The dual role of local residents in the management of natural protected areas in Mexico

Abstract

In many developing countries, local residents play an important role in the management of protected areas because they represent potential users of natural protected areas (NPA) resources, they receive the benefits (or costs) of developing naturebased recreation, and they are the group most closely interested in the management of an area located near them. In this study, we evaluated the perceptions of local residents toward developing nature-based recreation programs in a protected area in northern Mexico. Personal interviews in three cities were used to assess barriers to recreation participation and the potential impacts that additional recreation programs could bring to the area. We found that residents identified lack of money, lack of time, lack of knowledge, and no interest as the main barriers to participation in nature-based recreation opportunities. No consensus was found among the three communities with regard to recreation impacts. Two communities agreed that recreation can be beneficial, whereas the third community believed that it can bring negative impacts. If more recreation were to develop in this NPA, resource managers would have to consider all residents' perceptions to plan for effective management strategies.

Parent Publication

• Recreation visitor research: studies of diversity

Citation

Perez-Verdin, Gustavo; Lee, Martha E.; Chavez, Deborah J. 2008. The dual role of local residents in the management of natural protected areas in Mexico. In: Chavez, Deborah J.; Winter, Patricia L.; Absher, James D., eds. Recreation visitor research: studies of diversity. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-210. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 9-22. Chapter 2.