Abstract

TORRE, Jorge  and  FERNANDEZ RIVERA-MELO, Francisco. Do no Harm: An Analysis of the Interventions of an Environmental Civil Society in Coastal Communities of Northwestern, Mexico. Relac. Estud. hist. soc. [online]. 2018, vol.39, n.153, pp.69-97. ISSN 2448-7554.  https://doi.org/10.24901/rehs.v39i153.391.

The first part of this essay describes the settings of fisheries and civil society organizations (CSO, one type of NGO) in Mexico in the early 21st century. The second presents a comparative analysis, from the so-called “Do no Harm” perspective, of five interventions carried out by a CSO to achieve the establishment of fully-protected marine reserves in northwestern Mexico. The role of CSOS identified as environmentalist has changed significantly in the last decade, as they work to achieve a balance among environmental health, socioeconomic well-being and good governance. One of the main pitfalls into which CSOS tend to stumble occurs when they cease to listen to the voices of communities and adopt paternalistic attitudes that, while perhaps noble, may cause projects to fail. In the words of one fisherman: “their heart wins, not their head”.

Keywords : coastal communities; NGO; government; fisheries; marine reserves.

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