Promoting Healthy Watersheds through Sustainable Practices
The CONECTA project provides the opportunity to coordinate efforts to face the double challenge of food security in the context of climate change. It has a landscape approach, focusing on watersheds vulnerable to climate change and affected by soil erosion.
The supported actions promote productive and environmental practices to increase the forest area under sustainable landscape management and improve livelihoods, water quality, and biodiversity. In addition, CONECTA promotes the production of food low in greenhouse gas emissions, which contributes to meeting the commitments made by Mexico as one of the signatory countries of the Paris Agreement, simultaneously supporting addressing the great challenge of food security.
The execution of the five-year project (2021-2026) is in charge of Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN, acronym in Spanish) which is responsible for fiduciary aspects, and the National Institute of Climate Change (INECC, acronym in Spanish) which is in charge of technical leadership, which forms the CONECTA Technical Committee. The execution has the support of three regional funds: Gulf of Mexico Fund (Fondo Golfo de México, A.C.) in Veracruz; FONNOR (Northwestern and western Fund) in Jalisco; and El Triunfo Conservation Fund (Fondo de Conservación El Triunfo, A.C), in Chiapas. Additionally, nine federal agencies participate in the project through the Coordinating Committee, which seeks to scale the impact of CONECTA through the alignment of both public and private investments.
CONECTA's financing comes from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), through the World Bank, and from complementary sources (GEF co-financing).
The lines of work (components) that guide CONECTA's actions are:
CONECTA promotes the connectivity of livestock and agroforestry landscapes in watersheds in Chiapas, Chihuahua, Jalisco and Veracruz.
Learn more about the Operating Manual
CONECTA achieved significant progress in planning, implementing sustainable practices, and strengthening community capacity across various regions of the country.
In 2024, the Action Plans for Integrated Watershed Management (PAMIC, acronym in Spanish) were completed for two priority regions: Vallarta, in Jalisco, and Istmo-Costa, in Chiapas. In addition, the PAMIC for the Río La Antigua region in Veracruz was published.
In terms of sustainable production, over 23,000 hectares adopted good productive practices by producer groups working within the value chains of beef cattle, dairy, and shade-grown coffee, which has strengthened their competitiveness and sustainability. Thirty producer groups are currently receiving support from Local Technical Assistance Providers (PLATs, acronym in Spanish) to implement their Sustainable Production Business Strategies, and ten enterprises are undergoing a strengthening process.
At the same time, local organizations promoted restoration and conservation actions on more than 10,000 hectares, with the active participation of over 800 producers implementing improved management practices. These efforts are supported by a community monitoring system operating in 11 watersheds, focusing on biodiversity, soil, livestock pastures, and/or water.
During the second half of 2024, regional knowledge exchange gatherings were held among women, with the aim of strengthening their leadership, autonomy, and active participation in sustainable land management. Among them, notable gatherings included those focused on livestock and conservation in Chihuahua, nursery growers in Jalisco, and women producers from diverse value chains in Chiapas.
Learn more about the project in the Operations Manual
Allies:
Donors:
Partners:
To address any questions, clarifications, suggestions, complaints, or comments related to CONECTA, we provide you with the following means of contact corresponding to the project's Complaint and Consultation Care Mechanism. Your request will be treated with confidentiality, responsibility, and interest by the representatives of the project.
E-mail: denuncia@fmcn.org
Postal address: Francisco Sosa 102. Santa Catarina. Delegación Coyoacan. CDMX. C.P. 04010.
Telephone: 55 5611 9779
CONECTA is implemented in 15 selected watersheds in Chiapas, Chihuahua, Jalisco, and Veracruz. It began in July 2021.
The call for sub-projects and Local Technical Assistance Providers (PLAT, acronym in Spanish) for CONECTA was published in January 2022 and is now closed, so there will be no new calls for sub-projects and PLAT associated with the project. To learn about the project’s progress and results, we invite you to stay tuned to our website and social media channels.
Eligible watersheds were determined in the project design phase. CONECTA is implemented in selected watersheds in Chiapas, Chihuahua, Jalisco, and Veracruz and is not expected to expand to other regions.
To learn more about CONECTA, click here. You can write to info@fmcn.org to find out how your organization can contribute to this project.