Beyond participation: How to achieve the recognition of local communities' value-systems in conservation? Some insights from Mexico
Por:
Guibrunet, Louise, Gerritsen P.R.W., Sierra-Huelsz J.A., Flores-Díaz A.C., Garcia-Frapolli, Eduardo, Garcia-Serrano, Eligio, Pascual, Unai, Balvanera, Patricia
Publicada:
1 jun 2021
Categoría:
Ecology, evolution, behavior and systematics
Resumen:
In this article, we explore why conservation schemes that have positive
outcomes through the participation of local communities cannot
necessarily be deemed as just. We observe that recognition (understood
as inclusion and respect) of local communities' value-systems, a key
factor towards environmental justice, is not often achieved in
conservation governance.
We build our argument on the authors' extensive research on four Mexican
forest areas and contrast our insights with the literature on
environmental justice and conservation. All four cases are characterised
by positive conservation outcomes as well as the inclusion of local
communities in conservation governance, and as such are typically
considered best-practice conservation initiatives in Mexico. Yet, in all
cases, our engagement with local community members leads us to believe
that their value-systems fail to be recognised in conservation
governance.
Three main factors appear to hinder recognition: (a) the dominant
knowledge-system underpinning conservation action prevails in legal
frameworks; (b) financial resources heavily determine power relations in
decision-making, and (c) a lack of sensitiveness to local cultural norms
affects local stakeholders' capacity to communicate with external actors
that design and implement conservation action.
We conclude that achieving meaningful recognition of local communities'
value-systems requires: (a) developing awareness of the structural
political and economic factors impacting on decision-making in
conservation, and (b) an epistemological transformation, permeating
conservation governance, in which local communities' value-systems are
considered one of various legitimate knowledge-systems.
A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting
Information of this article.
Filiaciones:
Guibrunet, Louise:
Instituto de Geografía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico
Gerritsen P.R.W.:
Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Centro Universitario de la Costa Sur, Universidad de Guadalajara, Autlán de Navarro, Mexico
Sierra-Huelsz J.A.:
People and Plants International, Bristol, VT, United States
Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales, Universidad Veracruzana, Zona Centro, Veracruz, Mexico
Flores-Díaz A.C.:
Centro Transdisciplinar Universitario para la Sustentabilidad, Universidad Iberoamericana, Lomas de Santa Fe, Mexico
Garcia-Frapolli, Eduardo:
Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico
Garcia-Serrano, Eligio:
Fondo Monarca, Zitácuaro, Mexico
Pascual, Unai:
Basque Center for Climate Change (BC3), Scientific Campus of the University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Balvanera, Patricia:
Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico
Unidad Académica De Estudios Territoriales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma De México, Oaxaca, Mexico
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