Perceptions of a Fishing Community About Benefits, Environmental Impacts and Use of Resources of Isla Cerralvo, a Protected Island in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Home , Feral goat

PERCEPTIONS OF A FISHING COMMUNITY ABOUT BENEFITS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND USE OF RESOURCES OF ISLA CERRALVO, A PROTECTED ISLAND IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

Hilda Berenice Hernández-Ramírez, Luís Felipe Beltrán-Morales, Humberto Villarreal-Colmenares and Alfredo Ortega-Rubio

SUMMARY

f Perceptions about protected arcas by local communities have a tal education programs is needed and alternatives are proposed. .... -~ direct effect on their attitudes and can irifluence collective strate- Perceived economic and non-economic benefits for the island were gies of resource use. This study examines the knowledge of La Ven- irifluenced by gender, and they can be used to encourage the local tana fishing community about the protection status, perceived ben- fishing community to support conservation. The main perceived en- efits and environmental impacts of Isla Cerralvo, a protected island vironmental impact on Isla Cerralvo was the presence of garbage, in the Gulf of California, Mexico. It focuses on the reasons for and this was irifluenced by gender, age, and education level. A new hunting feral goats and reactions toward the hunting management management scheme about feral goat hunting is needed since the policy, and evaluates the relationship between these concerns and main use of goat mear was family consumption; inhabitants with the community's demographic and socio-economic variables. Data low income actively hunted goats more frequently than those with were collected through a questionnaire survey. The findings indicate higher incomes, reflecting a subsistence economy; and most inhab- that a substantial number of inhabitants do not know that the is- itants believe that goat hunting should be allowed. land had a protected status; therefore, reinforcement of environmen-

PERCEPCIONES DE UNA COMUNIDAD PESQUERA ACERCA DE BENEFICIOS, IMPACTOS AMBIENTALES Y USO DE RECURSOS EN ISLA CERRALVO, ÁREA PROTEGIDA DEL GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA, MÉXICO Hilda Berenice Hernández-Ramírez, Luís Felipe Beltrán-Morales,Humberto Villarreal-Colmenares y Alfredo Ortega-Rubio RESUMEN

La percepción hacia las áreas protegidas de las comunidades lo- cesidad de reforzar los programas de educación ambiental, por lo cales afecta directamente sus' actitudes y puede influenciar las es- que se proponen alternativas. Los beneficios económicos y no eco- trategias colectivas del uso de los recursos. Este estudio evalúa el nómicos percibidos variaron según el género y pueden ser usados conocimiento de la comunidad pesquera local de La Ventana res- para motivar a la comunidad a apoyar la conservación de la isla. pecto al estatus de protección, beneficios e impactos ambientales El principal impacto ambiental percibido en la isla fue la presencia percibidos de la Isla Cerralvo, área protegida del Golfo de Cali- de basura, siendo esta percepción influida por género, edad y nivel fornia, México; las razones para cazar cabras ferales; y la opi- educativo. Un nuevo esquema de manejo de cacería de cabras es nión respecto a las políticas de manejo de esta práctica. La rela- necesario, considerando que el principal uso de la carne de cabra ción entre dichas percepciones y algunas variables demográficas y fue el consumo familiar; los habitantes con bajos ingresos activa- socio-económicas de la comunidad fue evaluada. Los datos fueron mente cazan cabras más frecuentemente que aquellos con un ma- obtenidos a través de entrevistas aplicadas a los residentes de la yor ingreso, lo cual refleja una necesidad económica; y la mayoría comunidad. Los resultados indican que gran número de habitantes opina que la cacería de cabras debería ser permitida. desconocen el estatus de protección de la isla, evidenciando la ne-

Introduction on the natural resources of ventional protected afeas has cal residents (Ortega-Rubio, these afeas for their livelihood been biased, considering local 2000; Macleold, 2001; Allen- Most protected afeas world- and survival or as their main communities and nature as wide have been established dorf, 2006). economic alternative (Trako- separate entities, and often Ignoring fuese concems often on lands owned or used by lis, 2001; Lü et al., 2003). ignoring the social, political leads to conflicts between com- local communities that depend However, the approach to con- and subsistence values for 10- munities and authorities protect-

KEYWORDS / Benefits / Environmental Impact Perception / Gulf of California / Isla Cerralvo / Local Fishing Community / t Protected Areas / Reeeived: 08/21/2007. Modified: 01/14/2008. Aeeepted: 07/09/2008.

