Policies and socioenvironmental dynamics for ecosystem management

Area of Science:

• Socio-environmental studies
• Conservation policy analysis
• Political ecology

Background:

• Global biodiversity loss necessitates expanding protected areas (30% by 2030 target).
• Past conservation targets (Aichi Biodiversity Targets) show poor compliance.
• Significant unprotected natural areas are inhabited by indigenous and local communities, complicating conservation efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a methodology for evaluating the outcomes of conservation policies on socioenvironmental practices.
• To facilitate the creation of long-term harmonious relationships between local societies and their environments.
• To provide tools for conservation scientists, environmental managers, and policymakers.

Main Methods:

• Historical-political ecology analysis to deduce socioenvironmental epochs within a region.
• Analysis of socioenvironmental dynamics through selected case studies across the region.
• Construction of socioenvironmental scenarios representing nature-society relations post-policy shifts.

Main Results:

• The proposed method allows for the assessment of past policies and the design of future ones.
• Scenarios serve as conceptual bridges linking internal policies with current socioenvironmental dynamics.
• The methodology was illustrated in the coastal wetlands of Mexico.

Conclusions:

• A clear methodology is needed to evaluate the interrelation between conservation policies and socioenvironmental practices.
• The proposed approach aids in understanding and mapping socioenvironmental dynamics for improved conservation outcomes.
• This framework supports adaptive management and the development of more effective, community-inclusive conservation strategies.