Linking social–ecological knowledge with rural communities in Mexico: lessons and challenges toward sustainability

Abstract

Citation: Castillo, A., J. H. Vega-Rivera, M. P erez-Escobedo, G. Romo-D ıaz, G. L opez-Carapia, and B. Ayala-Orozco. 2018. Linking social-ecological knowledge with rural communities in Mexico: lessons and challenges toward sustainability. Ecosphere 9(10):Abstract. For decades, ecologists have stressed the need to establish and strengthen the exchange of knowledge between scientists and different stakeholders in order to construct better management practices that mitigate or provide solutions to environmental problems. Using a framework that links knowledge generation with social appropriation processes, we present an 18 yr' experience of social-ecological research and outreach activities carried out in a place where scientists have generated a great amount of knowledge: the Chamela Biological Research Station. This site was created in 1971 as a place for research, teaching, and to conserve tropical dry forests in Mexico, and it has played a relevant role in the advancement of tropical science as well as in undergraduate and graduate education. For many years, researchers and students from Mexico and many other countries have used the facility that is part of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Here, we measured the extent to which social-ecological knowledge responds to information needs of rural people and found that very little of it has been shared with the local inhabitants. Local needs regarding pasture and forest management are covered by local people's own knowledge. In order to help bridging the gap between social-ecological knowledge and rural inhabitants, we describe and evaluate ongoing communication and educational projects. We propose a model that shows how knowledge generation, exchange, and use processes can be linked to facilitate the work of scientists and their institutions. Our aim is that the experience contributes to promote and strengthen linkage processes between scientists and rural people around the world in order to better transit toward sustainable social-ecological systems.

Evaluating Socio-Ecological Interactions for the Management of Protected Urban Green Spaces

“…Even though the reserve operates under specific guidelines that are part of the internal regulations of the Technical Committee of the Ecological Reserve of Pedregal de San Ángel (Gaceta UNAM, 2006), it lacks institutionalization processes for scientific knowledge. There is no liaison group or committee that functions as organizer and facilitator with capacities of linking the great amount of scientific information accumulated about social-ecological systems to the operational groups as well as to other researchers and the general public (Castillo et al, 2018).…”

La selva tropical y los servicios ecosistémicos que brinda. Percepciones de una comunidad maya del sur de Yucatán, México

“…Los habitantes reconocen que la selva les brinda beneficios relacionados con la alimentación, la construcción, la purificación del aire, la regulación de la temperatura y el oxígeno. La frecuencia de visita a la selva y los recursos disponibles son factores que influyen en la percepción de los servicios ecosistémicos (Castillo et al, 2018). La manera en la cual se perciben los servicios puede variar de acuerdo con el lugar de residencia.…”

The social component of social-ecological research: moving from the periphery to the center

“…This includes, but is not limited to how they will share the results of the study, in a language and format that is accessible to the community. This is a task that researchers should be able and willing to carry out (Castillo et al 2018).…”

“…A good way to move toward collaborative SES research is to view the scientific practice not only in charge of knowledge generation, but to locate it within a framework that connects knowledge construction with its communication and use (Beal et al 1986, Castillo et al 2005, 2018. It is necessary to view these processes as forming part of the same system where scientists, as well as a variety of actual and potential stakeholders work together in close communication (Walters 1998), establishing a clear pathway from problem identification and the establishment of research questions and agendas.…”