Conservation

Since 2019, the Mexican Government has implemented the Sembrando Vida Program (SVP) to address environmental degradation and social marginalization in rural areas. This research analyzed the SVP’s targeting mechanisms to assess the fulfillment of its objectives in the central region of the state of Guerrero, Mexico. The methodology included an analysis of the Operating Rules; a review of the beneficiary registry; the construction of environmental, social, and economic indicators; proportional stratified sampling with a 90% confidence level; and an SVP evaluation using indicators and confidence intervals. Targeting mechanisms identified agrarian subjects aged ≥ 18 years with 2.5 hectares living below the poverty line. Changes in the indicator matrix highlight a focus on food self-sufficiency and poverty levels, among others. Key results from the indicators include 100% social recovery, 62.3% of beneficiaries increased their agricultural income, and 100% application of learned environmental techniques. The intervals showed that between 26.49–42.19% of individuals joined the agricultural sector; 55.68–71.58% diversified their crops; and 86.15–95.65% made improvements in health, housing, or education. The evaluation of the SVP demonstrated its impact on environmental preservation and the improvement of the socioeconomic well-being of the rural population in the study area.

The necessity of citizen involvement in biodiversity conservation activities is widely recognized in practical conservation operations. Clarifying the roles of annual-fee membership schemes is important, as they enable diverse styles of citizen participation. Kyororo is a museum whose main theme is the Satoyama in snowy regions, and the Kyororo Friends Association is an affiliated annual-fee membership program. This study examines the results of a questionnaire survey distributed among the association’s members to examine their perceptions of Kyororo’s activities, in addition to their characteristics—such as age group, place of residence, and type of involvement—and their motivations for joining the association. This study contributes by revising four potential roles of annual-fee membership in terms of promoting citizen participation. The first is as a platform for citizen involvement that is independent of geographic distance or direct participation. The second is as a platform for sustaining the involvement of individuals who have contributed to the accumulated history of the activities. The third is as platforms for citizens who understand and trust community-level nature, conservation activities, and their values to affiliate with and provide their support. The fourth is as a platform for sustained citizen support through regular fixed-amount payments to trusted entities.

The conservation status of saltscapes can vary. These areas possess their own biodiversity, which can even be stimulated by balanced socio-ecological systems, particularly those where the development of economic activities has a low ecological footprint, as is the case of traditional salt production. This study examined the conservation status of Portuguese saltscapes, related not only to the ancient activity of extracting salt-based products, but also to the more recent emergence of cultural ecosystem services, particularly those related to tourism. Using the concept of socio-ecological systems the methodological approach combines cross-referencing official statistical data with aerial imagery analysis, testing the conservation status of some saltscapes, determining whether traditional salt production areas tended to be regenerated or abandoned. The results showed that, in the main areas related to traditional salt production, conservation of saltscapes has been ongoing in recent years, particularly through the regeneration of several production areas. In some of these salt pan areas, tourism activities have been developed, increasing the resilience of the activity from a socioeconomic perspective. Saltscapes—with a particular focus on the conservation of traditional salt pans—provide ecosystem services that go beyond mere salt extraction, as they are being revalued both ecologically and culturally.