Negotiating Land Use Agreements in the Maya Biosphere Reserve

In both Carmelita and El Cruce, the villagers helped define and plan the process by which their land use agreements were created. Local knowledge was validated by ProPéten's scientific and technical staff. IDRC supported some of this analysis, which included satellite and aerial photo imaging, forestry surveys, and an assessment of the local biodiversity. "The information was presented and analysed by all the partners and the community. The community then chose from among the [management] options that were developed," states ProPéten's legal counsel, Mario Manzilla.

After reaching a consensus, both communities put in place a system for monitoring and managing their activities. This is in keeping with ProPéten's desire to transfer this capacity to the local level. In doing so, Carmelita and El Cruce revived a traditional form of community organization, involving a local comité (committee) comprised of leaders elected for two-year terms. Their role is to establish the rules for land use and the penalties for not following these guidelines.

At this point, support for the land use plans was sought from CONAP. IDRC through ProPéten provided technical assistance to CONAP officials, who approved the plan and drew up a legal contract transferring user rights to the community. The contract was then approved by the federal government. This process has been so successful that CONAP has asked ProPéten to develop a model that it can implement in the rest of the Reserve.

Kevin Conway

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