Mexico - Consolidation of the Protected Areas System Project

Document of The World Bank FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Report No.: 27702 ME SUPPLEMENTAL GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY (GEF) GRANT DOCUMENT INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED SUPPLEMENTAL GEF GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF USD 2.21 MILLION TO THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES AND FOND0 MEXICAN0 PARA LA CONSERVACION DE LA NATURALEZA A.C. FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM PROJECT January 29,2004 Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Latin America and the CaribbeanRegion This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization.  CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (Exchange Rate Effective January 29,2004) u s 1 - MXN 10.92 FISCAL YEAR July 1-June 30 Vice President: David de Ferranti Director: John Redwood Country Director: Isabel Guerrero Task Team Leadermask Manager: Adriana Moreira  FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY MEXICO Supplemental GEF Grant - Consolidationof the Protected Areas System Project Report on Compliancewith Safeguardand Fiduciary Policies Background: 1. This report refers to a supplemental GEF grant to the United Mexican States and Fondo Mexican0 para la Conservacidn de la Naturaleza (FMCN) for US$2.21 ,million,Toprovide additional funding for the Mexico: Consolidation of the Protected Areas System Project (SINAP 2). The SJNAP 2 Project was approved by the Board on February 7,2002. The corresponding Grant Agreement was signed on February 13,2002, and became effective on April 25,2002. The Project is expected to close by June 30,2010. 2. The Project's objective is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in Mexico through the consolidation of the National System Protected Areas (SINAP) by: (a) conserving globally important biodiversity in selected areas of SINAP through an endowment fund; (b) promoting the economic, social and environmental sustainability of productive activities in selected protected areas; (c) promoting social co-responsibility for conservation; and (d) in general, promoting the inclusion of biodiversity conservation and sustainable criteria in development projects and other practices affecting selected protected areas. This project extends the protected areas program initiated with GEF funding in 1992 and restructured as an endowment fund for 10protected areas in 1997 (Project SINAP l), by adding 12 new protected areas to the program. There have been no substantial changes to the project's original objectives and design since Board !approval. 3. The GEF grant amounts to SDR12.8 million(US$16.1 million equivalent), while the total cost of the project is $60.12 million. The proposed supplemental GEF grant would be used to further capitalize the endowment of the protected areas fund under FMCN ("Fondo para Areas Naturales Protegidas" - FANP) for the first of the additional eight protected areas listed on page 99 of the Project's Appraisal Document (PAD). The protected area to be supported by the funds provided in this supplemental grant is the "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" Area for the Protection of Flora and Fauna (APFF), in the State of Sonora. The area represents a transition zone of the Neoartic and Neotropical biogeographic regions, besides representing the southernmost distribution limit of the Low Deciduous Forest; furthermore, it is the northernmost and/or southernmost distribution limit for certain species. The existence of rich and varied flora and wildlife has been reported, with the occurrence of about 1,100species of vascular plants divided into 148families. This represents 67 per cent of the 220 families recognized for the entire country. The wildlife comprises 558 species of registered vertebrates, which represent 23 % of the wealth at the national scale (2,425 species) and 62 % with respect to the 900 species registered for Sonora. There are 15 plant species and about 100species of endangered vertebrates, the most important being jaguars, ocelots, some bat species, as well as military macaws, thick-billed parrots, spotted owls, green parakeets, Lilac-crowned Pacific parrots, bog turtles, desert tortoises, Gila monsters, scorpions, among others. This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipientsonly in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not be otherwise disclosed without World Bank authorization.  