Community institutions and forest management in Mexico's Monarch butterfly reserve

Agrarian communities own the majority of land in the Monarch Butterfly Reserve. Despite publicity surrounding processes of degradation that implicate local residents, certain communities in the reserve have relatively conserved forests. This research explores the factors influencing forest conditions in the reserve with particular attention to the presence of community institutions, as well as political economic contexts, and biophysical and spatial factors. A comparative analysis of two communities found that lack of coordination between state and community institutions, and tensions among residents and external authorities, compromise reserve protection. In the absence of effective institutional arrangements, biophysical and spatial factors strongly influence processes of forest conservation or degradation. Nevertheless, some community institutions are resilient and support conservation, even though the political economic context undermines their authority. The results suggest that strengthening community institutions and increasing local participation in conservation offer potential for more effective reserve protection.