Livestock in the sustainability of changing livelihoods in high mountain communities in a Natural Protected Area in Central Mexico

Abstract

Objective: Livelihoods of communities within the high mountain Natural Protected Area for Flora and Fauna ‘Nevado de Toluca’ (NPAFFNT) in the central highlands of Mexico have changed due to statuary limitations established in management program respect to agro-silvopastoral activities.  In these communities, the small scale farmers who still rely on livestock, mainly sheep production. There is no knowledge on the sustainability, strengths and weaknesses of these systems and the influence of seasons in this area of marked bioclimatic seasonality. Methodology: The IDEA method to assess sustainability was applied in a small village within NPAFFNT in the dry as in the rainy season. Results: Sustainability is limited by the economic scale while their main strengths were in the agroecological scale in both seasons. Indicators show deficiencies in farmer education, lack of technical assistance, poor local infrastructures, lack of access to institutional support programmes, and the revision of norms for the natural protected area. Conclusions and implications: Results are useful for improving the sustainability of these systems that may improve que quality of life of high-mountain communities and provide ecosystemic services relevant for society. Diversification of income sources are of needed given the limitations that the new statute create on livestock and agricultural activities. It is advisable to increase the educational level of the inhabitants and farmers receive specialized technical training in agricultural and sustainable  livestock production.