Dissonant Views of Socioecological Problems: Local Perspectives and Conservation Policies in Xochimilco, Mexico

A critical gap exists between conservation policies and local community perspectives in Xochimilco, Mexico's urban wetland. Policies, often designed without sufficient input from those directly dependent on the ecosystem, oversimplify complex socioecological issues, ignoring urgent processes linked to wetland degradation. This study highlights how governmental programmes exacerbate social asymmetries by failing to address local concerns effectively. Through interviews with local inhabitants, officials, and NGOs, alongside a review of conservation policies since 1989, researchers underscore the need for transdisciplinary, participatory approaches that integrate all stakeholders—particularly those reliant on ecosystems—to improve policy success.

Zambrano, L., Rubio, M., & Figueroa, F. (2020). Dissonant Views of Socioecological Problems: Local Perspectives and Conservation Policies in Xochimilco, Mexico. Conservation and Society, 18(3), 207. https://doi.org/10.4103/cs.cs_19_72