Hilda Berenice Hernández- Luís Felipe Beltrán-Morales. Humberto Villarreal-Colmena- Alfredo Ortega-Rubio. D.Sc. in Ramírez. M.Se. and D.Se. Ph.D. in Environmental Scienc- res. Ph.D. in Zoology, Univer- Ecology, Instituto Politécnico eandidate in Environmental es, Universidad de Concepción, sity of Queensland, Australia. Nacional, Mexico. Researcher, Seienees, Centro de Investiga- Chile. Researcher, CIBNOR, Researcher. CIBNOR, Mexico. CIBNOR, Mexico. Address: Mar ciones Biológicas del Noroeste Mexico. e-mail: Ibeltran04@ e-mail: humberto04@cibnor. Bermejo 195 Col. Playa Palo de (CIBNOR) , Mexico. cibnor.mx mx Santa Rita, La Paz, B.c.S. Mexi- co. e-mail: [email protected]

604 0378-1844/08/08/604-06 $ 3.00/0 AUG 2008, VOL. 33 N" 8 mlEROEnOfl PERCEPC;OES DE UMA COMUNIDADE PESQUEIRA SOBRE BENEFICIOS, IMPACTOS AMBIENTAIS E USO DE RECURSOS NA ILHA CERRALVO, ÁREA PROTEGIDA DO GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA, MÉXICO Hilda Berenice Hernández-Ramírez,Luís Felipe Beltrán-Morales, Humberto Villarreal-Colmenares e Alfredo Ortega-Rubio RESUMO

A percep~iio para as áreas protegidas das comunidades locais necessidade de refor~ar os programas de educa~iio ambiental, afeta diretamente suas atitudes e pode influenciar as estratégias pelo que se propoem alternativas. Os benefícios económicos e coletivas do uso dos recursos. Este estudo avalia o conhecimen- niio economicos percebidos variaram segundo o genero e podem to da comunidade pesqueira local de "La Ventana" em rela~iio ser usados para motivar a comunidade a apoiar a conserva~iio ao status de prote~iio, benefícios e impactos ambientais perce- da ilha. O principal impacto ambiental percebido na ilha foi a bidos da Ilha Cerralvo, área protegida do Golfo de Califórnia, presen~a de lixo, senda esta percep~iio influída por genero, ida- México; as razoes para ca~ar cabras (Capra hircus); e a opi- de e nível educativo. Um nava esquema de manejo de ca~aria niiio em rela~iio as políticas de manipula~iio desta prática. A de cabras é necessário, considerando que o principal uso da rela~iio entre ditas percep~oes e algumas variáveis demográficas carne de cabra foi o consumo familiar; os habitantes com bai- e socio económicas da comunidade foi avaliada. Os dados foram xos ingressos ativamente ca~am cabras mais frequentemente que obtidos a través de entrevistas aplicadas aos residentes da co- aqueles com um maior ingresso, o qual reflete urna necessidade munidade. Os resultados indicam que grande número de habi- economica; e a maioria opina que a ca~aria de cabras deveria tantes desconhece o status de prote~iio da ilha, evidenciando a ser permitida.

