Andrew S. Mathews
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262016520
- eISBN:
- 9780262298537
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262016520.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Environmental Politics
This book describes Mexico’s efforts over the past one hundred years to manage its forests through forestry science and biodiversity conservation. The author shows that transparent knowledge was ...
More
This book describes Mexico’s efforts over the past one hundred years to manage its forests through forestry science and biodiversity conservation. The author shows that transparent knowledge was produced not by official declarations or scientists’ expertise but by encounters between the relatively weak forestry bureaucracy and the indigenous people who manage and own the pine forests. The author records the performances, collusions, complicities, and evasions that characterize the forestry bureaucracy. He shows that the authority of forestry officials is undermined by the tension between local realities and national policy; officials must juggle sweeping knowledge claims and mundane concealments, ambitious regulations, and routine rule-breaking. Moving from government offices in Mexico City to forests in the state of Oaxaca, the book describes how the science of forestry and bureaucratic practices came to Oaxaca in the 1930s and how environmental and political contexts set the stage for local resistance. The author describes how the indigenous Zapotec people learned the theory and practice of industrial forestry as employees and then put those skills to use when they became the owners and managers of the area’s pine forests, eventually incorporating forestry into their successful claims for autonomy from the state. Despite the apparently small scale and local contexts of this balancing act between the power of forestry regulations and the resistance of indigenous communities, the author shows that it has implications for how we understand the modern state, scientific knowledge, and power and for the global carbon markets for which Mexican forests might become valuable.Less
This book describes Mexico’s efforts over the past one hundred years to manage its forests through forestry science and biodiversity conservation. The author shows that transparent knowledge was produced not by official declarations or scientists’ expertise but by encounters between the relatively weak forestry bureaucracy and the indigenous people who manage and own the pine forests. The author records the performances, collusions, complicities, and evasions that characterize the forestry bureaucracy. He shows that the authority of forestry officials is undermined by the tension between local realities and national policy; officials must juggle sweeping knowledge claims and mundane concealments, ambitious regulations, and routine rule-breaking. Moving from government offices in Mexico City to forests in the state of Oaxaca, the book describes how the science of forestry and bureaucratic practices came to Oaxaca in the 1930s and how environmental and political contexts set the stage for local resistance. The author describes how the indigenous Zapotec people learned the theory and practice of industrial forestry as employees and then put those skills to use when they became the owners and managers of the area’s pine forests, eventually incorporating forestry into their successful claims for autonomy from the state. Despite the apparently small scale and local contexts of this balancing act between the power of forestry regulations and the resistance of indigenous communities, the author shows that it has implications for how we understand the modern state, scientific knowledge, and power and for the global carbon markets for which Mexican forests might become valuable.
Andrew S. Mathews
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262016520
- eISBN:
- 9780262298537
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262016520.003.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Environmental Politics
This chapter focuses on Mexico’s forestry bureaucracies and the difficult role of the forestry bureaucrats. It traces the introduction of the science of forestry in Mexico around which national ...
More
This chapter focuses on Mexico’s forestry bureaucracies and the difficult role of the forestry bureaucrats. It traces the introduction of the science of forestry in Mexico around which national forestry laws of the country are developed. The chapter highlights the efforts of the forest officials and services during the 1950s in controlling and countering the efforts of logging companies through complex regulations. This chapter focuses on the indigenous community of Ixtlán de Juárez and its encounters with forest services and logging companies. The alliances formed by the Ixtlán community’s indigenous people with forest officials showcasing the forest workers’ power are also discussed.Less
This chapter focuses on Mexico’s forestry bureaucracies and the difficult role of the forestry bureaucrats. It traces the introduction of the science of forestry in Mexico around which national forestry laws of the country are developed. The chapter highlights the efforts of the forest officials and services during the 1950s in controlling and countering the efforts of logging companies through complex regulations. This chapter focuses on the indigenous community of Ixtlán de Juárez and its encounters with forest services and logging companies. The alliances formed by the Ixtlán community’s indigenous people with forest officials showcasing the forest workers’ power are also discussed.
Andrew S. Mathews
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262016520
- eISBN:
- 9780262298537
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262016520.003.0002
- Subject:
- Political Science, Environmental Politics
This chapter focuses on the introduction of the science of forestry in Mexico, which provides a basis for the country’s forestry laws and policies. It discusses the role of officials of particular ...
More
This chapter focuses on the introduction of the science of forestry in Mexico, which provides a basis for the country’s forestry laws and policies. It discusses the role of officials of particular institutions and offices in introducing the concept of forestry. The chapter highlights the problems forests faced due to Mexico’s previous political and economic positions. This chapter presents the encounters between the indigenous municipalities and forestry bureaucracies along with information on the struggles of the indigenous people. This chapter focuses on the changes in Mexico’s forest laws, which led to a rise of community forestry in the country along with changes in the careers of the country’s foresters.Less
This chapter focuses on the introduction of the science of forestry in Mexico, which provides a basis for the country’s forestry laws and policies. It discusses the role of officials of particular institutions and offices in introducing the concept of forestry. The chapter highlights the problems forests faced due to Mexico’s previous political and economic positions. This chapter presents the encounters between the indigenous municipalities and forestry bureaucracies along with information on the struggles of the indigenous people. This chapter focuses on the changes in Mexico’s forest laws, which led to a rise of community forestry in the country along with changes in the careers of the country’s foresters.