4. Per the policy adopted by the Board in March 2002, this supplemental grant includes additional information on the following: summary of evidence for compliance with established conditions for the supplemental grant; the estimated project costs, procurement and disbursement arrangements, the social assessment and social strategy, the FANP endowment, and the environmental analysis; revised logical framework; changes to the matching funds; and additional information on the Social Assessment and Operational Strategy design for the "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" Area for the Protection of Flora and Fauna (APFF), in the State of Sonora, Mexico. Summary ofevidencefor compliance with established conditionsfor supplemental grant: 5. Compliance of the supplemental GEF grant with applicable Bank safeguard and fiduciary policies were ensured by applying the procedures established in the Projects Appraisal Document (PAD) and Legal Agreement, particularly in the annexes on procurement, disbursement and environmental analysis. The conditions required the submission of the following documentation: 0 Reserve-specific logical framework with protected area-specific indicators. 0 Evidence of matching contributions to the endowment. 0 Adequate social assessment for the entering protected areas. 0 Adequate evaluation of indigenous peoples' issues and appropriate design of Indigenous Peoples Development Plans, as needed. Endowment contributions by SEMARNAT (Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources: Secretaria del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales) to FANP, in order to cover taxes during project implementation. 6. These conditions have been met and are summarized below and detailed in the attached annexes. : a) The logical framework with the indicators of the protected area "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF in Sonora, which is included in Annex A. Evidence of matching contributions to the endowment: Annex B includes a table that summarizes the matching funds to date. Copies of bank account statements showing deposits amounting to US$ 2.21 million accompanied by the agreements signed by the donors are available in project files. The social assessment for "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF is available in project files; its executive summary is included in Annex C. The appropriate design of remedial actions is defined in the logical framework in Annex A. 2  Since no indigenous peoples inhabit the protected area "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF, the requirement for an Indigenous Peoples Development Plan does not apply for this particular protected area. The endowment contributions by SEMARNAT (Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources: Secretaria del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales) to FANP are shown in the bank account statements described in Annex B. SEMARNAT has deposited a total of US$ 1.5million in endowment funds to cover taxes during project implementation References to the PAD Annexes: 7. The procedures described in the Project Appraisal Document, particularly in the annexes on procurement, disbursement, and environmental analysis were followed and no significant modifications are required in Annex 3, 6, 11, 14 and 15, since the expansion of the FANP was part of the original project design and is included in the Project Appraisal Document in the following fashion: Annex 3: "Estimated Project Costs": the funds requested by the supplemental grant are included in the US$ 15 million under the GEF column in the third table found on page 49. The matching funds described in Annex B of this report are included under the "GOM" and "Private" columns of the same table. Annex 6: "Procurement and Disbursement Arrangements": the supplemental grant will be part of the endowment capital. Its generated income will finance the implementation of the "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF Annual Operating Plans (POAs). The $2.21 million supplemental grant by GEF and the corresponding $2.21 million matching funds should be added to the "Other" column under "4. Endowment Fund". Under the "N.G.F." the Area Implementation POAs are adjusted to five rather than four protected areas, as follows: 3  Annex 11: "Social Assessment and Social Strategy": the social assessment for the protected area "Sierra.de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF has been submitted and cleared by the World Bank, its summary is included in Annex C of this report. The social strategy that will be followed in "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF is the one described in Annex 11for the other four protected areas, since it is a general strategy designed for the 12 new protected areas to be supported by the endowment income. Annex 14: "Further Expansion of the FANP Endowment": this annex incorporates the supplemental grant for a fifth protected area as part of the expansion of the endowment. The average costs per area are the ones described in this Annex and have suffered no changes. Annex 15: "Environmental Analysis": the procedures described in this annex will be followed, in case any of the activities included in the annual operating plans of "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF require an environmental impact assessment, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the FMCNFANP Operational Manual and the CONANP Operational Manual. 