In Mexico, the establishment of protected areas represents the most consolidated
environmental policy for biodiversity conservation. However, diverse experiences
have shown that the creation of these areas can foster socio-ecological confl icts that
jeopardize not only conservation objectives but also local and regional development
[ 1 ]. In countries like Mexico, where between 75 and 80 % of forests belong to ejidos
and comunidades indígenas1
[ 2 , 3 ], it is urgent to consider alternative biodiversity
conservation models. For that reason, community conservation perspectives have
become important reference points.