Capacity Building for Sustainable Wildlife Management on Private Lands in Mexico

The Mexican government established the figure of Wildlife Use and Conservation Units (UMAs) with the purpose of promoting rural development and direct economic benefits to landowners while conserving and sustainably managing wildlife.

Despite the rapid adoption of the system and the conservation successes achieved since its implementation in 2000, UMAs have some weaknesses, due to the fact that Mexico lacks the institutional and training infrastructure to promote sustainable wildlife management practices.

In order to help the country to best adapt to this system and promote sound and sustainable wildlife management practices, the Recipient plans to implement the following activities: 1) a workshop in Kingsville, Texas for 16 private ranchers from Monterrey, Mexico to gain hands-on experience on wildlife and habitat management skills, as well as, censusing and data management techniques; and 2) a workshop in Monterrey, Mexico for up to 50 land owners from the states of Nuevo Leon and Coahuila on effective wildlife habitat management practices and economic opportunities.

Project products include publishing a book about successful wildlife enterprises to be distributed among the participants and relevant audiences all over Mexico.