Land use changes and transnational migration in western MexicoPhD researcher: Silvia Hostettler

(EPFL/ENAC/INTER/LaSUR)

PhD supervisors: Dr. Jean-Claude Bolay (EPFL)Prof. Hans Hurni (University of

Berne)

1) Conceptual framework

2) Research

3) Provisional results

4) Conclusion

1) Conceptual framework: Human-nature

interaction model

Model taken from « A review and assessment of land-use change models: Dynamics of space, time and human choice » CIPEC, 2002.

2) Research

Objective

This research project aims to find out (1) which land use changes have taken place in the municipality of Autlán and (2) what are the underlying driving forces.

Questions

1) What are the land use changes in one municipality in the watershed over the last 20 years?2) What are the main driving forces of these land use changes?3) What is the influence of remittances on land use changes?4) How are the municipalities implementing ecological land use planning?

Methodology

1) Qualitative (semi-structured interviews) with key persons and quantitative (survey in 3 case study areas)

2) Land use/land cover classification based on satellite image analysis (IDRISI and ArcView 3.2)

3) Review of secondary literature and maps.

Study area: Municipality of Autlán, western Mexico (927km2)

Legend: Composite RGB of Landsat bands 432 of the year 2000. In this picture red areas show irrigated agricultural fields and forest.

Circles represent case study areas; yellow circles indicate communities (El Jalocote, Chiquihuitlán, Mezquitán, El Volantín, Chacalito) and green circles private landowners (Rancho Noria, Rancho La Lima, Rancho Tecomatlán).

3.) Provisional results - PhD research

3.1 What are the land use changes in one municipality in the watershed over the last 20 years?

Rural context: - Land use change from rainfed maize to cultivation of agave azul for the production of tequila.- Land cover change from forest to agriculture and pasture.

Urban and peri-urban context:- Urban land cover has increased 12 times between 1966 and 2004. Next step: Quantification of changes based on classified satellite images.

3) Provisional results – PhD research

3.2 What are the main driving forces of these land use changes?- Economic - Environmental - Political and institutional - Demography

3.3 What is the influence of remittances on land use changes?- Remittances are predominantly used for subsistence and improving housing.- 60 % of all households have, or had, a family member in migration in the USA

- On average, remittances represent 46% of total household income.

« Tienen dinero porque tienen familia en el Norte »

(Ejidataria, 81 years old, interview in El Jalocote, 22 March 2004)

3.4 How are the municipalities implementing ecological land use planning?It is not being implemented. Corruption, an ineffective legal frameworkand insufficient financial and human resources hinder the implementation of effective land use policies.

3) Provisional results

At the level of Key Issue 4: What are the effects of urban-rural interactions on natural resource management?

Urban-rural interactions: flows of people, goods/services, finances and information

Different interactions have different effects on natural resource management.

3) Provisional results

At the level of the resesarch project: What are the concrete effects of rural and urban development policies on natural resource management?

- Rural development: Subsidies can drive deforestation and expansion of agave cultivation (e.g. PROCAMPO)

- Urban context: The failure to implement urban development plans leads to urban encroachment on agricultural land and on protected areas.

3) Provisional resultsAt the level of the research project: What are the core problems [related to urbanisation and natural resource management]?

Political & institutional4. Inadequate legal framework and regulations, lack of enforcement and means. (>50%) 7. Unequal distribution of power and resources, corruption. (>50%)

Socio-cultural & economic8. Social, cultural and ethnic tensions and insecurity. (>50%) 9. Prevalence of crime, violence and violent conflicts. (>80%)10. Unused or restricted innovative capacities and knowledge (>80%)11. Great socio-economic and gender disparaties. (>50%) 12. Incompatible and fragile economic systems with limited market and employment opportunities. (>50%)

Population & livelihood15. Poverty and livelihood insecurity. (>80%)17. Population pressure and multidimensional migration. (>50%)

Infrastructure and land use19. Poor water supply and environmental sanitation. (>50%)

Bio-physical & ecological25. Inadequate availability of freshwater. (>50%) 26. Degradatation of land, soil and vegetation cover. (>50%) 27. Degradation of forests and other natural habitats.(>80%)28. Pollution and overuse of renewable and non-renewable natural resources. (>50%) 29. Loss of biological and agrobiological diversity. (>50%) 30. Risks of natural and human induced hazards and climate change. (>80%)

3) Provisional results

At the level of IP5: Social practices and the transformation of space.According to the current definition as used by IP5, the practise of sending remittances can be considered a social practice.

Remittances can transform space into « remittances landscapes ». The following definition has been developed: « An emergent landscape that is driven by the investment of remittances ».

In a rural context:- From an agricultural to a periurban landscape - From a forested to a pastoral landscape

In an urban, peri-urban context:- Construction of houses driving urban expansion.- Migrants opening businesses transforming residential into commercial areas.

4) Conclusions

1. The concept of social practices needs a clearer definition.

2. Land use/cover changes seem to be driven more by the dynamics at play between the different driving forces than by one specific driving force.

3. International migration is an important livelihood strategy in the region. Roughly 50% of all families depend on remittances for subsistence.

4. Remittances can transform space into « remittances landscapes ». A remittances landscape is defined as « An emergent landscape that is driven by the investment of remittances ».