Course:CONS370/Projects/Indigenous community forest management in Chiapas State, Mexico

From UBC Wiki

Chiapas is a state located in southern Mexico right next to the border of Guatemala. Chiapas has a large expanse of tropical rainforests that are home to thousands of animal and plant species as well as a large indigenous population. Indigenous communities of Chiapas play an important role in the forest management system of the region. Community forests in Chiapas ensure that the land is used communally and guarantee indigenous rights to use wood resources and practice agricultural activities. Indigenous knowledge of successional pathways which underlie their agriculture might hold the key to re-establishment of forest on land that is now being degraded by logging and cattle. In fact, importance of indigenous participation on nature conservation and management have been acknowledged by multiple international organizations. It is expected that understanding their traditional forestry practices will help solving the global deforestation issues as well as species management in tropical forests.

Description

The map of Mexico, in the southern portion of North America include the state of Chiapas borders Guatemala, Gulf of Tehuantepec, and the Pacific Ocean

Located in southern Mexico, the southern portion of North America, the state of Chiapas borders Guatemala, Gulf of Tehuantepec, and the Pacific Ocean[1]. Historically, Chiapas takes its name from a Náhuatl word meaning “the place where the chia sage grows” [2]. The state has the eighth largest surface area in Mexico, with a surface area of 74,415 square kilometres located in the Earth’s tropical belt. While sitting in the tropical belt, the climate of Chiapas is mostly influenced by the distinct elevations ranging from sea level to 4,080 meters within the state [2]. Therefore, many different climatic zones are found in Chiapas. For instance, when the temperatures in the lower land are warm to hot all year round, the average temperature in the highlands is very temperate, or even cool, fluctuating between 50 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit [2]. There are seven distinct geographical areas in Chiapas state: the Pacific Coast Plains, the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, the Central Depression, the Central Highlands, the Eastern Mountains, the Northern Mountains, and the Gulf Coast Plains. Because of its distinct landscapes and climatic features, Chiapas is also well known for its diverse natural resources. Being one of the most environmentally diverse regions of Mexico, almost the entire state is covered by forests, including Mexico's largest rain forest, Lacondón rainforest. in the east, mid and high altitude rainforests, temperate deciduous forests, coniferous forests, and several tropical montane forests on the Chiapas Highlands[3] [1]. As a culturally rich state, Chiapas is home to a large number of indigenous people, and 25 percent of its population speak Mayan or related languages [1]. The residents in the study areas are people from different indigenous groups, and they participate in multiple forestry and agroforestry activities in their community forests, such as the Lacandon Maya indigenous group in the Lacondón rainforest and Huistan and Chanal people in the Highlands of Chiapas.

Tenure arrangements

The forest in Chiapas, Mexico

Most of the forest lands in indigenous community forests in Chiapas, Mexico, are under legal tenures though there are ambiguities within the definitions. In many cases, different indigenous groups hold the communal tenure of their community forests in the state of Chiapas. However, several types of property types can be found within Chiapas forests, including the ejido and private[4] [5]. Ejido is a structure created by the Mexican government after the 1910 revolution to ensure that poor peasants had secure tenure to their lands. In 1992, the Constitution was modified for legalizing the sale of some percentage of ejido lands [4]. Ejido is the dominant property type in indigenous community forests in Chiapas, while 54% of Mexican land is under ejidos. For instance, the indigenous population in La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve, Palma Real, and Juznajab use the ejido system. Although ejidos are held communally, in real cases, they mix communal lands and private property[6]. However, two-thirds of ejidos are used communally, and only one-third corresponds to private ownership [4]. In an ejido structure, there are two kinds of dwellers: ejidatarios who own the land with full access to the community’s assembly, and pobladores who have no land tenure rights; the land tenure from an ejidatario is inherited [4]. In other words, the tenure rights of the ejidatario do not expire. On many occasions, pobladores are the labour forces for harvesting and clearing ejidatarios’ lands [7]. However, even the indigenous farmers in Chiapas have land tenures; the laws only guarantee their rights to use the land and its wood resource; they have no legal right to access and use other resources, such as water, animals, fish, minerals, etc[8].

Administrative arrangements

Community of Amador Hernandez-Chiapas, Mexico. Photo: Langelle

The indigenous community forests in Chiapas, Mexico, are under land tenures, and more specifically, communal land tenures. Most of the members in each indigenous group have the right to use the lands owned by the community. For instance, community members of the Lacandon Maya forest have the right to practice agriculture activities on their lands[9] . Since 1992, indigenous people in Chiapas inherit land ownership through the ejido system under the Constitution, in which ejidatarios own the land indefinitely unless they sell the land to pobladores[4]. In the ejido system, ejidatarios have full rights in the community’s assembly, and they are responsible for decision-making processes regarding the management of the common land; the pobladores, though can participate in some management activities, do not have the right to make decisions [4]. However, even there are laws for indigenous people’s land rights, their rights are very limited; they have no jurisdiction over other resources in their land, including wildlife and water, since they only have the rights to use the land [8]. The federal government of Mexico owns other natural resources on their land [8]. Therefore, when making decisions regards natural resources, the federal government is the authority.  

