ABOUT THE SIERRA:
Political Ecology

The forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental and the people who live there have undergone a long history of exploitation with no end in sight. Displacement by mestizo settlers, mining, irresponsible and unsustainable logging, and recently drug trafficking and all its attendant social and economic ills, have damaged both the environment and the social fabric and created a formidable challenge to the region.

In this section, we present “The Political Ecology of Deforestation in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Chihuahua,” by Randall Gingrich, Executive Director of Sierra Madre Alliance. This document presents a detailed discussion of forest management issues with all their social and ecological ramifications. Here the impacts of existing policies are analyzed and models for grassroots development with community participation are suggested.

We also include "Statement of Samuel H. Hitt, Director of Forest Guardians," written by Randall W. Gingrich, International Director of Forest Guardians, before the U.S. House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs concerning Fiscal Year 1995 Appropriations for International Aid. This testimony documents the experience of the Sierra Madre Program in promoting community development and conservation in the Sierra and illustrates the important role played by nongovernmental organizations in bridging the gap between government agencies and communities in recipient nations.