Communities Depend Upon Coastal Resources

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

This is a study of how social and economic factors influence perceptions and uses of coastal resources in the village of Mahahual, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Understanding relationships between socioeconomic factors and activities that negatively affect the environment is useful in managing natural resources because it can help identify root causes of environmental degradation , and allow these factors to be incorporated into an integrated management program. There is considerable literature supporting the theory that social and economic factors influence resource use on community, national, or regional levels Stonich, 1992; Galvez et al., 1989; White, 1994; Pauly, 1990; McManus et al. 1992. However, the precise nature of these relationships, particularly within Mexico, is not well understood on a household level. Much of the socioeconomic data in Mexico are compiled by independent researchers and Non-Governmental Organizations NGOs, and have yet to be applied to resource management personal communication. Dr. C. Dyer, 300. The supposition of this research is that the various ways in which people perceive and use coastal resources are dependent upon socioeconomic variables including wealth, education, migration, age, and coastal residency. To determine which socioeconomic variables are most influential, this study examines relationships between household socioeconomic characteristics and the ways in which people perceive and use coastal resources. This information is then incorporated into a resource management context by recommending interventions that address the underlying factors behind resource degradation.

1.1 Communities Depend Upon Coastal Resources

The coastal environment of the Mexican State of Quintana Roo figure 1.1 supports considerable tourism and fishery industries, upon which many residents depend for income andor subsistence. Quintana Roo’s diverse coastal environment is characterized by world famous tourist beaches such as Cancun and Cozumel, prolific mangroves in the Esprito Santo and Ascencion Bays, and part of the second largest coral reef system in the world, the Meso-American Barrier Reef. Though all of Quintana Roo’s coastal ecosystems are of great economic and social importance, coral reefs, in particular, are crucial because they protect the coastline against hurricane damage and beach erosion, sustain subsistence and commercial fisheries, provide sand for beaches, and create recreational opportunities such as scuba diving. The social and economic base of many communities within Quintana Roo has evolved to depend, at least in part, upon the beauty and bounty of coral reef systems. In southern Quintana Roo, communities utilize a variety of methods to exploit their surrounding resources Basurto, 1996, 1997. However, some activities, including fishing, farming, and tourism, can alter the delicate balance of coral reefs Jennings and Polunin, 1997; Pauly, 1990; Ruddle, 1996; Dalzel, 1996; Veitayaki et al., 1995. The nature and intensity of some activities can compromise the very habitat that both animals and humans depend upon for continuation of their livelihood. Unfortunately, instituting changes in resource use practices which are harmful to coral 2 reefs and other coastal resources is often difficult because the various ways in which people utilize their natural resources is invariably related to a multitude of social, cultural, and economic factors Nazarea et al., 1998; Stonich, 1992; Galvez et al., 1989; White, 1994; Pauly, 1990. Figure 1.1. Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula USA Mexico Beliz G l Pacific Ocean At lantic Oce an Q u in t an a R o o Y u cat an C am p ech e B el ize M e x ic o G u ate m a la Yucatan Campeche Quintana Roo Mexico Guatemala Belize Caribbean Sea Cancun Cozumel Tulum Bahia D e La Ascension Bahia D el E spiritu Santu Costa M aya Mahahual Chetumal 30 0 30 60 90 Kilometers N Quintana Roo, Mexico Produced by Joshua Cinner. 2000. Source: ESRI

1.2 Perceptions About Resources Can Influence the Ways in Which Resources