A dominant voice amidst not enough people : analysing the legitimacy of Mexico's REDD+ readiness process

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu MdM-2015-0552In the development of national governance systems for Reducing Emissions fromDeforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+), countries struggle with ensuring that decision-making processes include a variety of actors (i.e., input legitimacy) and represent their diverse views in REDD+ policy documents (i.e., output legitimacy).We examine these two dimensions of legitimacy using Mexico's REDD+ readiness process during a four-year period (2011-2014) as a case study. To identify REDD+ actors and how they participate in decision-making we used a stakeholder analysis; to assess actors' views and the extent to which these views are included in the country's official REDD+ documents we conducted a discourse analysis. We found low level of input legitimacy in so far as that the federal government environment agencies concentrate most decision-making power and key land-use sectors and local people's representatives are absent in decision-making forums. We also observed that the REDD+ discourse held by government agencies and both multilateral and international conservation organisations is dominant in policy documents, while the other two identified discourses, predominantly supported by national and civil society organisations and the academia, are partly, or not at all, reflected in such documents. We argue that Mexico's REDD+ readiness process should become more inclusive, decentralised, and better coordinated to allow for the deliberation and institutionalisation of different actors' ideas in REDD+ design. Our analysis and recommendations are relevant to other countries in the global South embarking on REDD+ design and implementation

¿Qué sabemos de las abejas sin aguijón (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini) en México?: Diversidad, Ecología y polinización

El decremento en las poblaciones naturales y manejadas de polinizadores ha situado el interés sobre el papel de los polinizadores, principalmente en el sector agrícola, por los efectos reportados en lo que se conoce como la “crisis de los polinizadores”. Dentro de los polinizadores más representativos se encuentran las abejas, y dentro de éstas, las abejas sin aguijón (Apidae: Meliponini). Estas últimas tienen gran relevancia ecológica, económica y cultural en el mundo y particularmente en México, por ser un grupo manejado desde hace cientos de años para obtención de miel y otros productos de la colmena. En esta revisión de literatura nos enfocamos en documentar lo que se sabe sobre las abejas sin aguijón en cuanto a su distribución, genética y ecología. En particular nos interesa resaltar aspectos sobre sus interacciones y los servicios ecosistémicos que proveen. Nuestro objetivo fue sintetizar la información disponible para México e identificar áreas de oportunidad en el estudio de estas abejas, con el fin de promover mejores estrategias de conservación y manejo. Encontramos que falta intensificar los estudios de este grupo para poder realizar un análisis de cómo los cambios ambientales afectan la riqueza de especies, abundancia, distribución e interacciones. Así mismo, la falta de estudios longitudinales nos impide conocer la magnitud del declive de estos polinizadores. Finalmente, proponemos incluir en los estudios de ecología y genética de abejas sin aguijón un enfoque de participación social, la cual puede proveer información muy valiosa sobre abejas nativas en México.The decrease in the natural and managed populations of pollinators has placed interest on the role of pollinators, mainly in the agricultural sector, because of what is known as the "pollinator crisis". Among the most representative pollinators are bees, and within these, stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) are an important group. Stingless bees have great ecological, economic and cultural relevance in the world and particularly in Mexico, as a group managed for hundreds of years to obtain honey and other products from the hive. In this literature review we focus on documenting what is known about stingless bees in terms of their distribution, genetics, and ecology. Particularly, we are interested in highlighting aspects of their interactions and the ecosystem services they provide. Our objective was to synthesize the information available for Mexico and identify areas of opportunity in the study of these bees to promote better conservation and management strategies. We find that studies in this group need to be intensified to carry out an analysis of how environmental changes affects species richness, abundance, distribution, and interactions. Likewise, the lack of longitudinal studies prevents us from knowing the magnitude of the decline of these pollinators. Finally, we propose to include a social participation approach to studies of the ecology and genetics of stingless bees, which can provide very valuable information on native bees in Mexico

Can Multifunctional Landscapes Become Effective Conservation Strategies? Challenges and Opportunities From a Mexican Case Study