4  Annex A. Logical framework with the indicators of the protected area "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF in Sonora. A FF SIERRA DE ALAMOS Assumptions No catastrophicdroughts, infestationsor Conserve the biodiversity of the Area of plandanimal illnesses will occur. Protectionfor Flora and Fauna of "Sierra Project Key performance indicatorsincluded in Official institutionsand programs will not de Alamos" Annex 1 of the Project AppraisalDocument promote deforestation. I Strategyfor Natural Resource Protection R1 Increasedknowledge of the ecological Number of applied research projects for resource Academicinstitutionsare interested in the processes present in the APFF management developed by academicsfor the APFF scienceneeds of the APFF Authoritiesmake efforts to control illegal R2 Reduction in the area affected by Affected area/year activities. man-made activities such as provoked Number of forest fireslyear Greater monitoringand supervision forest fires and clearing/deforestation. Number of restored hectareslyear presencein the area No prolonged droughts Sufficienteconomic resources and R3 Processes of natural resourceuse and Number of beneficiariesthat comply with authorized equipmentprovided in a timely manner extraction controlledand managed useltotalnumber of beneficiaries Relevant authorities supportthe project activities Social ParticipationStrategy ~ Number of alternative projectsadopted by the No incentivesor subsidiesexist that R4 Diversified and improvedproductive communitiesltotalnumber of productiveprojects promote non-compatibleactivities practicestowards sustainable developmentimplementedby the local Number of productiveprojectscongruent with the Benefitsfrom compatible activitiesare population conservationpolicies of the APFWtotal number of equal or greater than non-compatible productive projects in the APFF activities  Stratepv Indicators Assumptions Inter-institutionalagreementsexist for productiveprojects Existence of interest and availabilityof institutionsthat have an effect in the APFF R5 Inter-institutionalcoordination Number of agreements signed with other agencies in Sufficientpolitical supportexists for increased favor of APFF conservation conservationefforts in the APFF R6 Local inhabitantsand beneficiaries Number of conscious individuals/totallocal Sufficientand timely resourcesexist recognize the importanceof the APFF population Local authorities are involved in outreach activities R7 Increase in the participationof Fulfilled agreements/Agreementsestablished Social sectorcouncil members of the inhabitantsand beneficiariesin the APFF Number of socialparticipationforums aimed at the Advisory Committeecontinue to management management of the APFF DarticiDate in the advisorvcouncil 6  Annex B. Total matching funds to the project "Consolidation of the Protected Areas System Project" with grant agreement number TF050311 (SINAP 2). 1. The following table shows the matching funds to the "Restructured Project of Protected Areas in Mexico (SINAP l),where GEF requested a commitment of US$ " 5 million (FMCN stands for Fondo Mexican0 para la Conservacih de la Naturaleza): Project Amount Status El Triunfo Conservation US$ 1.O million Deposited in FMCN (January Fund 16,2001) Strategic support for two US$ 3.0 million Disbursement in accordance priority watersheds: El with GEF deposits: US$ 1.5 Triunfo and Manantlan million deposited on May 16, (Gonzalo Rio Arronte 2002, and US$ 0.5 million Foundation) deposited on December 11, 2002 San Pedro River Initiative US$0.5 million Deposited in FMCN (Ford Foundation) (September 15,2000) San Pedro River Initiative US$0.5 million Deposited in FMCN (Packard Foundation via (September 26,2002) NFWF) Total US$5.0 million 2. The following table shows the funds obtained to match the first deposit to SINAP 2 (US$ 7.5 million): Project (donor) Amount Status The Monarch Butterfly US$ 5.0million Deposited in FMCN Conservation Fund (Packard (September 15,2000) Foundation) The Monarch Butterfly US$ 1.0million Deposited in FMCN Conservation Fund (The (November 7,2000) Environmental Ministry) Contribution to the first GEF US$ 1.5million Deposited in FMCN endowment for the ten (November 7,2000) protected areas Total US$7.5 million 3. The following table shows the funds obtained to match the start-up funds (US$1.9 million) in SINAP 2, which were part of the first SINAP 2 deposit by GEF: Project Amount Status Banco Chinchorro-Xcalak US$0.20 million Deposited: US$ 0.20 million Conservation Fund (April 16,2001) (Summit Foundation) San Pedro River Initiative US$0.20 million Deposited in FMCN  (Summit Foundation) (November 1,2000) Espiritu Santo Conservation US$ 1.50million Deposited in FMCN Fund (Packard Foundation) (September 23, 2002) Total US$1.90 million 4. The following table shows the funds obtainedto match the seconddeposit (tranche) to GEF for SINAP 2 (US$2.21million): Project Amount status* 1. Banco Chinchorro-Xcalak US$O.lO million Deposited in FMCN (June 3, Zonservation Fund 2002 and June 18,2002) :Summit and Homeland 3oundation) 2. San Pedro River Initiative US$ 0.10 million Deposited in FMCN (part of :NFWF) a US$ 0.6 mi deposit (SeDtember26. 