Luis Arturo Ávila Meléndez

EL FENÓMENO DE CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO EN LA PERCEPCIÓN DE LA COMUNIDAD INDÍGENA PURÉPECHA DEL MUNICIPIO DE CHILCHOTA, MICHOACÁN, MÉXICO

The aim of this research was to estimate the perception or knowledge about the phenomenon of climate change in the Purepecha’s indigenous population in the Municipality of Chilchota, Michoacan, Mexico. The latter, taking into account some adaptation mechanisms that the stakeholders may have, based on their current culture, traditions and knowledge. Different surveys were applied as a tool to obtain information. A total of 298 surveys were carried out and distributed in four communities of the municipality: Zopoco (49), Tanaquillo (50), Carapan (59), Ichan (37) and the municipal head Chilchota (103). Multivariate techniques were applied on the surveys to reduce the data structure into groups of variables. Results show that the indigenous population of the Chilchota municipality perceives local changes in the climate attributed to several anthropogenic actions developed in recent years (logging, trash burning, pollution, etc.). They do not associate such changes with the phenomenon of climate change. Agricultural planting schedules in the region have been adjusted as an adaptive measure to the perceived changes. These climate changes are consistent with the average annual temperature and precipitation behavior for the 1968-2007 periods. For this period the temperature showed an increase of 0.5 oC, meanwhile precipitation was reduced to 150 mm per year.

Historical Delineation of Landscape Units Using Physical Geographic Characteristics and Land Use/Cover Change

Abstract Landscape units are conceived as a part of the territory that share similar physical and geographic characteristics. Their delineation can contribute to identify the physical and social dynamics that emerge in the spatial environment and to propose strategies of planning and management of the territory. The main objective was to make a historical delineation of landscape units in the Duero river basin that demonstrate the dynamics of changes in the territory, the description of the actors involved, and the affectations in the natural and social environment. We analyzed the vegetation change and urban growth from 1983 to 2014, incorporating climatic, edaphic, and topographic variables. A Principal Component Analysis was performed with the information and results were used in Maximum Likelihood procedure to define different clusters based on environmental characteristics. We defined five categories from the Landsat images. Results showed landscape units with homogeneous environmental characteristics and some differences in the units’ delineation were mainly influenced by political and socioeconomic factors. Temporally there was an increased tendency of landscape units, three in 1983, nine in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2011, and eight in 2014. This increase resulted from territory fragmentation because of berries and avocado cultivars expansion over wooded area.

Comunidades indígenas: Entre la adaptación a alteraciones climáticas locales y el abandono de la agricultura

Se indagan las respuestas de comunidades campesinas indigenas a las variaciones climaticas locales a partir de un caso en Chilchota, Michoacan, Mexico. Es importante conocer los procesos emergentes que afectan la capacidad de producir parte de sus alimentos, en tanto que pueden elevar mas el contexto de vulnerabilidad de dichas comunidades. Se presentan siete tipos de adaptaciones de los campesinos, los factores que inciden en la capacidad adaptativa y las diferenciaciones socio-productivas de los agricultores. Se enfatiza la importancia de las relaciones historicas y politicas regionales que posibilitan o restringen la capacidad de adaptacion. Al mismo tiempo, se identifica el marco discursivo, proveniente del Estado y de agricultores capitalizados, que favorece la vision «moderna» de agro-negocios y contribuye a desestimar las respuestas colectivas basadas en saberes tradicionales y agroecologicos.