Social Perceptions of Rainforest and Climatic Change from Rural Communities in Southern Mexico

Abstract

Understanding social perceptions of rural communities is essential to construct public policy and management alternatives, not only to maintain natural ecosystems but also to deal with a changing environment due to climatic change. Because climate variability in Mexico has important socio-economic and environmental impacts, it is necessary to build capacities for adaptation. We describe social perceptions of three main local stakeholders (that is, farmers, elders, and local authorities), regarding their relationships with rainforest and local adaptation to climate change in eleven rural communities in Marqués de Comillas municipality, Chiapas, Southern Mexico. We based in a qualitative approach and used participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Even certain subtly variation among stakeholders, we recognized some underlying ideas behind perceptions. Rainforest is considered crucial to maintain human livelihoods and to mitigate climatic changes. They perceived changes in climate occurring in the region, such as raising temperature, unpredictable rainfall, and streams becoming dry. Local organization and government involved in managing rainforest or dealing with climatic changes are practically absent. This emphasizes the needs bring proper and reliable information to make decisions regarding rainforest use and management, but also to adapt to a changing climate. The loss of the collective character of the communities and, certain conflicts in public policies that mirrored in the coexistence of initiatives with contrasting objectives are proposed as particularly important for understanding the emergence of these perceptions. We proposed some recommendations to bolster regional capacities addressing climate change. Involving stakeholders such as governmental and non-governmental institutions is also imperative.