Approximately half of Mexican territory is collectively owned, and well over 50% of Mexican forests are located on these indigenous and communal (ejido) lands. Such community-owned and -operated forests do not represent a new case of decentralized conservation management in Mexico, rather throughout the last century historic agrarian struggles and political activism have successively dictated the redistribution of land and land-use rights to rural communities and indigenous people. A unique aspect of Mexican communal forests is the proliferation of community forest enterprises (CFEs) for commercial timber production. The authors estimate that between 290 – 479 CFEs, many of which are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, are in operation in both temperate and tropical forests throughout Mexico. This concentration of CFEs is unrivaled in the world. As a preliminary short report on a larger research project encompassing detailed case studies and quantitative national surveys, this paper examines the social and ecological impacts of Mexcian CFEs and their potential for sustainable development.

Successful cases are cited for both large and small community forest holdings demonstrating good financial accountability, distribution of benefits, forest management, international market competitiveness and vertical integration of production. Some CFEs have invested their profits in community assets such as schools, clinics, potable water infrastructure, free medical care and old-age pensions. The large-holding CFE in El Balcón, Guerrero has fixed capital assets estimated at over $4 million, and has a successful commercial relationship with a U.S. wood products company. It has created around 250 jobs for community members and outsiders and has helped to diminish regional violence related to illegal timber and drug trade. The small holdings of El Rosario de Xico, Veracruz supply year-round employment for nearly all 24 members of the community.

In addition to social and economic benefits, the paper describes CFEs producing positive results for ecosystems throughout the country. Though national data on environmental sustainability is scarce, one good indicator of forest management quality is the Forest Stewardship Council's certification of 502,656 ha of forest in 25 communities. In Oaxaca, the Zapotec-Chinantec Union has reforested 500 ha in the last 18 years as a result of local decision-making. The community of Naranjal Poniente in Quintana Roo declared 2000 ha as a cattle-free “forest reserve” and have dedicated its use to scientific research and ecotourism. Various CFEs have diversified their logging profits into other forms of environmental investment, such as water bottling, ecotourism and non-timber forest products.

Though the authors acknowledge widespread unsustainable forest exploitation existing in Mexico today, they regard the country's accomplishments as proof that strict conservation is not the only answer for protecting biodiversity and that the well-being of community members can be improved through locally-run sustainable timber industries. The Mexican government is called upon to use policies and incentives for securing a global market niche for its country's sustainably-managed community forest products.

Prepared by Megan Glore