Landscape conformation and use of natural resources by Mayan communities at La Montaña, Campeche

This manuscript provides a landscape history analysis for the region of La Montaña, located at the municipality of Hopelchen of the state Campeche, Mexico. The information was obtained through a literature review on historic sources and complemented with information provided by the local inhabitants...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Porter Bolland, Luciana, Sánchez González, María Consuelo, Ellis, Edward Alan
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2009
País:México
Institución:UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO
Repositorio:Investigaciones Geográficas
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/17982
Acceso en línea:https://www.investigacionesgeograficas.unam.mx/index.php/rig/article/view/17982
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Landscape history
Mayan forest
land use land cover change
La Montaña
Campeche
natural resources management
Historia del paisaje
selva maya
cambio de uso del suelo
la montaña
manejo de recursos naturales
Descripción
Sumario:This manuscript provides a landscape history analysis for the region of La Montaña, located at the municipality of Hopelchen of the state Campeche, Mexico. The information was obtained through a literature review on historic sources and complemented with information provided by the local inhabitants. Also, a characterization is provided regarding the population’s current situation, including their productive systems. This region is comprised of eight ejidos whose Mayan population has a history of land use of at least 3 000 years. The structure and composition of the landscape has been molded by natural and social factors. Changes in population densities and internal migration have occurred constantly. Current history indicates that the fluctuating population has varied from 14 400 inhabitants in 1860 to less than 5 000 in 2005. In spite of today’s low population densities, recent productive activities are turning to be more agricultural oriented, modifying the structure and composition at the landscape level. Investment in the region is needed both, in economic terms and for strengthening social capital in order to promote productive activities that are ecological and socially sound, improving the welfare of local inhabitants without compromising its natural resources. The acceptance of this Mayan territory should be consensual, as one in which local inhabitants have the right to actively participate in development processes and not merely as cheap manual labor.