As part of the Raíces: Mangroves for Communities and Climate project, led by WWF Mexico, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Mexico and in coordination with the Government of the State of Nayarit, an exchange was held between Nayarit and Jalisco to strengthen intermunicipal coordination in environmental management and territorial governance.
Municipal governments, along with representatives from the Ministry of Sustainable Development of Nayarit, participated in a knowledge-sharing exchange with two Intermunicipal Environmental Boards from Jalisco: JISOC (Sierra Occidental and Costa) and JIMAV (Valles Region). The purpose of this exchange was to advance intermunicipal governance through a direct understanding of the structure, operations, and coordination mechanisms of these Boards, to guide the creation of a regional coordination platform for coastal municipalities in Nayarit.
Fabricio Flores, Director, JISOC, presented the organization’s administrative structure, main projects, funding sources, and strategic partnerships. In addition, Beatriz Arreola, Coordinator of the Biocultural Landscape of the Sierra Occidental in Jalisco, discussed key aspects of this conservation model as well as the process behind creating the Biocultural Landscape seal.
Christian Rivera, Director, JIMAV, explained the Board’s governance model and several projects that demonstrate effective intermunicipal management and collaboration. Alma Castellanos, President, Citizen Participation Council, described the structure and function of this civic body, while Eduardo Murillo, Member, JIMAV’s council, shared lessons learned from sustainable agricultural practices based on his experience with field schools and agave production.
As part of the field activities, participants visited sustainable livestock projects promoted by JISOC and local producers, including: Field Schools, Comercializadora carne cero, the Sierra Occidental and Costa Integrated Sustainable Production Systems, the CONECTA subproject, the Consolidated Purchasing Platform (PLAT), and the criteria behind the Biocultural Landscape – Bovine Cattle Meat certification.
The exchange concluded with a working session to review and strengthen the intermunicipal agreements previously developed by municipalities in Nayarit. Participants also discussed next steps to formalize a collaboration agreement between the Secretariat of Sustainable Development of Nayarit and the municipalities of Acaponeta, Rosamorada, Santiago Ixcuintla, Tecuala and Tuxpan, aimed at consolidating an intermunicipal coordination platform across the Marismas Nacionales region.
The Marismas Nacionales Biosphere Reserve is part of the Pacific coastal plains of Mexico. It contains an extensive network of brackish coastal lagoons, mangrove forests, swamps, deltas, and marshes, representing between 15% and 20% of all mangrove ecosystems in the country. These areas also provide habitat for species such as the American crocodile, jaguar, and migratory waterbirds, including ducks and shorebirds.
Mexico’s coastal zones, stretching across 11,122km of national territory, are vital due to their rich biodiversity and ecosystems, supporting fishing communities as well as tourism and port activities. These areas also serve as natural barriers that protect against climate-related events such as hurricanes, making their conservation essential for sustainable development and environmental security.
However, these regions face serious threats, including mangrove loss, coastal erosion, and pollution from solid waste. In this context, organizations such as the United Nations emphasize that local action is key to strengthening resilience and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Following these principles, UNDP is providing training to communities in Nayarit based on the Community Action Plan on risk management and resilience, developed together with the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC), and the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED). This initiative enables community members to build skills in early warning, preparedness, and response protocols, self-assessment of damage, early recovery, first aid, and integrated fire management.
In the Marismas Nacionales Biosphere Reserve, communities have already become a success story in organization, training, and empowerment through community resilience committees. These committees aim to reduce disaster risk by first identifying the hazards their communities face and then implementing actions that reduce vulnerability and strengthen local response capacities during emergencies. Each committee is composed of community volunteers working collaboratively for the benefit of the entire population, guided by principles of coordination, shared responsibility, and solidarity.
Source: Mexico Business News
