In Mexico, over 53%% of the forests are owned by local communities - either ejidos or indigenous communities (Reyes et al., Although ownership of forests was legally transferred to rural communities long ago, establishing rights-based land tenure policies, including agrarian reform laws and recognition of indigenous peoples’ territories, would provide a sounder basis for conservation and sustainable use of forests and biodiversity. At the same time, opportunities should be sought to reflect the value of ecosystem services and environmental externalities in the pricing system, particularly for those sections of the population that can afford to pay.