 |
Center Doctoral Fellows Release Report
on Eco-Tourism in Jalcomulco, Mexico
Center Doctoral Fellows Christine Cooper (Economics),
Jay Hasbrouck (Anthropology), Juliettte Finzi (Marine
Biology) and Vincent Todd (Earth Sciences), have released
their report on eco-tourism and sustainability in the
town of Jalcomulco, Mexico. Jalcomulco is a town with
a population of less than 3000 situated in the river
basin of the Rio de los Pescados in the Mexican gulf
state of Veracruz. Traditionally a rural economy, the
town is now presented with an opportunity to develop
and participate in the benefits of adventure tourism.
The promotion of Jalcomulco as a center of tourism offers
the population a livelihood diversification strategy
and the potential to increase economic sustainability.
Rather than depend only on the attraction of the river,
however, options are being explored to promote rural
tourism, drawing tourists to learn about indigenous
agricultural practices and to enjoy the region for its
rural charm and slow-pace of life as a departure from
urban stress.
The report, A Case Study of Sustainability: Jalcomulco,
Verzacruz, describes a major plan (Proyecto Jalcomulco)
for the town’s development prepared by a team
of researchers from the University of Veracruz, and
evaluates its potential to promote ecological sustainability.
Perceptions of tourism and environment from interviews
with people in the town are also presented, along with
a survey conducted with local school children. One conclusion
is that a sustainable tourism program at the local preparatory
school gives Jalcomulco a significant head start in
developing sustainable tourism. Another is that while
the Proyecto Jalcomulco proposal contains many of the
components necessary in developing sustainable tourism,
some components need further development.
In terms of economic sustainability, the larger issues
of macroeconomic policy, land tenure reform and structural
reprioritizing in Mexico represent fundamental shifts
in how economic activity is motivated and organized.
This environment affects decisions made at each societal
level and establishes a framework within which daily
coordination and governance decisions are made. The
report examines the socioeconomic conditions in Jalcomulco
in the context of the town’s ability to exploit
livelihood diversification opportunities in the presence
of sustainability challenges, finding that while the
effects of economic liberalization and land tenure changes
have not yet benefited the township (or ejido), tourism
has improved incomes, provided employment opportunities
and drawn a range of outside influences to the town.
Moreover, the transfer of business skills, of specific
job skills and of differing worldviews are altering
the lives of the local residents and indeed offer significant
livelihood diversification. Nevertheless, ongoing land
use conflicts are straining social cohesion, and represent
a challenge that remains unresolved.
Turning to social sustainability in Jalcomulco the
report considers a range of factors including social
inclusion, equity, mobility, cohesion, participation,
empowerment and cultural identity. The analytical approach
in the study of social sustainability combines elements
of political ecology, cultural landscape theory, and
discourse analysis. Conclusions are drawn from ethnographic
data gathered in the field, primarily in the form of
informal interviews.
Lastly, the report offers a bottom-up calculation
method to elucidate average town and per capita ecological
footprints for Jalcomulco residents. A small sample
of businesses is also examined in order to determine
their impact on the local environment relative to the
town. While the ecological footprint is a relatively
broad indicator, some general recommendations are made
based on it and other observations made throughout the
study.
For a copy of the report, please click
here.
back
to publications
back to top |
