Vinculando ciencia y política pública la ley de aguas nacionales desde las perspectivas sistémica y de servicios ecosistémicos

From a theoretical model integrated by the socioecological systems and ecosystem services approaches, we discuss the relations between science and public policy in Mexico. Through the study of Mexico’s main water resource management instrument, the National Waters Law, we underline the progressive efforts made to integrate a range of scientific knowledge into public policy-making processes. However, both public policy-making and the generation of regulatory frameworks do not always evolve at the same rate as science, and vice versa. The challenge is how institutions and governmental authorities adapt at the same time as the production of scientific knowledge progresses. Public policy design and formulation need to be adapted in tandem with science itself.