Mangrove Environmental Protection Group

It has recently come to our attention that the forest area around the village of Singayta, which is a very well known birding zone, has become dangerously threatened. 

Changes in the Mexican land tenure law, which I describe below in greater detail, appear to favor forest removal by ranching and cattle interests. This message is written in the expectation that by spreading the word of this threat to the community of interest we will be able to generate ideas and resources to mitigate the harmful consequences to this precious resource that we believe will flow from the new land tenure rules. 

The forests around Singayta belong to the San Blas Ejido (ejidos are agricultural collectives). Recent changes in the Mexican law relating ejidos allow them to privatize. The San Blas Ejido has elected to do just that. The ejidatarios (collective members) have now been issued title deeds to their individual parcels. Under the old law these lands could not be alienated from the ejido. Under the new law the ejidatarios are free to sell. This is not a particular problem for the arable parcels, but there is a clear threat to the forest lands. 

Traditionally, the forests have been seen by the ejiditarios as largely unproductive--used only for harvesting palm fronds for roofing materials and artisanal timber production. These activities have left the basic structure of the forest intact. In our discussions with the ejidatarios (there are on the order of 40 families) we have detected a definite consensus leaning toward a quick sale of these lands for what would be, by local standards, a large windfall. The problem is that the only ready market for these properties is with the cattle ranching and commercial logging interests, neither of which promise to show much concern for preserving the forest values of the landscape. 

Our initial reaction to this situation is to develop means of increasing the value to the property owners of the forest in its present form, and thereby increase their willingness to resist converting the resource to other uses. We have just begun, but we are currently thinking along three lines: 

1) developing new non-destructive economic forest activities, 

2 ) developing services local inhabitants can provide to those who visit the area, and 

3) an environmental education program for both local residents and visitors. 

Our expectation is that other ideas will emerge as we work on the issue. That, in part, is the point of this message. We would like to form a network of interested stakeholders that will funnel creative ideas back to us as our efforts progress. You can help. Here are a few suggestions: 

1) We want to create a mailing list of people and organizations who are interested in this issue to keep them informed of our activities and to draw upon as the work progresses. If you would like to be included on such a mailing list, you can simply reply to this message. We will NOT contact you again if you do not reply. 

2) Send us any ideas you may have about ways that we can proceed. I am certain that there are many possible options that have been found successful by others faced with similar circumstances and we would like to take advantage of this experience. 

3) Pass this message along to any organizations and/or individuals you think may be interested. I am convinced that networking will be key to a happy outcome. 

4) Stop by and see us the next time you get to San Blas. We are headquartered at the Tumbo de Yako on Batillion Street, on the way to the beach. Have a coffee and some of Juan Banana' s famous banana bread. Thank you for your interest. 

Regards, 
Doug Brown 
El Manglar http://elmanglar.com