ing the afeas, and frustrates sistence, which takes place CONANP claims that, in ad- land is desert scrub, yet it is management strategies (Fu et around Isla Cerralvo and dition to their authorization, relatively rich in plant and al., 2004; Ormsby and Kaplin, hunting feral goats on the permits from other agencies animal species; with 14 en- 2005; Shekhar-Silori, 2007). island. One of the conflicts are necessary for legal hunt- demic species and 32 endan- Success in protecting afeas de- between the Isla Cerralvo ing of feral goats; at present gered species, according to pends not only on government protected afea administrator there is no goal eradication government records (Hernán- support, but also on the coop- (National Protected Areas program for the island be- dez-Ramírez, 2004). eration and involvement of local Commission; CONANP) and cause of the high cosí and Isla Cerralvo is uninhab- communities who help avoid or La Ventana residents relates effort this would require, but ited and 16km offshore to the mitigate conflicts and contribute to the hunting of feral goats, CONANP expects to imple- northeast of the La Ventana to planning and management. which is a prohibited activity. meDí such a program in the fishing community, which re- responsibilities (Trakolis, 2001; Goats (Capra hircus) were future (Roberto Espinoza, per- lies on the island for activities Rao et al., 2003; Ormsby and introduced to the island from sonal communication, 2007). related to subsistence (Figure Kaplin, 2005). the mainland by pearl oyster The aims of this study were 1). The island is part of the At present, most research fishermen who used them as 1) to determine the communi- 'Islands of the Gulf of Cali- on protected afeas focuses on a source of IDeal in the early ty's knowledge and perceptions fornia', a protected afea since flora and fauna, but lacks in- 1930's. A feral goal popula- about benefits and environmen- 1978, nominated World Heri- formation about the knowl- tion was established after the tal impacts of Isla Cerralvo, tage site in 2005 (CONANP, edge, perceptions, attitudes and deliberate release or escape 2) to analyze the relationship 2000; UNESCO, 2005). needs of cornmunities living in of domestic stock (Hernán- between demographic or adjacent to protected afeas, dez-Ramírez, 2004). Feral and socio-economic and their view on the effec- goats impact native vegetation variables and commu- tiveness of the administration as they are herbivores with a nity knowledge and N A. management schemes. The generalist diet and are wide- perceptions, and 3) 24°20' analysis and understanding of ly distributed on the island. to make recommen- these topics, as well as their Overgrazing reduces vegeta- dations for improving relationship with specific de- tion cover, affects the dynam- management policies mographic factors, provides ics and composition of native that incorporate the useful information for devel- plants, increases soil erosion needs and values of .. oping appropriate management and promotes the introduc- the La Ventana fishing strategies for a successful con- tion of non-native plant spe- cornmunity. servation program (Rao et al., cies. Feral goats also cause 24°10' 2003; Allendorf, 2006; Xu et indirect impacts on native Study site al., 2006). insular fauna by altering the The present study was con- habitat or by competing for Isla Cerralvo is ducted at La Ventana, Baja resources such as food, wa- located along the California Sur, Mexico, a ter and shelter (Courchamp southwest coast of fishing community with a et al., 2003; Campbell and the Gulf of California La Ventana * long-standing relationship Donlan, 2005). (Figure 1). The island with Isla Cerralvo, a fed- The fishermen believe that is 29km long, has a erally-protected island in CONANP is responsible for maximum width of 110°0:)' 109°51)' the Gulf of California. La the hunting prohibition and 7km and an are a of Figure 1. Map that shows the geographic loca- Ventana inhabitants depend argue that goal hunting is part 137.4km2. Dominant tion of Isla Cerralvo and La Ventana fishing mainly on fishing for sub- of their livelihood. In turn, vegetation on the is- cornrnunity in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

mlEROEf\OAAUG 2008, VOL. 33 N° 8 605 TABLE I only visited for family rec- DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SURVEY reation (100%). The beach RESPONDENTS AT LA VENTANA, B.c.S., MEXICO most frequently used for family recreational visits was Age group (%) Education level (%) Occupation (%) Monthly income* (%) - - - "Los Viejos", located in the 18-20 19.0 Primary 45.2 Housewife 33.3 O 9.5 southwest end of the island. 21-30 26.2 Secondary 26.2 Fishennan 33.3 <120 21.4 31-40 21.4 High school 14.3 Employed 9.5 121-240 33.3 Knowledge about 41-50 21.4 Professional 14.3 Owner 2.4 241-360 16.7 the protected area 51-60 4.8 Student, retired 12.0 361-600 11.9 >60 7.1 Other 9.5 >600 7.2 When people were asked if Total 100 100 100 100 they knew that Isla Cerralvo * uso is a natural protected afea, more than half of the respondents (54.8%) an- Methods beneficia!. The response was Knowledge01protectionstatus oNoIIYes swered affirmatively; ranked using a ten-point scale 100,, ; r--; ,;,; women (65.0%) did so more often than I The survey questionnaire (Swaffield and Foster, 2000; '"g¡,80 was administered as personal Ribe, 2002), ranging from 60 men (45.5%). There ~o interviews to residents of La very ugly (1) to very beauti- Q¡ 40 was no relationship (L Ventana community. Initially, fuI (10). 20 between knowledge a pilot questionnaire was test- Linear regression was used of the protection sta-

