Multilevel governance and land use in Chiapas and Yucatan: Lessons for REDD+ in Mexico

Key messages

• In Mexico, land-use policy is fraught with centralizing tendencies, and different sectors often have incompatible (rural) development agendas. This inhibits successful innovation and a 'made to fit' territorial approach to low emissions development.
• Although formally REDD+ is advancing, in practice there exist doubts, tensions and competing visions regarding implementation. The designation of a forestry agency without the rank of ministry — CONAFOR — for the implementation of REDD+ has challenged the socialization of the REDD+ message throughout other sectors.
• CONAFOR's special programs in REDD+ early action areas revealed a forest-centered, conservationist approach rather than the sustainable management goals and low emissions development expressed in Mexico's policy documents (including the National REDD+ Strategy).
• Civil society has been active in supporting and strengthening environmental policy in the context of REDD+. However, there are concerns that many nongovernmental organizations do not actually represent rural inhabitants and forest owners, while grassroots productive organizations have largely been left out of the debate.

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