Livestock and Conservation Policies in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park (SSPMNP)
JOSÉ ISRAEL HERNÁNDEZ VALDIVIDA
Disciplines: Conservation, Environmental policy, Natural resource management, Public policy, Social science
Region: Baja California
Chapter: Ensenada
Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) are considered one of the main tools for the protection of biodiversity, however they face important challenges such as pressure for the use of their natural resources. Livestock grazing within NPAs is a relevant issue, since it is an activity present in many of these areas and it is known that poor management can be harmful to ecosystems. Grazing has and continues to lead to conflicts between administrators, land managers, and local communities. The Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park (SSPMNP) is located in the central region of the State of Baja California, declared a protected area in 1947 due to its biological importance. The mountain meadows present on this site have been used for grazing in the summer season since the late 1700’s. Livestock is considered a critical traditional resource use in the area. However, since declaration as a National Park, this activity was legally prohibited, which led to a conflict between cattle ranchers and authorities. The objective of the project is to evaluate, under an interdisciplinary approach, the problems derived from the practice of grazing within the SSPMNP, in order to generate useful information so that current decision-makers can address this problem. The first stage of the project will evaluate the social component via various qualitative and quantitative methodologies, such as interviews, surveys, diagnostic workshops and participatory mapping.