Community Environmental Leadership and Sustainability: Building Knowledge from the Local Level

Concepción Rojas Casarrubias, José Luis Aparicio López (), Columba Rodríguez Alviso, Mirna Castro Bello and Salvador Villerías Salinas
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Concepción Rojas Casarrubias: Regional Center for Higher Education Campus Costa Chica, Autonomous University of Guerrero, Florencio Villarreal 41800, Mexico
José Luis Aparicio López: Center for Regional Development Sciences, Autonomous University of Guerrero, Acapulco 39640, Mexico
Columba Rodríguez Alviso: Center for Regional Development Sciences, Autonomous University of Guerrero, Acapulco 39640, Mexico
Mirna Castro Bello: Technological Institute of Chilpancingo, National Technological Institute of Mexico, Chilpancingo de los Bravo 39390, Mexico
Salvador Villerías Salinas: Center for Research and Graduate Studies in Socioterritorial Studies, Autonomous University of Guerrero, Acapulco 39090, Mexico

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: The objective of this study was to document an experience of training community environmental leaders in the context of sustainable development in localities surrounding the Chautengo Lagoon, Guerrero, Mexico. Specifically, we explored the epistemological, theoretical, deontological, and pedagogical–didactic components that must be considered when designing a training process for community environmental leaders in rural contexts. A mixed, descriptive, transversal approach was used to articulate scientific knowledge with local knowledge. Twelve semi-structured interviews identified potential environmental leaders, while nineteen surveys assessed training needs. Subsequently, a tailored capacity-building program was designed, implemented, and evaluated, which assessed empirical knowledge of communities and sustainable practices. A total of 19 leaders with organizational and mobilization skills were trained, successfully engaging 1500 people in an environmental cleanup campaign. The program covered key topics such as sustainable development management, environmental education for sustainability, and local governance, resulting in the formation of an environmental advocacy committee. Participants rated the program positively for its design (90%), content, materials, facilitator performance (71%), and duration (67%). This study contributes to the understanding of community environmental leadership in Latin America highlighting the value of local knowledge as a tool for environmental governance and sustainable social change. Our findings suggest that strengthening community leadership with participatory methodologies can improve environmental awareness, community resilience, and long-term ecological conservation. The program can be replicated in vulnerable communities in other contexts and positively impact local governance.

Keywords: education for sustainability; community environmental leadership; sustainable development; local knowledge; Latin American community empowerment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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