2002) 3. San Pedro River Initiative US$ 0.01 million Deposited in FMCN (January Wick Communications) 9.2001) 4. Monarch Butterfly US$ 0.25 million Deposited in FMCN in pesos C'onservation Fund (State of (March 12,2002) Mexico) 5. Monarch Butterfly US$ 0.25 million Deposited in FMCN in pesos Zonservation Fund (State of (November 29,2002) Michoacan) 5. Match to SINAP 2 US$ 1.50million US$ 0.5 million deposited in :SEMARNAT) pesos in FMCN on December 27, 2001, US$ 0.2 million deposited in FMCN on April 14, 2002, US$ 0.55 million deposited in FMCN on October 25, 2002 and US$ 0.25 million deposited in FMCN on December 11. 2002 rota1 US$2.21 million "Copiesof bank statements availablein project files. 8  Annex C. Executive Summary - Social Assessment and Operational Strategy Design for the "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" Area for the Protection of Flora and Fauna (APFF) in the State of Sonora 1.Introduction and Objectivesof the Study During the last decade, Mexico experienced substantial progress regarding the conservation and sustainable development of natural resources. On one hand, progress was made in the institutionalization of an environmental policy and on the other, the actions, and proposals of Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's) involved in these issues were furthered. Following this process, in 2000, the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), a decentralized body of SEMARNAT, was created. It is in charge of the Natural Protected Areas' (NPA's) administration and is one of the basic instruments of the biodiversity conservation policy. CONANP is also accountable for implementing the Regional Sustainable Development Programs (PRODERS), not only in the NPA's, but also in other regions that are priority for conservation, although they are not covered by a protection decree. The study's general objective is to describe and analyze the social situation with respect to the management of resources of the "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF and proposing strategies to involve the population (users and holders of rights that live within and in the area of influence of the natural area) in the management, conservation and sustainable exploitation of the area's natural resources. The assessment implies three fundamental issues for the exploration and obtaining results: a) Demographic description of the social-economic and cultural context, productive and environmental practices of the different actors (indigenous and not indigenous population, whether owners, holders of rights or users of resources, government forms and social organizations). b) Define social strategies appropriate for the specific context of the "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF, in relation to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources (land, water, fauna, flora and non-renewable resources). This strategy should contemplate: guidelines for social communications with and among users and holders of rights, including spreading sustainable technologies. Furthermore, as far as possible, proposals for compensation models appropriate for re-establishing or improving conditions of life and production, similar or better than those prior to the establishment of the "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF, will also be included. c) Design an inter-institutional strategic coordination, and in this sense, the role to be played by the administration of the "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF, as well as the requirements resulting thereof. Particular objectives are: a) Analyze the main social-economical or physical-natural variables that have a bearing on the regional and local development process; 9  b) Analyze the interrelationship between productive processes and social organization forms on the use of natural resources in the community and regional contexts; c) Identify the main social issues resulting from the use and exploitation of the resources; d) Identify, under a focus of participation, possible lines of action and alternative consensual productive projects that supportthe solution of conflicts; e) Establish, in a participative manner, social and institutional strategies to implement actions in the sustainabledevelopment of the APFF. 2. GeographicLocationsand