Social Perceptions of Environmental Changes and Local Development within the Usumacinta River Basin

Abstract

The transboundaryriver basin of the Usumacinta is facing a growing number of environmental and socioeconomic changes in recent years. Regarding the wealth of natural resources it contains, this watershed has a high development potential. However, the local populations remain among the poorest in Mexico and Guatemala and furthermore their lives are profoundly weakened by environmental degradation. Being excluded from any development intervention, the local communities have chosen the path of mobilization to ensure themselves better living conditions and call attention to the natural and cultural heritage of the Usumacinta river basin. Social perceptions of environmental change and expectations of local people in terms of local development are examined by using mixed methods. The results highlight the failure of the traditional approaches of conservation and local development. This article puts forth a reconsidered concept of sustainable development by taking into account the dimension of culture and makes an effort of contextualization to address the socio-economic and environmental problems.