Affected Stakeholders

Government

The Mexican state government is an affected stakeholder with the most power and authority. Noting that Mexico has became one of the most influential world leaders in community managed forest corresponding to timber production as commercial product, it is clear that economy plays a significant role in the government perspective[10]. Since the 1910 revolution, the ownership of the land has shifted from private to state, the state has ownership of the ejidos[4]. Furthermore, the resources on the communal lands are also owned by the government. Federal government maintain management right of forest area [11]. Although local communities often attain communal tenure, they only attain possession over the forest [11].

Timber company (Large corporation)

According to constitutional Article 27 raised from the 1992 Forestry Law and the north American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), forest land become communal land, but this measure encourages local community to joint venture, hence lead to the capitalization of timber production[12]. This phenomenon provides that partnership eventually lead to the shift to privatization and increases profit[12]. At the same time, the power of private sector has increased by a lot which take up most of the production[12]. Timber company usually assign timber extraction oriented (TEO) actors to ensure a maximized logging potential, so as to maximize profit[13]. The objective of timber company is profit maximization instead of create a long-term sustainable environment for logging[13].

Local community (Indigenous farmer)

Indigenous people generally hope to attain their ultimate right to the land where they are born, however, they only attain possession of the forest[11]. Even though they uphold most of the forest land, ownership and management right, their right attained are often restricted[14][12]. Power this factor obtain can be considered least among these three main factors. To be specific, they are the only actor who have the intention to create a quality forest where resources could be extracted in a long-term with conservation[13].

Interested Outside Stakeholders

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) logo,

International sector (United Nation Human Rights Committee)

The United Nation Human Rights Committee (UNHCR) suggested under the article 28 of the Covenant that all member in the committee must be "persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights" and with "consideration given to the usefulness of the participation of some persons having legal experience"[15]. As Mexico is a member of the committee, they have the obligation to fulfill the responsibility as a member, the UNHCR can therefore monitor any practices violate the covenants. For instance, on December 12, 2019, some groups of the indigenous peoples of Chiapas report the federal government's constructions of megaprojects without consultation[16]. When the UNHCR starts negotiating with the countries about certain issues and no changes are made, there may be further negotiation or expressions of regret from UNHCR to the corresponding countries.

International sector (United Nation Environment Programme)

Similar to UNHCR, the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) also recognizes the significance of indigenous participation in different perspective. The UNEP values indigenous knowledge in conservation and their contribution to sustainable ecosystem development[17]. More specifically, according to UNDP, indigenous peoples are being recognized that they are allowed to participate in decision-making, consent and planning and implementation for initiative affecting their culture, right, vision and priority[17]. When regulations are violated, punishment may be applied.

Success and failures of the community forestry in Chiapas

Invasive species control in degraded tropical rain forest

Balsa tree

Lacandon people, indigenous people of the tropical forest areas of Chiapas, effectively control Bracken fern by using traditional weeding techniques. Bracken fern is an invasive species of the tropical forest that was introduced by large-scale and permanent forest clearance due to road constructions and influx immigrants. It has rapid regrowth and spread pathogens on other plants[18]. Lacandon people heavily rely on the long-term fallow period, which provide sophisticated knowledge of forest dynamics. Using the knowledge of forest dynamics, they can actively direct and accelerate succession to enhance production and recover the depleted soil [18]. They achieved restoration by promoting the establishment of Balsa, which is a evergreen sub canopy tree that can grow on shallow and infertile soils where other tree species have difficulty establishing [18]. Balsa has successfully shortened the fallow period and prevent invasion of aggressive light-demanding weeds and improved soil quality of the forest.

Restoration of soil fertility

Milpa stage in the jungle of Chiapas - first planting year after cutting a new swatch

Lacandon people have effectively restored and conserved the rainforest using their traditional agroforestry system. Their knowledge on the nature's abilities to fulfill the needs for forest restoration by certain species can help inhibit degradation of soil. Lacandon management system cycles involve three stages - millpa, acahual (low secondary forestry) and then tall secondary forest before returning to milpa [19]. Milpa represents early successional grasses, acahual is the shrub or early woody stage, and the forest represents the climax stage[19]. Lacandon people can restore soil fertility and reiterate secondary forest by selecting certain species for plant management. Other trees are removed during mild and fallow stages, while the species selected by the Lacandon are cultivated or left in the fallow[19]. Lacandon can also save time by having higher productivity of secondary vegetation. Previous studies done on Indigenous forestry by Lacandon people argue that management techniques of Lacandon that allow simultaneous restoration of soil fertility and productivity could reduce deforestation throughout the world [19].

