MANAGEMENT UNITS FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

(UMA)

Management Units for the Conservation of Wildlife (UMA) can be defined as units of production or exhibition in a clearly defined area under any type of ownership (private, ejido communal, federal, etc.), Which allows use of specimens, products and byproducts of wildlife resources and require management to operate. The Wildlife Act provides that only through Uma allowed the use of specimens, parts and derivatives of wildlife.

There are two types of use: 1. Extractive (hunting, pets, ornaments, handicrafts, scientific collection and supplies for the pharmaceutical, food and clothing, etc.) and 2. No extractive (research, exhibition, ecotourism and environmental education).

The Uma can function as exhibition centers, shopping seedstock producers, seed banks or research centers are viable alternatives for conservation, reproduction and propagation of wildlife, and for the development of products, services and certificates derivatives can be incorporated into a circuit for marketing green markets.

Depending on the objectives and to manage species, the Uma can be intensive or extensive. In the intensive Uma exemplary handling is done in confinement (under controlled conditions and direct human intervention, mainly for exotic species). In Uma or subject to extensive habitat management, the specimens are in the wild and conservation practices and improvement was made in the middle where they are.

No matter its size or their ownership (private, ejido communal, federal, state or local), the legitimate owners or occupants of the land register with Semarnat its Management Plan. The management plan is developed by the technical manager of Uma, and it describes the objectives of it, ensuring its work program with the conservation of ecosystems and viable populations of all species in it, and therein described to develop projects within the Unit, the main data of the site (s) kind (s) and how they are intended to take advantage of available resources without depleting or endangering the survival of the species and its habitat.

The full implementation of the management plan gives the holder the right to Uma decisions about stocks and investing in their conservation work, since he is the sole responsibility of management activities on wildlife and their habitats within of his estate, giving them continuous monitoring and surveillance tasks. The Uma holder is also responsible for ensuring compliance with the Semarnat the provisions of the Wildlife Act.

Semarnat meanwhile dependence is authorizing utilization rates (number of fish susceptible to be used). The establishment and allocation of harvest rates by Semarnat are based on available technical information generated from resource management, ie knowledge of the size and population dynamics. To determine whether you should take into account the number of individuals, so do not run the risk of driving people to the disappearance, and that the necessary conditions for their survival and reproduction. On the other hand you must know the status of the species, their life cycle, feeding habits, habitat conditions and health status.

The Uma provide diversification options in the rural sector through the conservation and proper management of natural ecosystems, contribute to the maintenance of vital ecosystem services and generate jobs and income in the regions where they operate.

Sources:

Semarnat. Wildlife Department. Mexico. 2005.