The importance of Opuntia in Mexico and routes of invasion and impact of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://journals.fcla.edu/flaent/article/view/74992.The appearance of the cactus moth Cactoblastis cactorum in Florida has roused concern over its possible effects on the Opuntia-rich areas of Mexico and the southwestern United States. In this paper we discuss the economic importance of Opuntia in Mexico and propose a method to predict the invasion of the alien species C. cactorum. In Mexico, the products derived from Opuntia are mainly human food and fodder for livestock. Both cultivated and wild populations of Opuntia are currently used for these two purposes. By using bioclimatic modeling, we predicted the potential distribution of C. cactorum and overlaid this on the actual distribution of Opuntia species. The resulting maps indicate that the possible routes of invasion to Mexico are 1) along the northern border through Texas (most likely) and 2) via southeastern Mexico (less likely). The impacts of an invasion of C. cactorum on Opuntia products could be significant as well as being a threat to endemic species. Bioclimatic modeling can help to predict the areas of highest probability of attack and facilitate planning to mitigate future impacts

Strategic Actions to Value, Conserve, and Restore the Natural Capital of Megadiversity Countries: The Case of Mexico

Decisionmakers need updated, scientifically sound and relevant information to implement appropriate policy measures and make innovative commitments to halt biodiversity loss and improve human well-being. Here, we present a recent science-based synthesis on the biodiversity and ecosystem services of Mexico, intended to be a tool for policymakers. We describe the methodological approach used to undertake such an assessment and highlight the major findings. Organized into five volumes and originally written in Spanish (Capital Natural de México), it summarizes the available knowledge on the components, structure, and functioning of the biodiversity of Mexico; the threats and trajectories of anthropogenic impact, together with its conservation status; and the policies, institutions, and instruments available for its sustainable management. We stress the lessons learned that can be useful for similar exercises in other megadiverse developing countries and identify major gaps and strategic actions to conserve the natural capital in light of the challenges of the Anthropocene

Developing ecosystem service indicators: experiences and lessons learned from sub-global assessments and other initiatives

People depend upon ecosystems to supply a range of services necessary for their survival and well-being. Ecosystem service indicators are critical for knowing whether or not these essential services are being maintained and used in a sustainable manner, thus enabling policy makers to identify the policies and other interventions needed to better manage them. As a result, ecosystem service indicators are of increasing interest and importance to governmental and inter-governmental processes, including amongst others the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Aichi Targets contained within its strategic plan for 2011-2020, as well as the emerging Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Despite this growing demand, assessing ecosystem service status and trends and developing robust indicators is o!en hindered by a lack of information and data, resulting in few available indicators. In response, the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), together with a wide range of international partners and supported by the Swedish International Biodiversity Programme (SwedBio)*, undertook a project to take stock of the key lessons that have been learnt in developing and using ecosystem service indicators in a range of assessment contexts. The project examined the methodologies, metrics and data sources employed in delivering ecosystem service indicators, so as to inform future indicator development. This report presents the principal results of this project

Ecosystem services of tropical dry forests : insights from longterm ecological and social research on the Pacific coast of Mexico

In the search for an integrated understanding of the relationships among productive activities, human well-being, and ecosystem functioning, we evaluated the services delivered by a tropical dry forest (TDF) ecosystem in the Chamela Region, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. We synthesized information gathered for the past two decades as part of a long-term ecosystem research study and included social data collected in the past four years using the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) conceptual framework as a guide. Here we identify the four nested spatial scales at which information has been obtained and emphasize one of them through a basin conceptual model. We then articulate the biophysical and socio-economic constraints and drivers determining the delivery of ecosystem services in the Region. We describe the nine most important services, the stakeholders who benefit from those services, and their degree of awareness of such services. We characterize spatial and temporal patterns of the services&rsquo; delivery as well as trade-offs among services and stakeholders. Finally, we contrast three alternative future scenarios on the delivery of ecosystem services and human well-being. Biophysical and socioeconomic features of the study site strongly influence human&minus;ecosystem interactions, the ecosystem services delivered, the possible future trajectories of the ecosystem, and the effect on human well-being. We discuss future research approaches that will set the basis for an integrated understanding of human&minus;ecosystem interactions and for constructing sustainable management strategies for the TDF.<br /

Ellas por ellos

La equidad de género es un asunto que nos involucra a todas y todos, pues los efectos de las relaciones de desigualdad, que inciden en la sana evolución de las mujeres, alcanzan también a los hombres, cuya masculinidad, construida bajo los cánones de una cultura patriarcal, les ha vetado el acceso a las emociones y el goce de placeres asignados en exclusiva al mundo de lo privado, al femenino. El Consejo Nacional para Prevenir la Discriminación ha convocado a una pléyade de voces masculinas para que incursionen en el mundo femenino con este libro inspirado en la edición española Ellas. Catorce hombres dan la cara… Dieciséis hombres aceptaron el reto emocional, intelectual y profesional de aportar su visión de Ellas –nombradas así, genéricamente, sin más calificativos–, con la única premisa de escribir a partir de aquello que despierte en su imaginario masculino el simple hecho de pronunciar ese vocablo. … Ellas son aquí mujeres de carne y hueso, actrices, modelos, futbolistas, vendedoras, activistas, amantes y políticas, musas y ejemplos de vida, mundos interpretados desde lo que se sabe y lo que se intuye, acciones y pasiones estocadas indefectiblemente por la inspección masculina, la visión de género, el machismo y la misoginia, miradas injustas que revelan, también, el mundo de Ellos. … Ellas... por ellos es la oportunidad de mirar el imaginario de los Otros. Es atreverse a correr la cortina y aprender de la desnudez de las almas y conciencias masculinas. Es abrazar la frescura de un despertar de los hombres a una nueva era de comprensión y tolerancia, de respeto a lo diferente, de inclusión e integralidad. Valorar lo aquí expuesto por Ellos será para Ellas, definitivamente, un aliento para seguir construyendo una sociedad en igualdad, sin discriminación ni violencia