Protected Areas (PA) are the main strategy for nature conservation. However, PA are not always efficient for ecological conservation and social wellbeing. A possible alternative for conservation in human-dominated landscapes are Multifunctional Landscapes (ML), which allow the coexistence of multiple objectives, such as nature conservation and resource use. Using the activity system framework, we analyzed whether the ML concept was an operative alternative to PA within an area of interest for conservation in Veracruz, Mexico. Activity systems refer to the set of productive strategies that result from the mobilization of resources and which, within particular environmental governance contexts, shape the landscape. To understand the challenges and opportunities of our case study, we: (1) delimited the landscape according to local conservation interests; and (2) analyzed the role of stakeholders in shaping this landscape. The delimited landscape included areas considered wildlife reservoirs and water provisioning zones. Our results suggested that the existence of local conservation areas (private and communal), combined with shaded-coffee agroforestry practices, made this region an example of ML. Although local conservation initiatives are perceived as more legitimate than top-down approaches, agreements amongst stakeholders are essential to strengthen environmental governance. In specific socio-ecological contexts, ML can be effective strategies for conservation through agroecosystems that maintain a high-quality landscape matrix, allowing nature preservation and delivering economic benefits

Signposts on the road toward transformative governance: how a stronger focus on diverse values can enhance environmental policies

Transformative change toward sustainability is increasingly recognized as inevitable to avoid the collapse of socioecological systems. However, for a deep and system-wide transformation, governance approaches and policymaking need to be changed too. This paper discusses how a diverse value approach in environmental policymaking could be undertaken to foster transformative governance that can further lead to system-wide transitions. Based on the analysis of different policy options’ transformative potential, we argue that the more diverse values addressed by a policy instrument, the bigger its transformative potential. Weaving values into policy decision-making is possible at several junctures of the policy process, but context-specificities should always be considered, and capacities must be enhanced at all levels, both for public and private actors

Lessons for Research Policy and Practice: The Case of Co-enquiry Research With Rural Communities

This article explores the relationship between institutional funding for research and community-based or co-enquiry research practice. It examines the implementation of co-enquiry research in the COMBIOSERVE project, which was funded by the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme for research and innovation, between the years 2012 and 2015. Research partnerships between Latin American and European civil society organisations, research institutions, and Latin American rural communities are analysed. Challenges for effective collaboration in co-enquiry and lessons learned for research policy and practice are outlined. Based on our case study we suggest that: (1) the established values and practices of academia seem largely unfavourable towards alternative forms of research, such as co-enquiry; (2) the policies and administrative practices of this European Commission funding are unsuitable for adopting participatory forms of enquiry; and (3) the approach to research funding supports short engagements with communities whereas long-term collaborations are more desirable. Based on our case study, we propose more flexible funding models that support face-to-face meetings between researchers and communities from the time of proposal drafting, adaptation of research processes to local dynamics, adaptation of administrative processes to the capacities of all participants, and potential for long-term collaborations. Large-scale funding bodies such as European Commission research programmes are leaders in the evolution of research policy and practice. They have the power and the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the value of partnerships with civil society organisations and communities, actively support co-enquiry, and foment interest in innovative forms of research

Diverse values of nature for sustainability

Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being(1,2), addressing the global biodiversity crisis(3) still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature's diverse values into decision-making. These barriers include powerful interests supported by current norms and legal rules such as property rights, which determine whose values and which values of nature are acted on. A better understanding of how and why nature is (under)valued is more urgent than ever(4). Notwithstanding agreements to incorporate nature's values into actions, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)(5) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals(6), predominant environmental and development policies still prioritize a subset of values, particularly those linked to markets, and ignore other ways people relate to and benefit from nature(7). Arguably, a 'values crisis' underpins the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change(8), pandemic emergence(9) and socio-environmental injustices(10). On the basis of more than 50,000 scientific publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local knowledge sources, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessed knowledge on nature's diverse values and valuation methods to gain insights into their role in policymaking and fuller integration into decisions(7,11). Applying this evidence, combinations of values-centred approaches are proposed to improve valuation and address barriers to uptake, ultimately leveraging transformative changes towards more just (that is, fair treatment of people and nature, including inter- and intragenerational equity) and sustainable futures

