Sustainability Assessment of Iguana Management Units in the Oaxaca Coast Region, Mexico

In order to assess the sustainability of management units, a multicriterial analysis can be applied, as an analytical, hierarchical, and technical process. This research was conducted to determine the environmental, socioeconomic, and legal sustainability indexes of wildlife conservation management units in the coastal region of Oaxaca. All wildlife conservation management units in the state of Oaxaca were visited, and those that were no longer in continuous operation or had ceased to operate were eliminated. Three units were evaluated: 1) CECOREI-UMAR, 2) CTENOSAURA PECTINATA, and 3) BARRA DEL POTRERO. Interviews were conducted with owners, workers, and legal and technical representatives. Fifteen criteria, 29 indicators, and 82 verifiers were evaluated, and framed within four headings: environmental, economic, social, and legal. The management units evaluated have the same sustainability (P>0.05): CECOREI-UMAR (1.2), CTENOSAURA PECTINATA (0.68), and BARRA DEL POTRERO (0.72). It is concluded that the management units comply with the operations and legal, social, and environmental indicators; however, the economic indicator must be addressed.