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Sierra y Mar

Biodiversity Conservation in the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Gulf of Mexico

Factsheet
Context
Achievements
Allies
The Biodiversity Conservation in the Sierra Madre Oriental and Gulf of Mexico (Sierra y Mar) project aims to improve biodiversity conservation in 14 protected areas (PAs) and ecological corridors in the Northeast and Sierra Madre Oriental; Coastal Plain and Gulf of Mexico; and Neovolcanic Axis and Center, by reducing land use changes, maintaining ecosystem integrity and providing environmental services.

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Context

The Sierra y Mar project is the first financial cooperation initiative between Mexico and Germany in the field of natural resource protection as a result of the intergovernmental negotiations on Cooperation for Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Change between the Government of Mexico and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany held in November 2011.

This is a collaboration between KfW Development Bank, FMCN and the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Medio Ambiente, in Spanish), through the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp, acronym in Spanish). The capital provided by KfW Development Bank secured the counterpart of the Coastal Watershed Conservation in the Context of Climate Change (C6) project, which allowed KfW Development Bank and the World Bank to coordinate their investments in Mexico. KfW Development Bank’s interest mainly covers the acquisition of movable and immovable assets in the project’s PAs, while the interest from the World Bank’s contributions, both past and future, covers current expenditures.

The project includes 14 PAs: Santa Elena Canyon; Ocampo; Maderas del Carmen; Cuenca Alimentadora del Distrito Nacional de Riego 004 Don Martín; Sierra del Abra Tanchipa; Sierra Gorda; Cuenca Hidrográgica del Río Necaxa; Pico de Orizaba; Cofre de Perote; Lobos-Tuxpan Reef System; Veracruz Reef System; Los Tuxtlas; Pantalon de Centla; and Usumacinta Canyon.

The lines of work that guide the actions of Sierra y Mar are:

1. Strengthening the management capacity of PAs.
2. Strengthening of productive and community initiatives and greater participation of key stakeholders.
3. Financial sustainability of PAs.
4. Strengthening of CONANP in cross-cutting issues of communication, monitoring, and capacity building.

    PA Testimonials
    The Sierra y Mar project is the first financial cooperation initiative between Mexico and Germany in the field of natural resource protection.

    Achievements

    Sierra y Mar continues to fund priority conservation activities in 14 PAs to improve their daily conservation and management actions significantly. In addition, it supports the implementation of Integrated Watershed Action Plans (IWAP) to conserve biodiversity, mitigate climate change, strengthen the sustainable use of natural resources, and recover functionality and ecosystem services in four watersheds.

    The implementation of IWAP reflects the complementarity that Sierra y Mar has with various FMCN projects supported by other donors, such as the GEF.

    Furthermore, Sierra y Mar has accompanied the execution of federal subsidies that promote the conservation of the project’s PAs and strengthened the PA Advisory Councils to promote social participation. Likewise, the project has strengthened the capacities of CONANP personnel in the PAs about different issues to improve management effectiveness.

    Sierra y Mar conducted an analysis of the Habitat Transformation Rate (HTR) for 175 terrestrial Protected Areas (PAs) in Mexico, comparing vegetation cover between 2015 and 2020. The results for the 14 PAs under Sierra y Mar indicate that there were no significant changes in vegetation cover within the PA boundaries. You can view the final report of results here

    In the second half of 2024, Sierra y Mar strengthened the operation of the Protected Areas (PAs) through the installation of radio communication equipment and the acquisition of technologies such as camera traps, drones, weather stations, diving gear, and data loggers. In addition, training sessions were provided to PA staff to optimize the use of these tools. Thanks to these resources, park rangers improved monitoring, control, and surveillance activities and were able to provide more efficient follow-up with local communities.

    At the end of 2024, KfW conducted an evaluation of the project, which will allow it to be reviewed by the Technical Committee of the Fund for Natural Protected Areas (CTFANP, acronym in Spanish).

     

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    Results of the Independent Final Evaluation

    • Relevance
      The project addressed conservation priorities in 14 Protected Areas (PAs) and ecological corridors through an integrated approach that linked environmental, social, and institutional actions, in alignment with each PA’s decree objectives.
    • Achievements
      Vegetation cover in the PAs remained stable. The project strengthened governance and social participation, and consolidated community brigades and Advisory Councils. It also provided key infrastructure and equipment for PA management and promoted strategic planning processes that enhanced local conservation capacities.
    • Lessons Learned
      Effective coordination between resource management and technical support was essential to achieving the project’s goals, even in the face of administrative challenges and limitations in aligning planning instruments.
    • Impact on the Territory and Local Communities
      The project built trust among stakeholders, promoted the inclusion of youth, women, and Indigenous peoples, and encouraged sustainable practices that delivered social, environmental, and economic benefits at the local level.

    • Recommendations
      It is recommended to continue strengthening the capacities of operational PA staff, align project planning instruments, enhance the efficiency of technical and administrative processes related to procurement plans, and consolidate monitoring and sustainability mechanisms. Reinforcing gender and intercultural perspectives also remains a key priority.