Challenges to community-based forestry exist in Chiapas

Some of the most important failures of community forestry in Chiapas are closely related to social structure and security on communal resource management and economic status of the region. Juznajab and Palma Real are two communities with contrasting historical development in Chiapas, Mexico. Although they are both rural communities located in Chiapas, Juznajab has a higher population density but a lower marginalization and lower proportion of people being indigenous[20]. Differences are primarily due to inequitable historical development during agrarian reform, which caused variation in the pattern of distribution of both land and resources [20]. In Juznajab, land-holders have multiple land-use alternatives available including combinations of forestry, agriculture and livestock[20]. In contrast, land-use options are restricted in Palma Real; most areas were pasture with scattered pine trees with compacted soil and heavy grazing. Limited animal species and few livelihood alternatives resulted in exclusion from the mainstream land reform[20]. As a result, Juznajab can invest more time and effort on future forest management with less economic pressure, while Palma Real cannot help continue to suffering from lack of resources and finances.

Assessment of the relative power of stakeholders

Indigenous people

Accelerating forest loss and ecological decline have led to great threats on the viability of the indigenous peoples. Proportion of indigenous people in Chiapas' population is now becoming more rare, and majority of them live in rural areas. Mayan Indians including Txeltal, Txotzil, Tojolabla, Chol and Lacandon have migrated to all parts of the state [21]. Due to the population displacement of indigenous people, only a small part of Chiapas Indigenous population still lives by subsistence farming. Majority of the Indigenous People are now in agricultural labor force, and the forest land is currently being cleared for cash cropping at a rate that the remaining primary forest lands are predicted to be obliterated by the end of this century[21].

Government

State government has administered national park and ecological reserves in response to growing concerns on the loss of Chiapas' remaining wild lands by national and international groups. However, not many of them have successfully incorporated the rural population [21]. The state's emphasis has been on the protection of critical habitat for endangered species, and as a result, they have tried to minimize human presence within the reserves. In addition, the federal and state government plan very large-scale agricultural development on the coastal plain, which involves a flood control and drainage project financed by the World Bank[21]. It is expected that hydrological change would affect the local population's livelihood in the region.

Recommendations

The province of Chiapas has developed a lot slower than the rest of the country, as a result, having a sustainable environment in Chiapas is essential to its development. And the development in ecological, social and economic sectors are in urgent need for the general development in the area[22]. Suggestions to improve community forestry practices concerns mostly on abandoning previous non ecological practices and keeping analyzed methods that are beneficial to environmental sustainability along with economic goal attained and socio-cultural factors being considered.

Avoiding traditional non-ecological and non-economical agroforestry practices

The Slash and Burn technique in Madagascar.

Slash-and-burn to permanent fertilized agriculture is one of the most common traditional agroforestry practice in the Juznajab community, which is part of the Chiapas community. It is revealed that seedling growth during the year after slash-and-burn present an increase in seedling canopy[23]. However, there is a carbon cost of consuming this method to maintain the rooting system. In fact, after a few years of the slash-and-burn practice, the species growth in the area reduce drastically, indicating that this practice is not viable in a long term[23]. As a result, further slash-and-burn practice is not recommended. Another practice that is not recommended is the application of Maize crop. Although this practice is suggested to attain environmental sustainability, it is often not recommended to used as forest conservation practice due to its overall economic value[24]. Maize crop associate to better tree quality, timber volume, and market value, but it shows a lower number of saplings and small trees, hence might not be sustainable and reveals high production costs[24].

Traditional Agroforestry management in indigenous community which are economically and ecologically viable

Consuming organic gardening, pest control with weed and promoting biodiversity through traditional plant management is one of the traditional agroforestry management currently being used by some communities with successful outcome[24]. In Lacandon, indigenous people traditionally do not use fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides, providing dynamic indicators of environmental conditions when analyzing soil ecology in the Lacandon system[24]. It is indicated that the non-traditional methods have more plant parasites in all successive stages. With the Lacondon management system, pest are controlled through effective weeding[24]. In addition, biodiversity is promoted through selection of species and managing the natural succession of forest stages.

Nevertheless, Milpa rotational system, shaded coffee plantation, improved fallow associated with trees are being proved economically and environmentally viable for sustainable forestry[24]. Indigenous farmers from Chol and Tseltal Mayan ethic group established the milpa rotational system which delineate the practice of abandonment of the land after 5 years and eventually produce secondary succession that increase land and labor value[24]. From Pinto's study, shaded coffee and improved fallow result in higher tree densities and a closer canopy condition which maximize the logging potential[24].

