Water Scarcity and Agricultural and Conservation Policies: Old and New Challenges for Mexican Smallholder Maize Production in the Protected Forests of the Mexico-Guatemala Border

Agricultural and climate policies, not conservation priorities, are the dominant drivers of smallholder maize production changes in Calakmul, Mexico. Despite slightly positive rainfall trends, increased intensity and delayed onset of precipitation events, coupled with shifting agricultural policies, have led to intensified production on smaller areas, shorter fallow periods, and greater reliance on subsidies and inputs. The study, based on 40 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and quantitative precipitation analysis, reveals that successful conservation measures in this UNESCO World Heritage Site must align with agricultural and climate change policies to effectively address water scarcity challenges.

Jiménez, S. S. M., Schmook, B., Olmedo, S. N., Christman, Z., Radel, C., & Bautista, B. d. l. B. (2020). Water Scarcity and Agricultural and Conservation Policies: Old and New Challenges for Mexican Smallholder Maize Production in the Protected Forests of the Mexico-Guatemala Border. Journal of Latin American Geography, 19(3), 112–132. https://doi.org/10.1353/lag.2020.0073