Fondo Mexicano Para La Conservacion De La Naturaleza AC

What it reported doing in 2024

Conservation: we promote the integrity of ecosystems and their ecological processes. FMCN invests in maintaining Mexico's biodiversity, which is its natural wealth. Biodiversity allows the integrity of ecosystems, whose processes provide environmental services that make life possible, including that of human beings. In 2024, the project Biodiversity Conservation in the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Gulf of Mexico (Sierra y Mar) continued to fund priority conservation activities and supported planning in 14 protected areas (PAs). It also enhanced PA operations through the installation of radio communication equipment and acquisition of technology, which enabled rangers to improve biological monitoring and engagement with local communities. In addition, the project supported the implementation of Integrated Watershed Management Action Plans (PAMICs, acronym in Spanish) aimed at conserving biodiversity, mitigating climate change, promoting sustainable use of natural resources, and restoring ecosystem functionality and services in four watersheds. The Calakmul Conservation Fund continued providing payments for environmental services to the ejidos (a communal land ownership system created following the Mexican Revolution) of Pustunich and Yohaltun, located in the buffer zone of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. CONAFOR's co-financing program enabled increased support. In addition, Amigos de Calakmul provided technical assistance and ongoing forest cover monitoring in these ejidos. Participating communities increased their patrols and forest protection efforts to safeguard ecosystem integrity. Data analyzed in 2024 showed that vegetation cover has remained stable. The Endangered Species Conservation Fund (FONCER, in Spanish) supports the conservation of at-risk species and their habitats in and around PAs. The Species Commission, responsible for its oversight, develops strategies to optimize the use of FONCER resources in support of emblematic species protection. The Protected Areas Fund (FANP, acronym in Spanish) in collaboration with CONANP, local communities, grassroots organizations, and more than 25 donors, has become a leading conservation mechanism for natural resources and ecosystem services in Mexico, 27 years after its creation. In 2024, FANP supported strategic planning in seven PAs and channeled resources from the emergency fund to assist community brigades in responding to 33 wildfires and other environmental emergencies, in coordination with CONAFOR. With 28 years of operation, FANP has provided funding to 70 terrestrial and marine PAs, covering 54% of the country's decreed terrestrial area and 34% of the marine territory. The Fire Management and Restoration Fund (FOMAFUR, in Spanish) supported nine local organizations to strengthen their capacity in fire prevention, fire management, and restoration of affected areas, in collaboration with CONANP and CONAFOR. These organizations trained and equipped community brigades made up of CONANP staff, who played a key role in fire prevention and response, trail rehabilitation, and patrols in high-risk areas. One of the main achievements of the Monarch Butterfly Fund, with 24 years of operation, has been reducing deforestation in the core zone of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (RBMM, acronym in Spanish). This success reflects the synergy among government agencies, civil society organizations, and forest-owning communities. In recognition of this collective effort, the government of the state of Michoacan made a financial contribution to this endowment fund, reinforcing long-term economic support for forest landowners who carry out conservation actions and ensure forest cover is maintained in the core zones of the RBMM. The Monte Mojino Fund provided payments for environmental services, including matching contributions from CONAFOR to the La Guasima ejido in southern Sinaloa. Thanks to this, forest owners restored and conserved ecosystem services across more than 2,000 hec

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 92%; rating input score 92
• Fundraising efficiency: $42.25 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Limited
  • Conducts field audits: Limited
  • May suspend future funding: Limited
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Limited
  • Requires grant agreements: Pass
  • May require repayment: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 67.2%; rating input score 98; 98th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 11.79; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 97; 97th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.6%; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.1% per year; rating input score 100; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6% per year; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.9% per year; rating input score 100; 35th percentile among comparable filings