Ecology and Society (Sep 2019)
Natural resources knowledge socialization in Yucatan, Mexico: promoting a mutually beneficial society-nature relationship
Abstract
Members of the San Crisanto Ejido in Yucatan, Mexico, have developed a kind of harmonious society-nature relationship. Socialization at the family level is instrumental to fomenting this relationship. We developed a conceptual framework from a human ecology perspective to describe and analyze the natural resources knowledge acquisition process and thus better understand the complexities behind this relationship. Research was conducted with 35 ejido members, who collectively own and manage 1420 ha of natural areas. In-depth interviews were done with the families of four members, i.e., four ejido founders, four wives, and four sons who were also ejidatarios (12 participants in total). A genealogy, participant observation, and content analysis were applied to identify backgrounds and trends in their collective answers. When participants were children, they learned about natural resources within a psycho-sociocultural context. This context allowed them to internalize traits of Maya culture through family knowledge, collective beliefs, and practices related to natural resources management, creating their own governance model. They consequently developed capabilities that enabled them to participate and function in a broader social environment and in decision making about natural resources. Participants incorporated cultural capital, which allowed them to continue acquiring knowledge and capabilities from nature and their productive activities, and to pursue the kind of life they desired using the natural resources in their surroundings. Knowledge of their natural heritage also helped them to continue caring for the ecosystem they depend on, maintaining and improving the conditions of the surrounding environment, their well-being and enjoying their nature-society relationship while having the kind of life they desire.
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