ed on local residents to design to define population growth o I =ry se:ary 'Hi9=OOI 'Pro=nal' tus and visits to the and improve ilo To calculate at La Ventana. To overcome Educationlevel01respondents island or resident's sample size, Cochran (1989) the relatively small sample Figure 2. Relationship between knowledge of level of education. equations were used and 42 size, nonparametric statistical Island Cerralvo protected status and education Of the respondents questionnaires were applied tests were used. The variation (primary «6 years), secondary (7-9 years), high who had visited the on weekends in August 2005. in responses among differ- school (10-12 years), professional studies (13-17 island, 89.5% had no Weekends were selected to ent groups was evaluated by years» of the respondents living in La Ventana, knowledge about its B.C.S., Mexico. insure that women and men cross-tabulating the relevant protected status. Only had the same probability of variables. Data were analyzed 33.3% of respondents being interviewed, sílice most using SPSS (Statistical Pack- 21.4% receiving an average who had professional stud- men are fishermen workin~ age for the Social Sciences) individual monthly income of ies had knowledge about around the island and camp ver. 13.0. less than USDl20 and 33.3% the island's protection status on the island during the week. between 121 and 240 USD and 57.9% of respondents House-to-house interviews fo- Results (Table 1). with primary education knew cused on one adult person ayer about it (Figure 2). 18 years old who represented Demography and Visits to Isla Cerralvo one of 42 randomly selected socio-economic status Perceived benefits from households. All respondents Almost all inhabitants of Isla Cerralvo were permanent inhabitants. At present, La Ventana has La Ventana (95.2%) have The questionnaire covered 183 inhabitants (INEGI, 2006). visited Isla Cerralvo at least Of La Ventana' s inhabitants, six afeas: 1) demographic and Annual population growth was once in their lifetime. All 69% think that food resources socio-economic (gender, age, about 1.8% (3.55 habitants per men had visited the island was the main benefit Isla Cer- education level, occupation, year) between 1995 and 2005, and only 10.0% of women ralvo brought them, fish be- and average individual month- and tended to have a linear had never visited ilo How- ing the primary item (100.0%) ly income); 2) frequency of growth. ever, there are significant followed by feral goal IDeal visits to the island; 3) knowl- Among respondents (n= differences in the number (51.7%). Recreational use was edge of the protection status 42), 47.6% were female and of times women and men listed as the second benefit of Isla Cerralvo; 4) percep- 52.4% were maleo The larg- visited the island. The per- (66.7%) and the island's scenic tions of the benefits obtained est group of respondents was centage of men that visited landscape was in third place from Isla Cerralvo and the 21-30 years old (26.2%) and the island every month of (26.2%). Women perceived the surrounding marine afea; 5) slightly smaller numbers were the year was 72.7%, while primary benefit as recreation perceptions about environ- in the 31-40 and 41-50 year 40.0% of women answered (94.7%), followed by food re- mental impacts on and around groups (21.4% each). About that they had visited the is- sources (52.6%) and scenic Isla Cerralvo; and 6) reasons 45.2% had only a primary land only 1-5 times ayear. landscape (42.1%), while males .. for hunting feral goats on the education «6 years), 26.2% About 45% of the women perceived the primary benefit island and reactions to man- had secondary education (7-9 had visited the island only as food resources (86.4%), fol- agement's hunting policy. years), and only 14.3% had 1-5 times during their life. lowed by recreation (45.4%) Within the answers related received high school (10-12 Respondents who had vis- and scenic landscape (13.6%). to benefits obtained from Isla years) and professional (13-17 ited the island were asked to Scenic beauty of Isla Cer- Cerralvo, we asked about per- years) training. The major- state why they had visited ralvo received a score of 10 ception of scenic beauty (at- ity of the respondents were ilo Men visited for fishing from 57.0% of the respon- tractiveness of the landscape) housewives (33.3%) or fisher- (95.4%), family recreation dents, of 9 from 26.2%, and of Isla Cerralvo to estímate to men (33.3%). La Ventana is a (45.4%), and feral goal hunt- 8 from 14.3%; no score below what degree it is perceived as poor fishing community, with ing (22.7%), while women 7 was registered. More women

