Through Governance Improvement Programs, Pronatura Noroeste, CONANP, and their partners strengthen Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) in a systematic and measurable way. To that end, in 2016 we conducted an initial evaluation to identify opportunities to improve each NPA, with a focus on five central themes: participation of the actors, existing management instruments, actor capacities and knowledge, financing, and regulation compliance.

Governance refers to the manner in which the actors interact, negotiate, and exercise power to find a common good. Currently, we are implementing Governance Improvement Programs in six NPAs: the complex of natural protected areas in Bahía de los Ángeles, the Marismas Nacionales Biosphere Reserve, and the National Parks of Islas Marietas, Isla Isabel, Cabo Pulmo, and Bahía de Loreto. Next we will share the progress of the latter as an example of a Governance Improvement Program.

The evaluation of the Bahía de Loreto National Park indicated it was necessary to strengthen inspection and surveillance, the management of riparian fisheries, and tourist services ordinances. By identifying the issues to improve, several companies, cooperatives, organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, and civil society organizations joined together to work on the effective management of the National Park. In a year and a half, this work has permitted:

• Updating of its management program – designed in a participatory manner –in which new no-fishing zones, which now represent 3% of the protected area, were designated.
• Installation of the Marine Monitor surveillance system to detect irregular activities across a permanent surveillance coverage area of 30% of the park’s surface.
• Operation of an online log system for the systematic recording of routes taken.
• Development, for the first time, of an annual work plan for the Advisory Council covering five strategic areas. Year to date, 50% of the plan has been completed.
• Formation of a working group to manage the chocolate clam, which is made up of local fishermen, National Park leadership, the Regional Fisheries Research Center (CRIP), and Pronatura Noroeste.  
• Formation of a tourism subcouncil, with the objective of bringing order to the use of Isla Coronado through a public use program.
• Conformation of the inspection and surveillance working session with eight authorities and the creation of a manual of interinstitutional procedures for inspection and surveillance of the National Park.
• Generation of the passive observation protocol for the Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus).

The implementation of the Governance Improvement Program in Loreto has generated better interaction and participation between users and authorities, brought more order to various economic activities, increased compliance with tourist and fishery regulations, and reduced threats to biodiversity, including to the majestic blue whale.

Through each of the Governance Improvement Programs, the six selected Natural Protected Areas advance in a collaborative, systematic, and measurable way, in aspects that are essential to achieving effective management.