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This paper presents a systematic review of the scientific literature on participatory monitoring (PM) in Mexico in order to understand its dimensions and usefulness for decision-making and public environmental policies. For this, a conceptual scheme of the mp is proposed from the socioecosystemic perspective (SEPM) in accordance with interdisciplinary scientific approaches and citizen science, through eight structural dimensions. The qualitative method of analysis was based on the application of the Search, Assessment, Synthesis, Analysis (SALSA) protocol, and the use of Scopus and scielo databases. The results first describe general spatial and temporal trends for Latin America and, subsequently, focus on the analysis of 24 preselected and coded publications for Mexico, considering monitoring criteria related to eight structural dimensions of the conceptual scheme. It is observed that the SEPM in Mexico has increased since the year 2000, the scale has been local, the land tenure dominant of social property, the regional scope, and has been more applied to the forest, water and agroforestry socio-ecosystems. The sepm has great potential for decisionmaking at different organizational levels, especially when it is implemented in an integrated manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of the technical complexity required for the design of environmental policies, we ask: What are the factors that influence the role of experts and the use of their knowledge in the design of an environmental policy? How is the political and economic context linked to the role of experts? We distinguish between two types of experts (proactive and advisory) and depart from the working hypothesis that experts will be more proactive in contexts of greater economic-environmental conflict over land uses and greater political plurality. To answer our questions, we compare the application of the National Law on Native Forests in the Argentine provinces of Formosa, Mendoza, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego between 2008 and 2012. Our findings show that experts play a proactive role in contexts of greater economic-environmental conflict but not necessarily in contexts of greater political plurality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to answer the following question: why do grassroots organizations (gros) have different incidence on public policies in spite of claiming for the same environmental justice problem? This inquiry arises concerning four cases with varied incidence on waste policies carried out by gros that demand the closure of sanitary landfills in the same territory, the Metropolitan Region of Buenos Aires. The data collection techniques were in-depth interviews, documentary analysis and media analysis. The results highlight the incidence variation depends on the types of strategic alliances that gros have in each case. The main contribution of this work is to deepen on the study of the grassroots organizations and its effects on public policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the regulation for carbon dioxide emissions and their equivalence in terms of fuel efficiency standards applicable to light vehicles in Mexico, as a policy instrument with flexibility to maximize welfare while minimizing social costs. According to the economic theory, a Pigovian tax is the instrument that best internalizes negative externalities. However, its application in Mexico has proven lack of political feasibility and has faced difficulties in its implementation. Following the principles of modern regulation in developed countries, Mexico issued a regulation in 2013 with efficiency standards for automobiles, characterized by permit transfers among industries and a credit system that promote the adoption of more efficient technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public policies formulated to confront the ecological and social equity crises of development have had little impact. Recently, several disciplines have converged on the socioecosystem (ses) concept as an ideal theoretical framework for managing integrated social and natural systems for their sustainable development, and its rapid incorporation into environmental public policy is sought. A consultation was undertaken to gauge the expert opinion of Mexico's federal environment sector officials with regard to the ses approach and its potential as a new basis for public policy. The results demonstrate that although the experts are unfamiliar with the ses approach, they value the policy attributes which characterize it, indicating that if these were fully incorporated into current policies, they could help correct their deficiencies. A majority of experts consider the more integral ses approach offers advantages, and it is concluded that these key actors are receptive to the approach and its possible adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the concept of environmental policy integration, qualitative expert interview and participative mapping, this paper focuses on the causes and consequences of environmental impacts on mangroves triggered by ill-coordinated public policies at México's southern Pacific coast. In this context, we identified not only the specific measures applied by governmental institutions and their impacts, but also other crucial political, socioeconomic, and environmental factors, which determined the scale and spatial extension of ecosystem degradation. As a result, public policies lacking environmental integration, particularly stream straightening and incentives to promote the production of biofuel made form African oil palms, were the decisive triggers, but not the sole agents of mangroves' degradation. The scale and spatial extension of observed impacts rather depend on multiply factors, not necessarily related to public policies. Moreover, an explicitly spatial dimension to the qualitative results is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work analyzes the operation rules of eight environmental public policy programs applied in the conservation land of Mexico City in order to demonstrate the contradictions that they present, and thus to verify that there is institutional dysfunctionality, which can lead to potential environmental impact. The analytical framework is institutional analysis and development, and methodologically, it uses three stages: a) revision of the operation rules, b) the presentation of analysis criteria with assigned ranges, and c) the construction of multidimensional graphs; showing the index of institutional dysfunctionality in a horizontal and vertical way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article introduces