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Abstract:
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Marginalized rural populations are the main actors in a growing multi -disciplinary effort to conserve some of the most biodiverse and culturally rich regions of the world . Within a context of greater political tensions and environmental worries on a global scale , alternative modes of development are drawing greater attention . Sustainable development , women in development and indigenous land use are all important issues in the rural landscape . This thesis examines these issues in the Felipe Carrillo Puerto (FCP ) ejido (communal land -holding ) community in Chemax , Yucatan , Mexico , which has been working in collaboration with a national non -governmental organization (NGO ) , Bioasesores , A .C . Focus is placed on the ‘Women’s Home Gardens Project .’ This new take on an old tradition aims to reduce economic pressures , improve access to nutritious foods , and empower the female group through participatory strategies . The NGO -community relationship , of which there is a growing multitude in Latin America , becomes critical in this endeavor . Through ethnographic data based on interviews with the women and participant observation , it is clear that decisions made by this Yucatec Maya community function within their political environment , economic pressures , and societal norms . The environmental consultants working within the community exercise well -intentioned , participant -based methods that improve upon government actions of the past ; however there are several challenges that are not fully addressed . There is a clear potential for these efforts , though there are also problems that call into question the project’s sustainability . In a region that continues to struggle due to external economic pressures , there is a need to ensure that current development efforts in the ejido take both the needs of the people and environmental conservation into account . The rural landscape continues to develop in Mexico , and both NGOs and local communities are actively involved . This research offers a glimpse into the dynamics of one relationship between an NGO and an ejido , and provides suggestions for improvement . |