Diverse values of nature for sustainability

Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being1,2, addressing the global biodiversity crisis3 still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature’s diverse values into decision-making. These barriers include powerful interests supported by current norms and legal rules such as property rights, which determine whose values and which values of nature are acted on. A better understanding of how and why nature is (under)valued is more urgent than ever4. Notwithstanding agreements to incorporate nature’s values into actions, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)5 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals6, predominant environmental and development policies still prioritize a subset of values, particularly those linked to markets, and ignore other ways people relate to and benefit from nature7. Arguably, a ‘values crisis’ underpins the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change8, pandemic emergence9 and socio-environmental injustices10. On the basis of more than 50,000 scientific publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local knowledge sources, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessed knowledge on nature’s diverse values and valuation methods to gain insights into their role in policymaking and fuller integration into decisions7,11. Applying this evidence, combinations of values-centred approaches are proposed to improve valuation and address barriers to uptake, ultimately leveraging transformative changes towards more just (that is, fair treatment of people and nature, including inter- and intragenerational equity) and sustainable futures

Diverse values of nature for sustainability

Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being, addressing the global biodiversity crisis still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature’s diverse values into decision-making. These barriers include powerful interests supported by current norms and legal rules such as property rights, which determine whose values and which values of nature are acted on. A better understanding of how and why nature is (under)valued is more urgent than ever. Notwithstanding agreements to incorporate nature’s values into actions, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, predominant environmental and development policies still prioritize a subset of values, particularly those linked to markets, and ignore other ways people relate to and benefit from nature. Arguably, a ‘values crisis’ underpins the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, pandemic emergence and socio-environmental injustices. On the basis of more than 50,000 scientific publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local knowledge sources, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessed knowledge on nature’s diverse values and valuation methods to gain insights into their role in policymaking and fuller integration into decisions. Applying this evidence, combinations of values-centred approaches are proposed to improve valuation and address barriers to uptake, ultimately leveraging transformative changes towards more just (that is, fair treatment of people and nature, including inter- and intragenerational equity) and sustainable futures

Apis mellifera en México: producción de miel, flora melífera y aspectos de polinización. Revisión

The honeybee, Apis mellifera, is a species that, since its introduction to Mexico, has had great social, cultural and economic importance, representing an important source of income for thousands of families who are engaged in beekeeping. However, in the context of the so-called “pollinator crisis”, it is considered that we do not know how this phenomenon affects A. mellifera in Mexico. In review, it is analyzed and discussed the information about A. mellifera in Mexico related to the phenomena that affect its distribution, honey production and its ecology, including interactions with the local flora. In general, it is considered that there is a need for an integration of data on beekeeping at the national level, and that there are few studies on the ecology of A. mellifera in Mexico, from the flora they visit, their efficiency as a pollinator and competition with other native bee species. It is believed that increasing studies on A. mellifera will help to predict changes in honey production as well as understand and address threats to these pollinators, contributing to generate better management practices and establish better pollinator conservation strategies that include the presence of A. mellifera.La abeja de la miel, Apis mellifera, es una especie que, desde su introducción a México, ha tenido una gran importancia social, cultural y económica, representando una importante fuente de ingreso para miles de familias que practican la apicultura. Sin embargo, en el contexto de la llamada “crisis de los polinizadores” se considera que se desconoce cómo este fenómeno afecta a A. mellifera en México. Esta revisión analiza y discute la información sobre A. mellifera en nuestro país relacionada a los fenómenos que afectan su distribución, la producción de miel y su ecología, incluyendo las interacciones con la flora local. De manera general se considera que hace falta una integración de datos sobre la apicultura a nivel nacional, y que existen pocos estudios sobre la ecología de A. mellifera en México, desde la flora que visitan, su eficiencia como polinizador y la competencia con otras especies de abejas nativas. El incrementar los estudios sobre A. mellifera ayudará a predecir cambios en la producción de miel, así como comprender y abordar las amenazas a dichos polinizadores, abonando a generar mejores prácticas de manejo y a establecer mejores estrategias de conservación de polinizadores que incluyan la presencia de A. mellifera