606 AUG 2008, VOL. 33 N" 8 ¡mERDEnDA Perceived environmental impacts SO to have a negative Concerning the goat hunt- status of the island than IDeo, environmental im- 60 ing management policy, 72.2% in spite of visiting the island pact because they of respondents want the au- less frequently. This seems to 40 are not selective. be related to an environmental 20 thority to give them permis- Younger re- sion to hunt goats and 22.2% educational program estab- O spondents (::;40 expressed no opinion. Only lished in 2000 by CONANP, years) perceived 5.6% think that hunting goats mainly focused on primary 100 garbage from should not be allowed. The and secondary school stu- 'ID tourists and fish- principal reason given for re- dents and women (Ernesto @' SO e: ermen as the questing hunting permits is Vásquez, personal communi- ID 60 o main environ- to obtain food for the family cation, 2007). O¡ CL 40 mental impact on (96.3%). Respondents who There appears to be no re- 20 the island, and had not hunted goats think lationship between knowledge l' only their an- that permission to hunt goats about the island's protected O >60 swers mentioned should be denied. status and education level, the presence of probably because the environ- . None feral goats graz- Discussion so mental program is a relatively . oGarbage ing the local new one and it is not imple- 60 . Gil!nets flora and pres- The annual population mented at all school levels. 40 ' iiI Feral goal ence of gill nets. growth of -1.8% for La Ven- These results are similar to 20 '.", . Depredalion tana fishing community is those reported by Moorman U.,., O Did nol know Older respondents o Women Men (>40) perceived high compared to the overall (2006), who found that edu- Gender 01 respondents no environmen- rafe of 1.0% for Mexico in cation level in a community Figure 3. Perceived environmental impacts at Isla tal impacts on 2005 (INEGI, 2006). This is was not significantly related to Cerralvo according to the education level, age and the island (Fig- of importance since as human their knowledge of conserva- gender of the respondents living in La Ventana, ure 3). More men populations increase and the tion issues in local protected B.C.S., Mexico. (50.0%) than demand for resources grows, afeas. On the other hand, Fi- women (25.0%) think that the frequency and intensity allo and Jacobson (1995) and (75.0%) gave scenic beauty a there were no environmental of conflicts between protected Trakolis (2001) found that 10 than did men (40.9%). impacts. Of the respondents afea administrators and local respondents with a higher ed- who mentioned garbage from people increase (Newmark et ucation level had more knowl- Perceptions of environmental tourists and fishermen, 60.0% al., 1993). edge abOlirthe protected afeas impact about Isla Cerralvo were women and 45.3% were The present findings indi- and more po siti ve attitudes mello Only the answers from cate that 27 years after the towards them, which the au- Inhabitants with a lower men included a mention of designation of the afea as thors attributed to environ- level of education were more gill nets and depredation of protected there is still a sub- mental education programs likely to indicate that they did wild fauna. A small percent- stantial part of La Ventana introduced in the formal cur- not perceive any environmental age (10.0%) of women, who community that is unaware of ricula of schools at all levels impact, considering that the had never visited the island, the island's status. The lack for at least 15 years. island had a high conserva- had no knowledge about en- of knowledge by local com- There was no relation- tion state. Respondents with a vironmental impacts on the munities abolir designations of ship between local residents higher level of education (high island (Figure 3). protected afeas ayer the years visiting the island and their school and professional) per- has been documented for sites knowledge of its protected ceived a number of impacts, Reasons for hunting feral around the world (Trakolis, status. Moorman (2006) found such as garbage from tourists goats and reactions to the 2001). This becomes an ob- that guided visits to protected and fishermen, feral goats eat- hunting management policy stacle for afea managers, as afeas (where park staff ex- the limited knowledge implies plains conservation issues) Feral goal hunting ONo .Yes Approximately half of poor public participation and provide an educational expe- the respondents (47.6%) communication with reserve rience for local people and ['1so ,¡g admitted they had hunted managers (Xu et al., 2006). this knowledge genera te s a e ID feral goats. All respon- Around 45% of male respon- positive perception. On Isla " ~ 40 ~ dents answered that food dents did not know what the Cerralvo, conservation in- for the family was the status of Isla Cerralvo was. formation is limited to signs main use of goat mear Increasing this knowledge at on two beaches that declare and only 10.0% sold fe- La Ventana community could the island's protected status. Figure 4. Feral goal hunting on Isla Cerral- ral goat IQ.eat. Respon- be an initial step necessary to When La Ventana residents vo according to income of the respondents dents who earned the improve conservation efforts, visited the island, there was living in La Ventana, Rc.S., Mexico. lowest income (55.6%) or since knowledge abOlir pro- no qualified person available the second 10west income tected afeas has been corre- to explain the protected status ing the local flora, depredation (64.3%) hunted goats more lated with positive perceptions of the island or other conser- of wild fauna, and presence of often than respondents whose and attitudes toward conser- variaD concerns. In the study gill nets (Figure 3). Gill nets income was higher (42.9% in vation (Ormsby and Kaplin, by Trakolis (2001), the main are left anchored, floating at the USD241-360 group, 40.0% 2005; Moorman, 2006; Xu et source of information abolir a particular site for a consid- in the USD361-600 group, al., 2006). a local protected afea was an erable time. In general, the and 33.3% earning >USD600; Women had a greater information center in the afea. inhabitants consider gill nets Figure 4). knowledge of the protected Moorman (2006) reported that

