SMA PROGRAMS: Biocultural Conservation:
Biocultural Mapping

In 2002, SMA sponsored the first community bioculturalmapping project in the Sierra Tarahumara region in Pino Gordo. Four indigenous mapping technicians (IMTs) were trained in mapping methodology and spent three months mapping 29,000 hectares of canyons and forests in the Sierra. The Tarahumara then solicited CONANP to establish a Protected Area for flora and Fauna for protection of 12,000 hectares of remaining old growth forests in Pino Gordo under indigenous management. The area is under de facto protection by SMA sponsored legal and political processes. However, recognition of this protected area is suspended pending the outcome of local land conflicts (see Indigenous Rights Program).

In the long term, conservation depends on the effectiveness of community planning and organization.

In 2006, a similar mapping program was initiated in 15 Tarahumara and Tepehuan communities with support from SMA and CESTAC.  48 Tarahumara were initially trained in mapping techniques, and provided base satellite images of their territory, tools, and modest financial support to begin mapping their natural resource and land base. Mapping progressed with significant results in ten communities and ejidos in 2006.

What is Biocultural Mapping?

Biocultural Mapping, sometimes referred to as Indigenous Vision Mapping, is a practical tool for helping indigenous communities to plan conservation and restoration of their lands and forested watersheds. It is a participatory tool for developing a common vision, setting objectives, and planning community conservation actions.  The people develop their own maps and interpret them as a community. The information, some of which is sacred, is managed by community consent.  CESTAC trains local conservation assistants named by the traditional governors, monitors the progress, and captures the results on digital geographic systems to provide a permanent record for local and regional conservation planning and education.

Tarahumara and Tepehuan are mapping their watersheds, roads, trails, rancherias, vegetation types, fire affected areas, areas of cultural importance, springs, cienegas, hunting and fishing areas, areas of importance for threatened medicinal plant species. These maps help them to define conservation priorities, propose protected areas and restoration zones, and monitor long term impacts on their lands.  Traditional names and ecological knowledge are recorded for community use.

Mapping is just one of the stages in the process of Biocultural Community Land Use and Conservation Planning initiating in these ejidos. The overall strategy of SMA and CESTAC is to plan separately with the indigenous pueblos and with the ejido assemblies as the indigenous members of the ejidos are unable to participate effectively in seminars with the more educated, affluent, and aggressive mestizos.  There are many areas of common ground between the pueblos and ejidos such as restoration of soils and watersheds, stopping illegal logging, investment in better services and sustainable development, and in some cases protection of endangered species and habitats.

Community Organizing has Many Benefits

Many ejiditarios and most indigenous are also concerned about the overall impact of both illegal and legal logging. In time, ejidos, under a better organized indigenous majority can transform to certified sustainable forestry, declare protected areas, and gain certification as community reserves by CONANP.

In the long term, conservation depends on the effectiveness of community planning and organization.  In workshops, representatives from the 15 indigenous pueblos involved in the projects and other indigenous leaders have stated that indigenous organization is their number one priority.  They are most worried about the devastating impacts of both illegal and permissible logging on their watersheds, wildlife, subsistence economy, and traditional way of life.

A few communities such as Pino Gordo and Coloradas de la Virgen have effectively organized to halt illegal logging, mismanagement of their forests, and theft of their lands, but these are small minority in the Sierra. The Tarahumara and Tepehuan are a majority in the 55 ejidos and comunidades in the Sierra Tarahumara region. It is a challenge for them to develop the organizational capacity, skills, and courage to enable their majority voice to incorporate their values into forest management.

The indigenous people of the Sierra also face tremendous problems in preserving their cultural heritage, language and traditional knowledge of the flora, fauna, and traditions that they believe sustain the balance between man and nature in the Sierra. Mapping and the accompanying databases help preserve this knowledge to be used in continuous educational and planning processes in their communities.

The indigenous people of the Sierra face tremendous problems in preserving their cultural heritage, language and traditional knowledge.

The ejidos are mostly controlled by a minority of mestizos, logging truck owners and drivers, timber contractors, ranchers, and other forest workers. Most ejidos lack educated leaders or individuals with the integrity and ability to administer the ejido forest enterprise. Lacking just and capable leadership, the ejidos are subject to every form of internal and external manipulation, illegal logging remains common, existing logging contracts result in millions of pesos in profits leaving the region annually from each ejido. Aggression, threats, violence and a general cultural of impunity protect this system.

Under these conditions, the challenges for the indigenous majority are tremendous.  However, with careful planning, well organized indigenous groups can and will continue to make progress.  Indigenous-led advances under dangerously complex conditions of San Carlos, Choreachi/Pino Gordo, Samachique and Coloradas de la Virgen provide examples and inspiration for other pueblos.