    Allies

    Donors: KfW Development Bank

    Partner: National Commission of Natural Protected Areas

      Contact

      To address any questions, clarifications, suggestions, complaints, or comments related to Sierra y Mar, we provide you with the following means of contact corresponding to the project’s Complaints and Inquiries 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

      FAQ

      1. What is the objective of the Sierra y Mar project?
      Sierra y Mar aims to improve biodiversity conservation in 14 protected areas (PAs) and ecological corridors in the Northeast and Sierra Madre Oriental, Coastal Plain and Gulf of Mexico, and Neovolcanic Axis and Center by reducing biodiversity loss associated with changes in land use, maintaining ecosystemic integrity, and providing environmental services.
      2. What is the implementation period of Sierra y Mar?
      The project started field activities in 2019 and will last for five years. Oversight by KfW Development Bank will be during the first five years of the project’s implementation (2019-2023). However, equity resources will be channeled to the PAs in perpetuity. During 2023, the project’s exit strategy will be defined, and the implementation strategy from 2024 onwards.
      3. What is the intervention strategy of the Sierra y Mar project?
      The project consists of four components that address the intervention strategy. Component 1 consists of strengthening the management of the PAs for effective management and is executed by CONANP and FMCN with resources from KfW Development Bank that strengthen the equipment with vehicles and infrastructure, federal resources for the administration of the Pas, and counterpart resources from the Protected Areas Fund (FANP, acronym in Spanish) and the Coastal Watershed Conservation in the Context of Climate Change (C6) project that complement operating expenses. Component 2 is led by CONANP, which finances and ensures this component’s execution as a counterpart to the project by implementing federal subsidy programs designed for the sustainable management of natural resources. Component 3 promotes the financial sustainability of federal PAs and is executed mainly by FMCN in collaboration with CONANP. Finally, Component 4 strengthens CONANP in cross-cutting issues such as project communication and capacity building, as well as project monitoring and evaluation.
      4. What is the innovation factor of the Sierra y Mar project?
      The project has an innovative design that improves the management of PAs by complementing resources to strengthen them. The yields from the assets of KfW Development Bank are used for equipment and infrastructure acquisition, while the daily operation is covered by the yields from the assets of the Protected Areas Fund (FANP, acronym in Spanish) and the Coastal Watershed Conservation in the Context of Climate Change (C6) project, which complement the resources allocated by the federation for the administration and management of the project’s 14 PAs.
      5. What are the 14 intervention areas of the Sierra y Mar project?
      Wildlife Protection Areas:

      • Santa Elena Canyon.
      • Maderas del Carmen.
      • Ocampo.
      • Lobos – Tuxpan Reef System.
      • Usumacinta Canyon.

      Natural Resources Protection Areas:

      • Cuenca Alimentadora del Distrito Nacional de Riego 004.
      • Don Martín.
      • Cuenca Hidrográfica del Río Necaxa.

      Biosphere Reserves:

      • Sierra del Abra Tanchipa.
      • Sierra Gorda Querétaro.
      • Los Tuxtlas.
      • Pantanos de Centla.

      National Parks:

      • Cofre de Perote.
      • Pico de Orizaba.
      • The Veracruzano Coral Reef System.
      6. Which institutions implement the Sierra y Mar project?

      Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, A.C. (FMCN) is the executing and responsible entity before the KfW Development Bank; it oversees the custody and financial management of the patrimony and channels resources to the PAs through annual Acquisition Plans. CONANP is the technical partner of the Sierra y Mar project, collaborating in the execution of the Procurement Plan and ensuring that project activities are carried out in the field.

      7. What stakeholders are involved in the decision-making process of the Sierra y Mar project?
      The Technical Committee of the Protected Areas Fund (CTFANP, acronym in Spanish) oversees the supervision and execution of the Sierra y Mar project. It comprises representatives from the governmental, social, conservation, academic, and private sectors. In addition, the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) is responsible for project implementation. It comprises four people hired by FMCN and closely coordinated with CONANP’s General Directorate of Institutional Strengthening and International Issues (DGFITI, acronym in Spanish). The PCU reports to the CTFANP, which in turn reports to FMCN’s Board of Directors and the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP).
      8. Where do the resources for the Sierra y Mar project come from?
      The resources for the Sierra y Mar project come from KfW Development Bank. The project has its origin in the 2011 intergovernmental negotiations on Cooperation for Sustainable Development, Environment, and Climate Change between the Government of Mexico and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany to promote the reduction of biodiversity loss associated with changes in land use in the ecological corridors of the northeast and eastern Sierra Madre, central and neovolcanic axis and the Gulf of Mexico.
      9. How are Sierra y Mar project resources channeled to the PAs?
      The yields from the GEF endowment fund (FANP/C6) are channeled through the Annual Operating Plans (POA, acronym in Spanish) of the 14 PAs to cover daily operating expenses (field expenses, minor equipment, direct costs, etc.); while the yields from KfW Development Bank endowment are channeled through Annual Acquisition Plans (PA, acronym in Spanish) for major acquisitions of technical equipment, vehicles, and infrastructure. The complementarity of both assets allows the 14 PAs to reduce their financial gap in the long term. The POAs are administered by Civil Society Organizations responsible for covering the operational needs of the Pas, while the Annual Acquisition Plans are executed directly by FMCN. All goods acquired with project resources are donated to CONANP.