Intergenerational perceptions of the collective action challenges facing Mexican community forests
Por:
Jurjonas, Matthew, Perez, Leticia Merino, Robson, James, Noble, Alfredo Esteban Tadeo
Publicada:
1 nov 2023
Ahead of Print:
1 sep 2023
Resumen:
Rural commons globally are facing environmental, demographic, and
economic changes that challenge their sustainability. In addition,
political and regulatory burdens can complicate the running of communal
enterprises that provide income and livelihoods for community members,
young and old. When these challenges combine with the cultural changes
driven by globalization, youth in rural areas- especially those without
access to land-may look outside of their communities for opportunities.
The labor shortages and detachment from place that follow can undermine
local capacities to manage communal lands for natural resource-based
livelihoods. Researchers and NGOs that have studied and supported
community-based resource management, including community forest
enterprises (CFEs), argue that building community capacities and
improving access to markets are necessary for forest commons to be
sustainable. Yet, the role of young people in all of this remains
understudied, including how their perceptions and motivations vis a vis
forest livelihoods and work compare to those of older members who enjoy
tenure rights and associated benefits. To help address this knowledge
gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with youth/young adults and
older rights-holders in communities in different regions of Mexico with
their own forestry enterprise, along with a small number of
non-community members working in or supporting the country's community
forestry sector. We found that youth held a degree of attachment to
traditional rural life, but perceived limited economic opportunities
locally, low and unstable incomes, and few retirement benefits
associated with forest work. This, along with the physical strain of
land-based livelihoods, a lack of access to credit, processing delays
for harvesting permits, and outdated logging equipment, contributed to
diminished interest in the forestry sector and enhanced motivations to
out-migrate. To cope with internal labor shortages, communities seek
labor from afar, offering short-term contractual wages, and lease land
and rights to outsiders. Such actions occur outside of federal commons
law, suggesting that the regulatory context in Mexico is out of step
with the emergent realities and needs of contemporary forest
communities.
Filiaciones:
Jurjonas, Matthew:
Univ Autonoma Mexico, Inst Invest Sociales, Mexico City, Mexico
124 Irolo Dept,401 Col Zacahuitzco, Mexico City 03350, Mexico
Perez, Leticia Merino:
Univ Autonoma Mexico, Inst Invest Sociales, Mexico City, Mexico
Robson, James:
Univ Saskatchewan, Sch Environm & Sustainabil SENS, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Noble, Alfredo Esteban Tadeo:
Colegio Posgrad, Sede Campeche, Mexico
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