Biological Importance of the APFF The "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" Area for the Protection of Flora and Fauna is located in the southeastern portion of the State of Sonora, in the municipality of Alamos, between parallels 27" 12' 30"and 26" 53' 09" latitude North and meridians 109"03' 00" and 108"29'32" longitude West. The territory is formed by plains, hills and mountain ranges that form part of the Western Sierra Madre and adjacent mountains. Its maximum length amounts to 55 Km and its minimum length, 31 km, comprising a 92,889-69-41.5 hectare area. The APFF represents 13.7percent of the area of the Municipality of Alamos and 4.26 percent of the total area of the State of Sonora. The area was decreed as an Area for the Protection of Land and Aquatic Wildlife and Plants by the federal government on July 19, 1996 at the request of the local authorities and civil society. Thereafter, as of the decree's publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation dated December 13, 1996,the area became an Area for the Protection of Flora and Fauna. In 2000, the APFF was incorporated into the National Program for Natural Protected Areas. The core objective is to conserve and promote the sustainable exploitation of natural resources for the population's benefit. Pursuant to technical reports on the "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" APFF, it is recognized at the world level, because it represents a transition zone of the Neoartic and Neotropical biogeographic regions, besides representing the southernmost distribution limit of the Low Deciduous Forest; furthermore, it is the northernmost and/or southernmost distribution limit for certain species. The APFF's large biodiversity has been described in several reports. The existence of rich and varied flora and wildlife has been reported, with the occurrence of about 1,100 species of vascular plants divided into 148 families. This represents 67 per cent of the 220 families recognized for the entire country. Furthermore, wildlife comprises 558 species of registered vertebrates, which represent 23.01 percent of the wealth at the national scale (2,425 species) and 62 percent with respect to the 900 species registered for Sonora. On the other hand, there are 15 plant species under some degree of protection and about 100 species of endangered vertebrates, the most important being jaguars, ocelots, some bat species, as well as military macaws, thick-billed parrots, spotted owls, green parakeets, Lilac-crowned Pacific parrots, bog turtles, desert tortoises, Gila monsters, scorpions, among others. 10  3. Regional Social-Economic Characterization The "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuckujaqui" Area for the Protection of Flora and Fauna is located amidst an extensive region in southern Sonora. Practically during all of last century, the region as a whole and particularly the municipality of Alamos, underwent a process of economic, social and political restructuring that has led to a gradual decay process that has had an impact on all spaces of its structure. The beautiful city of Alamos seems to faithfully reflect the region's evolution: from having been a mining emporium in Colonial times, and, thereafter, the state capital, it is now amidst Sonora's most marginal region. For analytical purposes and based on the process of evolution, the Region of Southern Sonora can be characterized as follows: 1) from the structural point of view, as heterogeneous and complex; 2) from the point of view of opportunities, as stagnateddepressed and vulnerable. The environmental issues are complex and characterized by the impacts caused by different economic activities along the State history, and heterogeneous, due to the varied manifestation throughout the territory. Within the heterogeneous nature of the Region of Southern Sonora, the area occupied by the APFF in the municipality of Alamos, geographically corresponds to the sub region that contains substantial elements of social-economic inequities. The area under study has the lowest index of well being for the population, deficiencies in basic services and infrastructure, and a predominantly primary productive base. In terms of environmental issues, it corresponds to the mountainous and piedmont areas, that show deforestation, land clearing, erosion, and excessive pasturing originated by activities such as extensive cattle breeding, exploitation of forests and seasonal agriculture. The population living in the APFF did not experience major changes in comparison to 1995 (402 inhabitants). By 2000, the population living in the Natural Area increased to 518 inhabitants, which represented a 5.2 percent average annual increase during the 1995-2000 period. Despite this population increase of the APFF's communities, it hardly represents 2.1 percent of the total population of the