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Perceptions and sustainable actions under land degradation and climate change: the case of a remnant wetland in Mexico City

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Abstract

Negative impacts of environmental degradation and climate change are exacerbated when they co-occur in a single region, threatening people's way of life. In addition, historical and territorial processes generate a complex mosaic of interactions of residents and nonresidents, with a wide diversity of livelihoods. This generates a series of social, environmental and political conflicts in the territory. These conflicts have triggered an accelerated process of degradation, overexploitation and pressure on the Lacustrine Zone of Xochimilco (LZX). Therefore, research on how people’s opinions and perceptions into decisions could help to generate a baseline for further collaboration. We documented the perceptions of nonresidents that are involved in decision making in the LZX in terms of degradation and climate change impacts and their opinions on the actions that could help strengthen the resilience of this area. According to our results, environment and culture were the most relevant features of the LZX, while social and institutional features were the most problematic ones. Additionally, nonresident actors emphasized the tendency of the LZX to collapse, which could become even more likely due to the impacts of climate change. To address these problems, restoring the “chinampa” type of production and implementing alternative tourism were the most frequently proposed actions, while training, involving stakeholders, and strengthening governance were the most frequently proposed strategies.

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Acknowledgements

This research would not have been possible without the collaboration of each actor who answered the questionnaire and those who participated in the pilot test. We thank Cecilia Conde and Margarita Caso Chávez for the institutional (INECC) support. We also thank Pilar Balderas and M. Alicia del Carmen Lombardero Goldaracena, who facilitated contact with these key actors. The statistical analyzes were supported by María Regina Arroyo, whom we deeply appreciate her participation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consultor Independiente, Mexico City, Mexico

    Laura Gómez Aíza & Karina Ruíz Bedolla

  2. Universidad de Los Lagos, Centro i-mar, Camino a Chinquihue Km 6 Casilla 557, Puerto Montt, Región de Los Lagos, Chile

    Antonio M. Low-Pfeng

  3. Subsecretaría de Programas de Alcaldías y Reordenamiento de la Vía Pública, Secretaría de Gobierno de la Ciudad de México, Fernando de Alva Ixtlixochitl #185, Col Centro, Alcaldía Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, Mexico

    Laura M. L. Vallejos Escalona

  4. Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad (LANCIS), Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria Circuito exterior s/n anexo al Jardín Botánico Exterior, 06320, Mexico City, Mexico

    Paola Massyel García-Meneses

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  1. Laura Gómez Aíza
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Gómez Aíza, L., Ruíz Bedolla, K., Low-Pfeng, A.M. et al. Perceptions and sustainable actions under land degradation and climate change: the case of a remnant wetland in Mexico City. Environ Dev Sustain 23, 4984–5003 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00800-3

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