By Delia Ruelas

Proposing sustainable strategies and generating collaboration agreements are the first steps for companies seeking to protect natural areas for the preservation of native flora and fauna.

Therefore, it is important to establish agreements with educational institutions that aim to move science from classrooms and laboratories to applied science, said Aldo Guevara, a professor and researcher at the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC).

The professor and researcher emphasized that protected natural areas are an important scheme for conserving Mexico’s territory and biodiversity, but often resources are insufficient.

One method for landowners of natural areas who wish to contribute to conservation is to do so through voluntarily designated conservation areas, using mechanisms such as agreements with educational institutions.

The researcher mentioned that a factor hindering the conservation of protected areas is the perception that policies or allocations will be restrictive, but landowners can propose which method implement.

Moreover, there is also a lack of resources to conduct diagnostic work, as specialists in environmental science, flora, fauna, among others, must first analyze an area before proposing it for voluntary conservation.

Finally, he pointed out that individuals interested in these schemes can approach the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) to involve students in practical activities and to generate projects that benefit both parties.