A GIS- based approach for participatory decision making in Mexico: a case study in the Sierra De Manantlan biosphere reserve Land use planning were based in two approach, one proposed by local communities based in a traditional use of land for agriculture and grazing and a second approach based technical criteria for a sustainable management and conservation of natural resources (Fig. 2). Technical map were obtained overlaying with a GIS layer of soil, capability classes, vegetation, soil erosion risk, slope and Biosphere Reserve limits classification (core and buffer zones limits). Final landscape map will be done when technician and local communities trough participatory approach define the limits and the use of land over the territory of Zenzontla, process who is actually running. However, it is possible to see in both maps that in general there are similarity on both approaches that would facilitate the acceptance for both instances. Three classes were obtained for these land use planning, Zone for irrigation (actual and potential), Zone for agriculture and grazing for non-irrigated areas, and Zone for conservation, that include forest and riparian zones protection (Table 1). Discussion These are critical issues, particularly for areas such as Zenzontla, which is located in a zone with a high biological diversity, and that has been considered as a critical area for the conservation of endemic and threatened species of birds (Contreras-Martínez 1999). The ejido also encompasses a fair amount of tropical deciduous forest, a threatened type of vegetation at global level. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an appropriate way to utilize the resources in the area, in order to decrease deforestation and changes in the use of land. This approach should integrate not only the need for protecting critical areas of Zenzontla, but also the needs of local residents, who have expressed their wish to clear more forested areas to establish pasturelands for cattle grazing. This might aggravate the situation since the ejido could loose more forests and face severe environmental damage (i.e. soils) over the next few years. GIS and remote sensing played and important role defining the more adequate land use planning, accounting temporal and spatial analysis that would be difficult to do without this important tool. However, it is important to say that this geographic tools for natural resources management are still expensive for communities in developing countries and it is necessary to develop GIS software and strategies to increase its use for participatory decision planning process in developing countries.  Figure 1. Location of the Ejido Zenzontla and the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve.  Figure 2. Proposals of land use by Zenzontla residents (left) and researchers (rigth). Table 1. Actual and proposed zonification using technical approach
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