18. Implementation of a Wildlife Management Unit as a Sustainable Support Measure Within the Palo Verde Estuary, Mexico: Example of the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)

It is recognized that pollution, fragmentation of ecosystems and habitat destruction due to human activities, make necessary the sustainable use of natural resources ensuring a balanced development with legal certainty by alternatives that promote the protection, preservation and proper use of natural resources. Mexico is not the exception, the Palo Verde Estuary is a RAMSAR site that supports various socio-economic activities, and has a tendency towards deterioration. It has been the focus of many environmental studies. This paper describes the implementation of a Wildlife Management Unit for sustainable commercial harvesting of crocodile Crocodylus acutus as an alternative project in the site known as Ecological Center Tortugario of Cuyutlan. Thus, providing a standard for integrating an economic aspect to biodiversity and ecosystem protection in the decision making process. Finally, an analysis is made from the perspective of conceptual framework Driving Forces-Pressure-State-Impact-Response where the institutional context and participative management can be the main support of sustainable development on this site. The expansion of the a Wildlife Management Unit is an alternative project for the sustainable use of C. acutus present in the Palo Verde Estuary that can be replicated in other Mexican coastal systems. Additionally, in itself it represents an opportunity to reconcile human activities with the environment.