Nature-Based Solutions for Conservation and Food Sovereignty in Indigenous Communities of Oaxaca

Marco Aurelio Acevedo-Ortiz (), Gema Lugo-Espinosa, Yolanda Donají Ortiz-Hernández (), Rafael Pérez-Pacheco, Fernando Elí Ortiz-Hernández, Sabino Honorio Martínez-Tomás and María Elena Tavera-Cortés
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Marco Aurelio Acevedo-Ortiz: Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán 71230, Mexico
Gema Lugo-Espinosa: Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán 71230, Mexico
Yolanda Donají Ortiz-Hernández: Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán 71230, Mexico
Rafael Pérez-Pacheco: Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán 71230, Mexico
Fernando Elí Ortiz-Hernández: Instituto Politécnico Nacional, ESIME Culhuacán, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04440, Mexico
Sabino Honorio Martínez-Tomás: Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán 71230, Mexico
María Elena Tavera-Cortés: Instituto Politécnico Nacional, UPIICSA, Granjas Mexico, Ciudad de México 08400, Mexico

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-18

Abstract: The increasing demand for food and the overexploitation of natural resources rapidly deplete the planet’s ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Nature-based solutions effectively promote agricultural sustainability and environmental conservation but require continuous financial and political support to overcome existing barriers. This research examines these solutions’ effectiveness in Santa María Jacatepec, a biocultural region of Indigenous peoples in the Papaloapan Basin, Oaxaca, Mexico. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative analyses uses National Institute of Statistics and Geography data to evaluate socioeconomic and environmental indicators. The results indicate that despite pressures to develop cattle ranching, communities have maintained rain-fed agriculture, especially the milpa system, ensuring food sovereignty and preserving agricultural biodiversity. Additionally, implementation of Voluntarily Conserved Areas has facilitated access to payments for environmental services, incentivizing ecosystem protection. However, financial and structural challenges persist, limiting the expansion of these solutions. Santa María Jacatepec exemplifies how Indigenous communities can apply nature-based solutions to strengthen agricultural sustainability and environmental conservation. Integrating traditional knowledge and strengthening conservation policies can enhance community resilience and ensure sustainable development amid increasing pressure on natural ecosystems.

Keywords: nature-based solutions; agricultural sustainability; conservation; biocultural diversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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