InlEROEf\OA AUG 2008, VOL. 33 N° 8 607 television was the main source protected are a (Bauer, 2003; The gender difference in believed that restrictions on of information on protected Allendorf, 2006). perceptions towards environ- use of natural resources and arca topics. For Isla Cerralvo, Differences related to gen- mental impacts could relate traditional economic activities the are a administrator could der and perceived benefits to men having different inter- had lowered their standard complement and reinforce its refer to activities and social actions than women, due to of living and that negative attitudes of the communities existing environmental educa- roles each sex represents in their fishing and hunting ac- tion programs by producing the community. Men in La tivities. Half the men did not stem from these perceived re- regional television spots about Ventana are traditionally con- perceive any impact on the strictions. Management prac- the island, offering guided sidered providers and con- island's environment, probably tices must include a balance tour s to the island to teach centrate their activities to- because their constant contact between biodiversity conser- desired ecological and con- wards that purpose. Women with the arca makes them less vation and meeting the basic servation concepts, and creat- are mainly in charge of borne, sensitive to changes in the socio-economic needs of the ing a permanent information children, and recreation. environment. ayer half the resource-dependent communi- center in a central location in A significant correspon- women and almost half the ties (Allendorf, 2006). In this . La Ventana. dence was found between per- men commented on the pres- context, a controlled hunting Most respondents believe that ceptions of environmental im- ence of garbage on the island. program based on scientific they benefit from Isla Cerralvo. pact and education, age, and This perception is largely re- information should be consid- This is important, since various gender. Other authors (Padilla lated to recreational visits to ered, giving hunting permits studies (Newmark et al., 1993; y Sotelo and Luna-Moliner, "Los Viejos" beach, which has only for family consumption, Fiallo and Jacobson, 1995; In- 2003; Robertson and Lawes, easy access and is frequently and establishing regulations field, 2001; Bauer, 2003; Orms- 2005; Xu et al., 2006) simi- visited by tourists. AIso, this to control hunting, such as by and Kaplin, 2005; Xu et lady' found that perceptions of beach is the principal camp defining the number of goats al., 2006) found that one of environmental impact are in- site for La Ventana fishermen per family per season and the the factors strongly infiuencing fiuenced by demographic fac- (Hernández- Ramírez, 2004), hunting methods. positive residents' perceptions tors, such as education level, Hence, activities concentrate If the administration is con- and attitudes towards protected age and residence location. and negative effects are more templating total goal eradica- arcas is fue benefit perceived by Respondents under 40 years apparent in this arca. tion in the long term, it must the community. of age and with a higher level Almost half the residents develop alternatives for the Allendorf (2006) reported of education (high school or admitted to illegal hunting of community that compensate similar perceived benefits professional) perceived en- goats, which has been prac- for the loss of a staple food from protected arcas in Ne- vi ron mental impacts on the ticed by the community for and income. Additionally, this pal: non-economic (recreation island, whereas almost all ayer 100 years. The true num- alternative subsistence would and esthetic) and economic older respondents claimed bers are probably higher, but contribute to the reduction benefits (natural resource ex- that there were none. Padilla there was no way to deter- of human pressure on natural traction), which were signifi- y Sotelo and Luna-Moliner mine if all respondents were resources (Fu et al., 2004). cant predictors of positive at- (2003) found that residents telling the truth, as this is a Allendorf (2006) mentioned titudes. Heinen (1993) found with higher education, such as restricted