Connecting Watershed Health with Sustainable Livestock and Agroforestry Production (CONECTA), under the technical leadership of the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC) and supported by FONNOR, FGM and the El Triunfo Conservation Fund (FONCET), achieved significant advances in 2023, which include three action plans for the integrated management of the watersheds, whose impact is 217,629 hectares in the La Antigua River watershed, 423,056 in the Vallarta region, and 106,744 in the Isthmus-Costa de Chiapas. Regarding community participation, 3,169 people dedicated to production have been actively involved in activities to adopt better management practices. In 2023, the River Restoration for Climate Change Adaptation (RIOS) project, also led by INECC and executed by FONNOR and FGM, focused on protecting biodiversity, restoring riparian zones and improving water quality in the watershed of the Ameca-Mascota River in Jalisco and the Jamapa River watershed in Veracruz. In terms of community participation, 1,841 producers carried out restoration activities on 1,887 hectares and participated in community monitoring of water quality and quantity to analyze the impact of intervention strategies. Since its creation in 2001, the Watersheds and Cities project has influenced 3.8 million hectares, promoted conservation and sustainable management actions in another 141,500 hectares, and developed compensation schemes in thirty-five thousand more. More than sixteen thousand families from 192 communities have benefited from sustainable projects and eco-techniques, such as biodigesters and water collection systems. In 2023, the new knowledge management strategy was consolidated, which will be the basis for improving the systematization of good practices promoted by project partners. In addition, Watersheds and Cities expanded the conservation and restoration areas by an additional 6,500 hectares. In 2023, the Sustainable Communities for Climate Action in the Yucatan Peninsula (ACCION) project, scheduled to run between 2025 and 2030, laid the foundation for increasing climate resilience on the coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula. With the support of the regional fund Sureste Sostenible and financing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), FMCN concentrated efforts on the design of the project based on specialized consultancies, through which the climate vulnerability of the communities, the differentiated impact of climate change on women and men was analyzed, and adaptation initiatives supported by ecosystems were recognized.