municipality of Alamos. It is worthwhile mentioning that due to the population's mobility and the difficult access to some communities and ranches, it is very hard to keep a strict count of the APFF's population. The population of the Area for the Protection of Flora and Fauna is distributed around 32 human settlements. Nonetheless, in terms of their distribution, a large concentration of inhabitants can be found in a small number of towns, the main being: Baboyahui (29.9 percent), Sabinito Sur (18.5 percent), Las Plomosas (9.1 percent), Choquincahui (7.3 percent), Puerta de Mano (4.4 percent), and Guamuchilito (3.3 percent). Circa of 72 percent of the Natural Protected Area's total population can be found in these six towns, whereas in the remainder, the number of inhabitants is quite reduced, there being a good number of small ranches with one or two housing units. Despite the foregoing, it is important to note that quite a good number of beneficiaries of the APFF's resources live in its area of influence, in Alamos, or even in the city of Navojoa; this is particularly the case of a group of private cattle ranchers. In the area of influence, there are some communities that have more inhabitants than the towns of the 11  Protected Area, the main ones being: the city of Alamos, with 8,034 inhabitants; La Aduana, with 254 inhabitants; Cochibampo, with 224 inhabitants; Munihuaza, with 195 inhabitants; Guirocoba, with 156 inhabitants; La Labor de Santa Lucia, with 136 inhabitants; and Agua Caliente de Antelo, with 90 inhabitants. The inhabitants of these latter sites perform some productive activities such as mainly cattle breeding and agriculture, exercising pressure on the natural resources that exist in the Protected Area. This has contributed to the severity of the APFF's environmental deterioration, since these activities are generally performed through inappropriate productive practices. 4. Identification and Characterizationof Natural Resource Users a) In the "Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui" Area for the Protection of Fauna and Flora and in communities that form part of its area of immediate influence, there is a diversity of social actors as regards the social-economical activities that are being developed, as well as the different types of land tenure. Among these, cattle breeders conducting extensive cattle breeding activities practically throughout the entire APFF's territory represent a core of great relevance which is manifest by their economic and political weight in the area. Furthermore, next this group of social actors are others linked to productive activities of a lesser economic importance, such as subsistence agriculture, forestry activities, tourism, the production of arts and crafts, mining, fishing and aquaculture. On the other hand, governmental agents, linked to actions promoting development, are another group of actors that interact importantly with the Area's social actors. b) Particularly, extensive cattle breeding, agriculture and the exploitation of forests are activities that have noticeably contributed to the APFF's deterioration, since productive practices that have had a negative impact on the area's natural resources can be observed. Excessive pasturing, the loss of vegetation caused by the expansion of the agricultural boundaries, immoderate tree felling and the extensive extraction of mineral resources, as well as the extraction of flora and wildlife species (seeds, palm trees and orchids) are common practices in this area. c) It is important to note that within the APFF, no settlements of indigenous population are formally registered. Nonetheless, the area of immediate influence and in a large portion of the southern region, there are two important Indian groups: the Mayo and the Guarijio Indians; the latter call themselves the "Makurawe". According to recent data, the region's indigenous population amounts to 67,000 Mayo Indians, that have mainly settled in the municipalities of Navojoa, Etchojoa and Huatabampo; and 1,155 Guarijio-Makurawe Indians in the municipalities of Quiriego and Alamos. As regards the land tenure system, 156 tenements are located in the APFF; of these, 111 are privately owned; 9 belong to ejidos (communal land); 22 are national property; 11 polygons are Federal Zone. The 3 important population centers located within the APFF occupy 2.3 percent of the total Area. As regards the portions of land owned by the 12  nation, reports of NPA set forth that some are pending resolution in favor of the holders that have been using the resources for years. In addition, some agrarian problems have been reported within the NPA, such as the case of the Ejido La Aduana, where the Department of Agrarian Reform awarded an extension on land owned by the nation a year and a half after the area had been decreed as Area for the Protection of Flora and