Social reproduction strategies and climate change in communal lands in the Sierra Nevada of Puebla, Mexico

Abstract

Objectives: To understand the socio-demographics of ejido communities in the Sierra Nevada region of Puebla, Mexico, their social reproduction strategies within domestic units, their perception of climate change and its impact, and their interest in training on the subject.

Methodology: A questionnaire was administered to a probabilistic sample of 334 ejidatarios from ten ejidos in the municipalities of Calpan, Chiautzingo, San Nicolás de los Ranchos, and San Salvador El Verde; 16.2% of the ejidatarios in the sample were women and 83.8% were men.

Results: Of the 334 ejidatarios in the sample, 70% were between 46 and 75 years old and 97% declared they knew how to read and write. Their social reproduction strategies are agriculture (55.7%), selling labor force (23.7%), housewifery (9.3%), commerce (4.5%), and other activities (6.8%). Such diversification is associated with the impacts of climate change on agricultural production. In terms of land, 71% is owned by the ejidatarios, themselves, with 65% having a working area of 1-2 ha. A percentage as high as 89.8% of ejidatarios have heard about climate change, with 93.4% indicating personal and domestic unit affectations; 99.4% identified climate transformations, and 88.6% declared interest in training on the subject.

Study implications: Participants in the study showed motivation to learn about five thematic axes of climate change, fostering a commitment to continue producing collaborative knowledge and designing strategies to enhance the adaptation strategies of ejidos in the region.

Conclusions: There was consensus among participants on the perception of climate change and its effects. Climate change requires them to strengthen and develop adaptation strategies applicable to reproduction strategies. To do so, they need access to training and participation in the production of collaborative knowledge on the subject in the region.