Conflicto social alrededor de la conservación en la Reserva de la Biosfera de Los Tuxtlas: un análisis de intereses, posturas y consecuencias

this article analyzes the social conflict that arose as a result of the expropriation of small-farmer ejido lands to consolidate one of the core zones of the los tuxtlas biosphere reserve in the southern part of the state of veracruz, mexico. as a case study, it considers the experience of two ejido communities whose territories lie wholly and partially within the expropriated area: península de moreno and miguel hidalgo, respectively. the conflict's social and environmental effects are evaluated through a discussion of the socio-political context and stakeholder perspectives, interests and positions. it is argued that in the context of conservation programs, non-consented actions not only fail to ameliorate environmental degradation but may actually worsen it. on the one hand, these actions weaken the social fabric necessary to propel a process of sustainable community development, and on the other, conservation becomes an illegitimate activity or interest for local populations, thereby hardening stakeholder positions and complicating a cooperative search for solutions.