This book describes and analyzes the policies, strategies, and programs developed by the Mexican government over the last thirty years in response to international commitments for biodiversity conservation and threatened species management. The studies presented in this book are based on a multidisciplinary research framework that integrates biological sciences, and their sub-disciplines such as ecology, biodiversity conservation, and wildlife management, with social sciences such as evaluation research on government policies, public administration, and political ecology. Fourteen chapters describe the main historical governmental programs in Mexico, their implementation, and their scope. The book also discusses how management priorities are defined and how programs are implemented in multi-stakeholder co-management arrangements. This type of management has been necessary because of the limited financial capacity of the government and the fact that, to a certain extent, it has been forced to negotiate and reach agreements with other stakeholders in the social and economic sectors to effectively implement the programs. The book identifies not only management successes in achieving program objectives, but also the challenges and failures faced in both planning and implementation.

Although all chapters cover aspects of management in the context of Mexico, the research findings might be of international relevance because other governments and international organizations are using similar approaches and programs. The comprehensive scientific literature reviewed through the book attest to this. To date, no book has offered this level of detail in the analysis of conservation policies in Mexico or has been available to a wide international audience. This book will be of relevance to government managers, academics, graduate students, and conservation professionals, as well as other stakeholders who collaborate with government programs.