Mexico capacities for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity

Any analysis of Mexico's capacities for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity should be a systematic and regular exercise. In this way, it is possible to recognize what has been accomplished, which are the successful methods, what needs to be modified in order to prevent the expansion and multiplication of the effects of unsuitable practices, and to identify needs that require priority attention over the long term, to name but a few benefits. Therefore, an analysis of capacity for knowledge production, in situ conservation and an evaluation of its results as well as the implementation of public policies aimed at the conservation and sustainable management of the natural capital of Mexico represents a starting point for such evaluations. The National Biodiversity Information System (SNIB), is one of the greatest efforts made by a megadiverse country. It was chosen as a prime example of how create a bridge between knowledge production and decision making. The SNIB was created to collect, organize and distribute information about the biodiversity of Mexico; it is a point of contact between the academic sector (generator of information) on one side, and decision makers and the general public (users of information) on the other. As a case study, this analysis follows up -as few cases in the country could allow- the results of the investment made by Mexico in the last 15 years to generate one of the instruments that makes information available for decision making in the management and conservation of Mexico's biodiversity.