Coastal Watershed Conservation in the Context of Climate Change (C6)
Promoting integrated management in coastal watersheds
The project
The Coastal Watershed Conservation in the Context of Climate Change (C6) project aims to promote integrated management in coastal watersheds to conserve their biodiversity, contribute to climate change mitigation and strengthen the sustainable use of their natural resources. This is for the recovery of watershed functionality and the provision of its ecosystem services.
Context
A coastal watershed is a territory delimited by a drainage basin where a river system flows into the sea. Climate change scenarios in Mexico indicate that the coastal basins of the Gulf of Mexico and the continental Gulf of California will be severely affected by increased drought, hurricanes, and flooding. The C6 project focuses on these two regions. It contemplates the integrated management of 16 watersheds due to their high biodiversity and potential to trigger collaboration between institutions.
Integrated watershed management seeks that watershed stakeholders develop a shared vision focused on improving the management of the territory considering their economic and cultural activities and the environment that sustains them. This objective is pursued through interinstitutional cooperation and collaboration.
The lines of work that guide the actions of C6 are:
- Creation and consolidation of protected areas (PAs).
- Promotion of watersheds sustainability.
- Enabling adaptive management by strengthening monitoring capacities.
Coastal watersheds are an essential element for preserving biodiversity and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
Achievements
From March to May 2019, a team of international consultants evaluated the impact and effectiveness of the C6 project in the field, considering environmental, financial, and social aspects. The results are as follows: the C6 project involved collaboration with 30 civil society organizations, two regional funds, state and municipal authorities, and academic institutions to contribute to the integrated management of 16 coastal watersheds, an essential element for preserving biodiversity and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
The project exceeded its goals due to the cooperation of all sectors and was highlighted as a milestone of excellence by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank.
Through the yield of patrimonial resources, C6 strengthens the operation of 10 PAs and contributes to preparing action plans for the integrated management of six watersheds, thereby promoting biodiversity conservation and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
Based on the lessons learned from C6, successful technical and administrative coordination of the CONECTA and RÍOS projects took place during the second semester of 2022. The Annual Operation Plans of the PAs supported by C6 show satisfactory compliance with the scope according to the planning. Under the leadership of Fonnor and Fondo Golfo de México, and in coordination with the private and public sectors, progress was made in territorial management, while regional funds were strengthened in their internal processes.
Allies
Donors:
- Global Environment Facility
- World Bank
Partners:
- Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
- Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas
- Comisión Nacional Forestal
- Instituto Nacional de Ecología y Cambio Climático
The collaboration between three public institutions (CONANP, CONAFOR, and INECC) and one private institution (FMCN) is an innovative component that sought to trigger collaboration and coordination processes. In managing the project, FMCN, FONNOR, and Fondo Golfo de México supported those responsible for the subprojects and protected areas to achieve efficient and transparent use of project resources.