Biodiversity in the Dry Tropical Rainforest of Oaxaca: Community Efforts in Mascalco

June 9, 2025

By Rafael Paredes Montesinos and Luis Rojas Cruz

From the heart of the Mascalco Voluntarily Designated Conservation Area (ADVC) on the coast of Oaxaca, we want to share a few brief but powerful moments captured by the camera traps of our community monitoring program! These are small glimpses of the wildlife that inhabits this unique ecosystem—a vibrant mosaic of iconic, endemic, and endangered species.

This natural wonder is no accident. It’s the result of the tireless commitment of the communal lands of San Pedro Huamelula, who, in co-management with COSTASALVAJE and CONANP (the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas), work every day to maintain ecological balance and safeguard the integrity of their territory.

Conservation is not a one-person job. It is a shared effort among communities, government, and civil society. Together, we make it possible for the Mascalco Communal Reserve to serve as a refuge and a source of hope for biodiversity.

Protecting wildlife means not only caring for the species, but also recognizing the vital role of local communities—those who truly care for and defend our natural heritage. Through partnerships and co-management, we can ensure the ecological health of ecosystems as valuable as Oaxaca’s tropical dry forest, one of the most biologically rich regions in Mexico.