activity. that sustainable extraction and that residents in a local pro- students or professionals, were The National Protected Ar- alternative livelihood strate- tected arca like it because of aware of environmental prob- eas Commission (CONANP) gies may enhance the local the pleasing views and leisure lems, while residents with less should reevaluate the existing residents' perceptions of pro- opportunities. education, such as housewives, policy on goal hunting on tected arcas and strengthen The importance of non- fishermen, and farmers, were Isla Cerralvo, considering that their support for them. economic benefits to La Ven- not aware of environmental a) all respondents who hunt Recommendations tana community was refiected problems. feral goats use the meat for in the results, the percep- In general, younger resi- family consumption, and only 1- The National Protected Ar- tions of recreation and esthet- dents showed more awareness ten percent use it for sale; b) eas Commission (CONANP) about environmental concerns ic benefits being high. Yet, respondents at the lower in- should reinforce its existing non-economic benefits are because they had received come levels hunt goats more environmental education pro- more education than older frequently than those with ignored or rarely considered grams, by producing regional when designing conservation inhabitants. Education permits higher income, which refiects television spots about the island, strategies for protected ar- to establish links that evidence a subsistence need; and c) ayer half of the residents be- offering guided tours to the is- eas, unlike economic benefits, higher environmental impacts land to teach desired ecological which are usually consid- on the scenery. People's per- lieve that permits should be and conservation concepts, and ered as the prime factor to ceptions have a direct effect given for goal hunting be- creating a permanent informa- on their attitudes toward pro- cause it directly contributes increase support for conservation center in a central location l' tion of protected arcas (Ra- tected arcas, and can influ- to the economic well being of in La Ventana. val, 1994). Recognizing and ence collective strategies of the family, either by provid- incorporating the non-eco- resource use (De Albuquerque ing food or by receiving cash 2- A new management nomic benefits may be criti- and De Albuquerque, 2005; from the sale of meat. The scheme is needed, considering cal to long-term conservation Allendorf et al., 2006). Re- well-being of local communi- the subsistence resources re- of protected arcas (Infield, spondents perceiving environ- ties in protected arcas should quired by local communities. 2001; Ormsby and Kaplin, mental problems on the island be among the first concerns A controlled fera1 goal hunt- 2005), since they can provide can play an important role in of conservation management ing program based on scien- an important complement to their community to prevent or authorities (Trakolis, 2001). tific information is proposed, economic benefits that en- mitigate activities that cause Fiallo and Jacobson (1995) giving hunting permits only to courage people to support a environmental impacts. report that local communities cover family consumption to

608 AUG 2008, VOL. 33 N" 8 1r\1ERDEnDft La Ventana inhabitants until a Campbell KJ, Donlan CJ (2005) A stituto Nacional de Estadísti- of planning and management review of feTal goat eradica- ca, Geografía e Informática. issues in Nanda Devi Bio- total goat eradication program tion on islands. CansoBiol. 19: is establíshed. México. www.inegi.gob.mx. sphere Reserve, India. Env. 1362-1374. Manag. 31: 168-181. Infield M (2001) Cultural values: a 3- Before implementing a to- Cochran GW (1989) Sampling forgotten strategy for building Raval SR (1994) Wheel of life: tal goat eradication program, Techniques. Wiley. New York, community support for pro- perceptions and concerns of subsistence alternatíves for USA. 413 pp. tected afeas in Africa. Canso the resident peoples for Gir Biol. 15: 800-802. National Park in India. Soco the físhing communíty must CONANP (2000) Programa de manejo: Area de Protección Nat. 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