Importance of Natural Protected Areas, Environmental Services and Clean Technologies

 

Natural Protected Areas in the World and Mexico

 

Natural protected areas are zones where original environment has not been greatly affected by human activity or require to be restored or protected. Their objective is  to host a diversity of species of plants and animals, many of them in danger of extinction.

 

Worldwide, the number of Natural Protected Areas has considerably increased in the last decades, and now represent 12% of Earth. Nevertheless lost of biodiversity continues because environmental protection has to face poachers, illegal logging, and illegal commerce of species in danger of extinction.

 

Humanity has set aside forests and other ecosystems for conservation for at least 2,500 years, with the first modern national park established at Yellowstone in 1872. Protected areas have since grown to cover much of the globe: the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre now lists more than 102,000 terrestrial and marine sites covering nearly 19 million square kilometres – almost 4 per cent of the Earth. The vast majority are terrestrial, and their establishment is believed to be the biggest deliberate change of land use in history.

Meanwhile 149 sites of ‘great natural value’ are given special legal protection under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, ratified by 176 states. They and other protected areas serve many purposes, including safeguarding biodiversity and wild resources, providing clean air and water, combating climate change and attracting tourists. A rapidly growing number has been established across national boundaries, acting as catalysts for peace.

Protected areas are unevenly spread: one fifth of all the world’s countries have designated less than 1 per cent of their land. There are major gaps; less than a tenth of a per cent of the original forest in the Southern Pacific islands is protected for example, along with less than 1 per cent of the forests of Central Africa’s Cameroon Highlands and of the mangroves of the Gulf of Guinea. More striking still, less than 1 percent of the seas and oceans that cover 70 percent of the globe is covered by protected areas.

Many parks exist only on paper, lacking management and legal title. Many that are properly enforced are too small to function effectively. Many more are damaged by threats ranging from poaching to air pollution, from illegal mining and logging to uncontrolled fires – often because they have been set up without the participation of local people, who believe they do not benefit from them. And global warming threatens to erode and destroy their value, as species are unable to cope with the changing climate.

These dangers happen because of factors  as poverty, overconsumption and overexploitation. The protected areas of the earth will only continue to do their invaluable work if these problems are controlled – and if the local people have reason to value them and participate in their conservation.

Our country (Mexico) has a System of Natural Protected Areas is divided in different categories:

* Biosphere Reserves

* National Parks

* Natural Monuments

* Plants and Animal Protected Zones, etc.

With these actions mega diversity is protected and species in danger of extinction are preserved. Natural Protected Areas cover 9.5% of Mexico´s surface.

 

 

Importance of Natural Protected Areas, Environmental Services and Clean Technologies

 

Protected areas are economic engines. They provide for life’s jobs and livelihoods as a traditional destination

for the global tourism industry. Outdoor equipment industries have sprung up and are critical to regional

economies. Significant employment is dependent on parks and protected areas. At the same time these areas

protect resources of immense economic value such as water and fisheries. The pharmaceutical industry has

benefited greatly from the genetic diversity of species and safeguarding species in protected areas will ensure

the possibility of discovery of future medicines. As well the economic spin- offs from literature, film and

television adds to the positive side of the ledger of the values of protected areas.

 

Globally - protected areas serve as indicators of achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. At the

local level, protected areas contain landscapes with a sense of place and meaning to nations and its people.

They offer opportunity for involvement with restoration and other conservation activities. Such activities enhance social outcomes, sometimes dramatically, when delinquent youth are transformed into engaged

community members.

 

Protected areas provide the settings for healthy outdoor living and recreation. Exploring a protected area

offers not only the opportunity to understand nature but also for exercise and education. They provide a

sense of adventure and challenge, including self-discovery. Achieving personal development goals increases

the mental well-being of humans. Much evidence has been accumulated on the recuperative force of nature

on recovering patients.

 

Most importantly, protected areas are the setting for providing some of life’s most joyous moments. It is

within these areas that our spirits can soar and our soul can be replenished. We can feel joy in the beauty

of the place, from the feeling of solitude, or from having an interaction with wildlife. Protected areas are

places where one has time to relax and unwind and to share a special moment or adventure with family and

friends. These joyous experiences become embedded as a memorable moment and for many, they can be a

life-transforming event.

 

Protected areas provide income through jobs and in some cases they also provide direct income to communities

through park fees. Table 2 below highlights some examples of the economic values derived from

protected areas.

Protected areas in Mexico include 174 from which 41 are biosphere resevrves, 67 national parks, 5 natural monuments, 8 natural resources protected areas, 35 animals and plants protected areas and 18 natural sanctuaries.

 

Carbon Capture

México Carbon storage and tourism benefits from protected areas

 

México’s efforts to conserve biodiversity encompass an overwhelming necessity to provide goods and services to its growing population. Protected areas13 constitute an important part of the Mexican strategy to protect its unique biodiversity. Currently, a greater portion of Mexican federal protected areas surface is conceptualized as multiple use zones (83%, IUCN Category VI), where activities are limited by the thresholds imposed by sustainable use of natural resources. Protected areas are therefore not isolated from the national economy.

Rather, they play an important role in enhancing and consolidating the well-being of México’s rural population, while remaining within the limits necessary to conserve their “natural” condition. A crucial characteristic of Mexican protected areas which demonstrates their role in society is that land tenure within their boundaries is not altered by their establishment. Instead, land use is restricted through presidential decrees, in order to safeguard environmental conditions toward a greater public good.

Mexicans are increasingly recognizing the strategic importance of protected areas, together with the need to develop social programs within them to achieve sustainable development. Thus, the budget assigned to federal protected areas by the government has increased significantly over the last 15 years.

Documenting the value of goods and services that protected areas provide to society is a first step towards creating the social and political will needed to develop a strong state policy stance towards their long term consolidation as key pieces of a nation’s sustainability. Recently, The Nature Conservancy initiated a  process for documenting goods and services provided by Mexico’s protected areas that include mainly: carbon sequestration, water provision services, watershed protection, disaster mitigation, tourism, and fisheries.

Mexico is the eighth most important tourist destination in the world, with around 21.4 million tourists

arriving in 2006 to experience its beaches, culture, history and natural surroundings. Income derived from international travelers’ expenditures in 2006 total USD 12.2 billion. National and international tourism activities currently represent around 8% of Mexico’s gross national product.

 

The CONANP16 estimates that approximately 5.5 million tourists visited federally protected areas, with direct sales close to USD 285.7 million, derived exclusively from direct payment of services related to their visit. This figure represents 2.3% of all international traveler expenditures.

Activity #3

Investigate a Protected area anywhere inthe world. Elaborate a map locating where that area is and illustrate the species or plants or animals protected with drawings or cutouts.

In your notebook write:
1.- Which is the name of the area in which continent and country it is located and which species of plants and animals are protected,

Answer:
2. Why is it important to have natural protected areas?