Fauna, which affected groups of traditional users. Similarly, in the APFF's eastern portion, the same plat of land was given to ejiduturios and comuneros of the Agua Caliente community, this being a situation that caused problems as the regards the zone's land use, which to this has already been solved. Below is a description of the main social actors that interact in the APFF, including its area of influence. Cattle breeders At the level of the state of Sonora, Alamos is considered a municipality with a large cattle breeding potential. According to the 1999 Livestock Census (Department of Livestock Development, 2000), the total number of heads of cattle in this municipality of Alamos amounted to 101,997. Within this context, cattle producers constitute the main social actors of the Area of Protection, since cattle breeding is its most generalized economic activity. This activity is developed on 66,407.315 hectares of natural seasonal pasture lands in the APFF's central portion and approximately on 274 Hectares of Buffel grass prairies, located on the semi-plain portions, to the sides of roads and creeks. As regards the land tenure system, privately owned property predominate in this activity, its production and the area used for such purpose being higher than for communal or ejido- owned land. Presently cattle producers are organized under two associations: the Asociacih Ganadera Local de Alamos, which has 3,274 members, and the Asociaci6n Ganadera Local General de la UNGP-Alamos. The latter was formed due to a division of the members of the former and it comprises a small number of producers (about 50). Due to the number of members and its presence in the region, the Asociacih Ganadera Local de Alamos continues being the most representative of the sector's social actors. As regards the producers' economic participation within the APFF, it is seen that some communities and ejidos such as La Aduana, La Labor de Santa Lucia, Tetajiosa and Santa Birbara have small cow herds under different systems of ownership: in La Aduana and Santa Birbara they are of the privately-owned type, whereas in La Labor de Santa Lucia, they belong to the party (it owes one third of the total number of heads); in Tetajiosa, they are collectively owned, and herd size varies between 100 and up to 500 heads. In general, the purpose of cattle breeding within the APFF is obtaining breeding animals (calves), which are mainly sold in the city of Alamos or in near-by towns. Middlemen who "collect" the cattle in ejidos and communities that lack the appropriate means of transportation and that concentrate the cattle in pens in Alamos in order to sell it thereafter, participate in this process. The most common cattle breeds are Zebu and Charolais or Creole. 13  It is important to mention that besides bovine cattle breeding, also small animal breeding activities take place within the APFF, particularly goat and beekeeping. Nonetheless, their relevance is much smaller in comparison to bovine cattle breeding. Furthermore, in most of the cases, the region's producers combine different types of livestock breeding. Farmers Farmers are another group of actors with presence within the APFF. Nonetheless, in comparison to livestock breeders, the participation of this group within the general context of productive activities in the area is less relevant. Within the Protection Area, agricultural activities are conducted to the sides of some creeks and the Cuchujaqui River, on 1,861 Ha (1.93 % of the APFF's area), and these are mainly seasonal agricultural activities. The largest percentage of the area used for agricultural purposes is privately owned (semi-plain areas), the main crops being sesame, sorghum for fodder, beans, corn, and peanuts. On the contrary, farmers who own land under the ejido or communal property system, dedicate a very small area to seasonal crops, generally harvesting sesame, sorghum, beans, and even peanuts. Forestry Producers In the Protection Area there are 4,847.2 hectares covered by pine forests (5.04 % of the total area), feasible of being exploited. With respect to Oak forests, there are approximately 25,000 hectares that present exploitation possibilities, which represents 26.01 % of the total area of the Protection Area. In addition, 66.7 % of the APFF's area corresponds to Low Deciduous Forests, where species such as Croton or vara blunca (Crotonfantzianus),which is in high demand in agricultural areas in the states of Sinaloa, Sonora and Baja California. At the community level, forestry production is generally conducted without an appropriate guidance and direction, it being an extraction activity in which the local natural resources are directly exploited. The Tetajiosa, Choquincahui, Santa Biirbara, El Sabinito and the General Romh Yocupicio Ejidos are among the communities that have forestry production. Due to the way in which this