the concept of green tax reforms ("reforma fiscal ambiental") and examines its pertinence for the region, based on the analysis of the opportunities and difficulties for implementing those reforms in two essential public services: the provision of electric power and urban public transportation. Those services are analyzed in their specificities but are considered illustrative of more general situations. After a conventional analysis of objectives and instruments, it is shown that the markets are interdependent and that environmental goals are cross-cutting. From those methodological principles, the shortcomings of the public policies conceived like parallel and autonomous channels become more obvious. Although there seem to be spaces for fiscal innovations with environmental objectives, the paper analyzes the distribution and the competitiveness challenges, and the political economy and institutionalist issues; the results make possible to situate the energy and public transportation agendas in a more general and productive context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research contributes to the study of industrial groups and their influence on the environmental regulation in Mexico. Polluting industries have incentives to influence and avoid inspection and verification visits of the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa). Through principal component analysis, it is defined the potential ability to influence of 62 manufacturing industries, based on their organizational structures and power resources. A model is estimated to determine what are the effects of trade links, production, potential ability to influence, and inspection priority for the Profepa, in the visits of the Profepa. The results indicate that the level of production, and the inspection priority for the Profepa determine the inspections; whereas level of priority determines the verification visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes steps towards environmental policy integration (EPI) in Mexico, with special emphasis in agricultural policy. So far, the country has mostly used communicative instruments to reach this aim. Semi-structured interviews with high-ranking officials from the ministries of Agriculture and of the Environment show that even though these measures break ground for public servants with the will to implement the principle of EPI in policy towards the countryside, they fail to make environmentally friendly policies mandatory. Yet, recent efforts to achieve this have attained some success. It remains to be seen if they are preserved and further enhanced by the next administrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework is proposed for evaluating the effectiveness and results of recovery programs for species at risk of extinction. The proposal is based on analysis of a Mexican governmental program that implemented 14 recovery projects over a period of ten years, revision of eleven projects from a subsequent program, participatory observation and analysis of similar programs in other countries. The proposed framework is suitable for addressing the M&E needs of the current species at risk recovery projects in Mexico. Criteria and indicators are proposed that address ecological, management and socioeconomic aspects explicit within the conservation and management actions prescribed in the recovery projects. M&E activities involve the participation of several social sectors that collaborate in conservation initiatives. Indicators were standardized in order that the information obtained, analyzed and compared can be integrated into an environmental information system for the management of species at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work a revision of the acceptation process of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at international and national level, as an indispensable tool of the environmental public policy directed to the implementation of the principles of sustainability is present and stands out the importance and the complex problematic of the construction of environmental indicators during this process. Methodologically, the work is based on the documentary investigation and the accomplishment of the consultations with the specialists and the authorities in the matter, including the organization of one workshop. From what a state of art and with posterior discussion of advances and limitations of the EIA process and of environmental indicators consider in Mexico and for the case study of the Federal District. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of sustainable development as objective represents a global issue for developing countries and international organizations. In this new context, ensuring that environmental considerations are integrated into the development planning is being promoted strongly, as well as approaches adapted to implement these strategic interventions that are complementary to the environmental impact assessment (EIA). This article advocates the adoption of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a practical mechanism to make it operational environmental sustainability. It analyzes the current status of the development planning process and the EIA as a baseline for the proposed implementation of SEA in Mexico. Finally, the article proposes the reform of the General Law of Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection to add the SEA as a tool of preventive environmental policy to assess the environmental impact of certain sectoral, regional, institutional and special programs referred in the Act Planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasingly evident deterioration of public health due to atmospheric pollution has forced governments to design and implement diverse policies for the control of air pollutants. Relying on quantitative methods, we investigate the effectiveness of intergovernmental policies for the abatement of air pollution in four metropolitan areas (Guadalajara, Monterrey, Valle de Mexico, and Valle de Toluca) over a ten year period. Our statistical analysis shows that, when observed concurrently, the efforts of these governments to reduce the concentrations of sulphur and nitrogen dioxids have been effective only partially. In the cases of Guadalajara and Monterrey, our qualitative analysis reveals that specific characteristics of these policies (the degree of participation of industries and municipal governments) and the existence of international commercial liaisons (export-oriented industries tend to adopt environmental-friendly policies) explain, to a large extent, the evolution of the concentration of pollutants in each city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]