Analysis of the National Program for Natural Protected Areas in Mexico for the Period 2014-2018: Analysis of Two of its Objectives

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the National Program for Protected Natural Areas in Mexico for the 2014-2018 period, which sets out the objectives, actions and goals for the management and conservation of these spaces. Accordingly, the study was restricted to the analysis of two specific objectives in the program: “Integrated landscape management” and “biodiversity conservation and management”, as well as the indicators proposed for this goal. It was found that the public policy instrument initially eliminated, modified and omitted several indicators, which are essential to be able to impartially measure these two objectives. By excluding them, the program effectively eliminated fundamental information that would explain the level of conservation of Natural Protected Areas. The main indicators omitted were those for calculating changes in plant cover, representativeness of ecosystems, risks caused by human activities and biodiversity loss.