Rights, Pressures and Conservation in Forest Regions in Mexico: Conditions of Communities in Temperate Forest Regions of Mexico

Abstract

"For decades forests and forest policy have had an important place in public debates in Mexico. Among the urban population-–the vast majority of the country--it is generally thought that deforestation is intense and widespread all through National territory, collective property and rural poverty are often seen as the main Culp rights. Deforestation and forest deterioration are still frequent realities in many poor regions they cannot be properly understood through simple equations. Simplified perceptions of socio-environmental realities working as presumptions for public policies or as panaceas often misread local realities and let local needs unanswered. Based on the results of empirical research this paper presents some of the main demographic, social and economic characteristics of Mexican forest communities, the main tenure features, uses of the forests and their perception of forest pressures. Considering these conditions I reflect on the roll that communities play in the offer of forest eco-systemic services and on the characteristics of REDD related initiatives that may draw on communities strengths and would on its turn strengthen local capacities."