Revista Enfoques (Dec 2006)
Participación social y equidad del género en la gestión, usos y manejo integral y sustentable del agua en el Acuífero del Valle de Toluca
Abstract
The Aquifer of Toluca´s Valley provides fresh water to approximately 12 million people in the State of Mexico and Mexico City. This is the second largest urban concentration in the world, just after Tokio, Japan. It is one of the 653 over exploded aquifers in Mexico and it is in a critical situation due to an accelerated process of steadily diminution and pollution. These conditions generate a serious environmental problem associated to social, economical and political repercussions that obstruct regional sustainable development. To solve the water crisis it is necessary to invest important financial resources, technical assistance and political will, in order to develop integrated water resources management approaches. However, during the 4th World Water Forum, celebrated in Mexico City on March, 2006, it was pointed out that the most successful experiences to find solutions to the worsening water problems had involved social participation on planning integrated water management. This participation is being developed by local NGO´s and community organizers. The results are maximized when the gender approach is correctly applied during social participation on planning and execution of integrated water resources management. This article analyzes some experiences of social participation as a result of an international cooperation program performed by the governments of Mexico and Germany.
