Integral Peasant Land-Use Planning: A Method for Strengthening Local Institutions for Community-Based Management of Natural Resources

Abstract

"The Program for Peasant Management of Natural Resources and Agrofood Systems is carried out by the Group for Environmental Studies, the peasant organization SSS Sanzekan Tinemi and 19 communities which have jointly implemented a long-term intervention model for advancing towards the restoration and sustainable management of natural resources in one of MexicoÃ?ÂŽs most marginated regions. One of the main objectives is facilitating community based integral land- use planning processes in each one of the communities involved. It is based on the strengthening of local natural and social resources, and includes basic research, peasant experimentation and exchange of experiences, land use planning at community, watershed and regional levels. A permanent effort that spans over 10 years, resulting in learning, training and building social and technological alternatives as a result of a constant dialogue between all involved: Indian and peasant communities, technicians, public servers, foundations, etc. The idea is that strengthening the capacities of regional organizations, community institutions and peasant families to plan increases their capacity for control and sustainable management of their land and natural resources. Cartography is used as the physical basis for planning. Water is the central axis for planning and micro-watershed delimitation allows to concentrate work until it is restored and then to move on to another. While there is a vision of what is desired in the long run, every year a new annual plan is drawn up. In this process, each community has a document with a short, medium and long term plan. In some cases, these documents are being used as a tool for negotiating with government representatives for funding to be alloted to these plans. In a country where communities are normally not consulted this can be an important asset."