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Chiapas". Encyclopædia Britannica. April 11, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Shepard, W (December 29, 2012). "Chiapas, Mexico Geography". vagabondjourney.com. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  3. ↑ Cayuela, L.; Benayas, J. M. R.; Echeverría, C. (2006). Clearance and fragmentation of tropical montane forests in the highlands of chiapas, mexico. Netherlands: Elsevier. pp. 208–218.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 García-Amado, L.; Pérez, M.; Iniesta-Arandia, I.; Dahringer, G.; Reyes, F.; Barrasa, S. "Building ties: Social capital network analysis of a forest community in a biosphere reserve in Chiapas, Mexico". jstor.org. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  5. ↑ Hellier, A.; Newton, A. C.; Gaona, S. O. (1999). Use of indigenous knowledge for rapidly assessing trends in biodiversity: A case study from chiapas, mexico. Switzerland: Springer Nature. pp. 869–889.
  6. ↑ Haenn, N. (2006). The changing and enduring ejido: A state and regional examination of mexico's land tenure counter-reforms. Land use Policy. Elsevier. pp. 136–146.
  7. ↑ Buck, L. E.; Geisler, C. C; Schelhas, J.; Wollenberg, E. (2001). "Biological diversity: balancing interests through adaptive collaborative management". CRC Press.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Ochoa-gaona, S. (2001). Traditional land-use systems and patterns of forest fragmentation in the highlands of chiapas, mexico. Environmental Management. Springer Nature. pp. 571–86.
  9. ↑ Diemont, S.A.W.; Martin; J.F. (2005). Management impacts on the trophic diversity of nematode communities in an indigenous agroforestry system of Chiapas, Mexico. Springer. pp. 325–334. ISBN 978-3-319-69370-5.
  10. ↑ "Mexico Law & Regulations". FOREST LEGALITY INITIATIVE. 2016.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Boyer, Christopher R. (2015). Political Landscapes:Forests, Conservation, and Community in Mexico. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-082-2375876.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 D. B., Bray; N. B., Wexler (1996). "Forest Policies in Mexico" (PDF). ME Sharpe: 217–228.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Barsimantov, James A. (2010). "Vicious and Virtuous Cycles and the Role of External Non-government Actors in Community Forestry in Oaxaca and Michoacán, Mexico". Human Ecology. 38: 49–63.
  14. ↑ Rodriguez, Heriberto Rodriguez. Local and National Policies: Framing Rights and Incentives for Forest Management. World bank.
  15. ↑ McGoldrick, Dominic (1991). "The Human Rights Committee : its role in the development of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights". Oxford University Press.
  16. ↑ "Indigenous people in chiapas report mega-projects to UN without consultation". CE Noticias Financieras. December 12, 2019.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Major Groups Facilitating Committee (MGFC). "Indigenous peoples and their communities". UNEP - UN Environment Programme.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Douterlungne, D. "Applying Indigenous Knowledge to the Restoration of Degraded Tropical Rain Forest Clearings Dominated by Bracken Fern". Restoration Ecology. 18: 322–329.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Diemont, S.A. (2006). "Lacandon Maya forest management: Restoration of soil fertility using native tree species". Ecological Engineering. 28: 205–212.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Tracey, K. "The Potential for Community-Based Forest Management in Chiapas, Mexico". Journal of Sustainable Forestry. 9: 169–191.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Cloud, John (1985). "Forest Resources and Rural Populations in Chiapas". Cultural survival.
  22. ↑ Konstant, Tracey L. (1999). "The Potential for Community-Based Forest Management in Chiapas, Mexico, Journal of Sustainable Forestry". Journal of Sustainable Forestry. 9: 169–191.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Miller, P. M.; Kauffman, J. B. (2006). "Seedling and Sprout Response to Slash-and-Burn Agriculture in a Tropical Deciduous Forest". Wiley Online Library. 30.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 24.7 Pinto, Lorena Soto; Martinez, Manuel Anzueto; Zurimendi, Pablo Martinez; Jimenez-Ferrer, Guillermo (2017). "Tree quality in agroforestry systems managed by small-scale mayan farmers in chiapas, mexico". Smal-Scale forestry. 16: 103–118.


Seekiefer (Pinus halepensis) 9months-fromtop.jpg
 This conservation resource was created by Shihan Zhang. It has been viewed over {{#googleanalyticsmetrics: metric=pageviews|page=Course:CONS370/Projects/Indigenous community forest management in Chiapas State, Mexico|startDate=2006-01-01|endDate=2020-08-21}} times.It is shared under a CC-BY 4.0 International License.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.ubc.ca/index.php?title=Course:CONS370/Projects/Indigenous_community_forest_management_in_Chiapas_State,_Mexico&oldid=712204"