Marismas Nacionales Biosphere Reserve is one of the youngest protected areas in Mexico (established in 2010). Most of its territory is under either communitarian, “ejidal”, or private ownership, rather than federal control. This has compelled CONANP to take a different approach when working with communities in order to adapt to climate change from an ecosystem-based perspective. The reserve and its communities are under threat from hurricanes, phenomena that cause losses of mangrove ecosystems and fish nurseries. It also suffers of changes in rainfall patterns, which cause economic losses in productive activities such as oyster and shrimp production, and agriculture. These threats are increased due to climate change, making the reserve more vulnerable. When the reserve was established, there was a lot of community opposition to make changes on its productive practices. CONANP embarked on a long-term strategy for influencing local perception by awareness raising, capacity development and continuous technical and moral support, rather than solely on financial support linked to payments for ecosystem services or subsidies. The intention was that communities would change because they believed in the ecological and long-term value of livelihoods and their work, not just because they were paid for it. CONANP has provided more opportunities for the local communities by implementing flexible policies about the use of mangroves. This has allowed the community to adopt a range of secondary productive activities based on the sustainable use of the mangrove ecosystems, which function as buffers when climate threats affect fisheries. This has also led to a reduction in conflicts and a greater community appreciation of the value of the ecosystems in which they live. As a result, local fishing communities have been responsible, with CONANP’s support, for rehabilitating local mangroves, leading to a win-win for both biodiversity and livelihoods.