activity is conducted, there is no important organization among forestry producers. The sites in which Croton or vara blanca (Croton fantzianus) are exploited coincide with La Labor de Santa Lucia, Tetajiosa and La Aduana, among others. In specific cases, some productive societies such as Juan de Dios Teriin or the Tetajiosa Ejido started to exploit Croton or vara blanca as a means to diversify their productive activities - and thus, increase their income - since not always seasonal farming cycles were possible or also because the financial possibilities of having a good cattle herd are minimal or almost null. The use of this resource is restricted to the distribution and abundance of the species which naturally grows on the piedmont or semi-plain portions of land, on areas of the Low Deciduous Forest. On the other hand, illegally extracted and commercially used forestry products due to the fact their wood is appreciated for the manufacture of furniture, have also been reported. This is the case of Montezuma cypress (Tuxodiummucronaturn)and Spanish cedar (Cedrelamexicana) trees. 14  Governmental Agents Some agencies such as SAGARPA, SEDESOL, as well as others linked to environmental issues and the promotion of sustainable productive activities, operate in the APFF, the most outstanding being the activities conducted by SEMARNAT, by implementing sectorial programs and productive projects in some communities in the Area, as well as adjacent to it. The main sectorial programs that have been implemented by the latter Department are the Sustainable Regional Development Program or Programa de Desarrollo Regional Sustentable (PRODERS), the National Reforestation Program or Programa Nacional de Reforestacibn (PRONARE), the Forestry Development Program or Programa de Desarrollo Forestal (PRODEFOR), the Wildfire Program or Programa de Incendios Forestales and the Temporary Employment program or Programa de Empleo Temporal (PET). Together with the PRODERS, the PET ahs become an important source of income for the communities. The general purpose of these programs and projects is to contribute to improve the environment, while at the same time trying to have a bearing on the improvement of the social problems of the region, that is one of the state's most marginated. Other agencies that operate in the area are the Federal Environmental Protection Attorney's Office or Procuraduria Federal de Protecci6n Ambiental (PROFEPA) and the Department of the National Defense or Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA). Ennvironmental Managers This group of actors linked to conservation activities in the Natural protected Area comprises representatives of different governmental and, non-governmental institutions, research centers and local organizations with presence in the APFF. The region's first conservation efforts were due to the initiative of local people, by national and foreign conservationist organizations and some research centers, within a context in which there still no decree that provided the region the capacity as a Natural Protected Area had been issued. With the issuance of the 1996presidential decree, which awarded this area with recognition as protected Area, a consolidation process of activities geared to the conservation and sustainable management of the APFF's resources was generated. In 2000, the Sierra de Alamos-Rio Cuchujaqui APFF was incorporated into the National Program for Prioritary Protected Areas, for which purpose financial resources were destined and staff was hired for the protected Area, as well as for the Management Program. Educational Institutions, Research Centers and NGOs The University of Arizona, The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the University of California, the University of Sonora, the Institute of Ecology of the Autonomous University of Mexico, the Regional Northwestern University Center of the Autonomous University of Chapingo (Cruno-Uach), IMADES and the Food Research and 15  Development Center (Centro de Investigacih en Alimentacih y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD)) are among the educational and research centers present in the APFF. At the level of non-governmental organizations that have had an incipient involvement in the area, the most important are: The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), The Tinker Foundation, the Mexican Ecological Movement of Southern Sonora and PRONATURA, as well as the Mexican Fund for Nature Conservation through projects. Other Social Actors Besides the aforementioned social actors, others such as ecotourism guides, craftsmen, miners,fish fanners, as well as a large diversity of community based organizations of an economic (i.e. cattle breeder associations, tourist companies), social (i.e. ARIC, SSS, Foundations) and educational nature (i.e. parent associations) are present in the area. 16