The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is located in central Mexico
at the state border of Michoacán and Mexico, is the primary wintering
area for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and an important
water aquifer for Toluca and Mexico City valley. Since the reserve's
expansion in 2000, several efforts have been made to integrate nature
preservation and social development. Therefore, the main objective of
this paper is to analyse the territorial dynamics generated by the
participation mechanisms that have been implemented in this region.
Mexican environmental law only allows the National Commission of
Protected Areas to make final decisions, thus, true participative
management, defined as effective citizen power, including in the
decision-making processes between citizens and institutions, is not
legally recognized in the country. However, some mechanisms exist to
enhance participation. The Monarch Fund, which pays for environmental
services, has helped to improve acceptance of the protected
area, even though opportunity costs are not fully covered. In the
process of establishing leadership, NGOs play a central role as valid
intermediaries between institutional and local resident stakeholders,
working for increased social participation. However, strengthening
social participation is limited by the characteristics of Mexican social
organizations, ejidos and comunidades, in which three social classes
exist with different rights pertaining to each category. Nevertheless,
micro-regional councils and the consultative council make a long-term
relationship between stakeholders possible; every inhabitant, regardless
of social status, can take part in the process. These elements led us
to state that participation is not exemplary but is quite promising.