Generating intelligence for decision making and sustainable use of natural capital in Mexico

We describe the concept underlying the creation of CONABIO, its nature, and aspects of its philosophy, operation and results in almost a quarter of a century of its existence. CONABIO is a Mexican interministerial governmental organization that has compiled, with the participation of an interdisciplinary group constituted by hundreds of academics, NGO and governmental officers, the largest and most complete database on the biodiversity of any country (9.6 million specimens, all taxonomically vouched by specialists and accurately geo-referenced) housed under a single institutional roof. Such database has become the backbone for the programs and projects of the institution, and is publically available to be used for decision-making and resource management at all levels, ranging from local to national. The challenges faced to bring CONABIO to its current status, along with examples of projects undertaken in partnership with local communities are described and discussed in this paper, as a means to showcase the potential of this and other similar efforts to contribute to sustainability.