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Private property and Mennonites are major drivers of forest cover loss in central Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

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  • Ellis, Edward A.
  • Romero Montero, José Arturo
  • Hernández Gómez, Irving Uriel
  • Porter-Bolland, Luciana
  • Ellis, Peter W.

Abstract

The role of land tenure and Mennonites as drivers of deforestation in the Central Yucatan Peninsula has not been empirically assessed. We evaluate different drivers and their relationship to forest cover change between 1986 and 2015 and assess how land tenure and Mennonite communities impact forest cover loss in the Municipality of Hopelchen, Campeche, Mexico. This study shows that forest cover loss has increased in the last decade (2005–2015), and that land tenure regime type is associated with this loss. Throughout the study period, statistical comparisons show rates of forest cover loss were significantly higher in private and federal property compared to forests in ejidos (communal property). Forest cover loss in Mennonite private property was also significantly higher than in non-Mennonite owned private property. The role of land tenure and the expansion of the agroindustrial production model as major drivers of forest cover loss in the region provide important insight into developing municipal land use plans and conservation strategies to reduce deforestation. Programs, incentives and policy directed towards forest conservation in the region that typically target ejido communities, will need to consider the growing trend of private property expansion within federal lands and work more closely with private property owners including Mennonite communities if deforestation reduction programs are to be successful.

Suggested Citation

  • Ellis, Edward A. & Romero Montero, José Arturo & Hernández Gómez, Irving Uriel & Porter-Bolland, Luciana & Ellis, Peter W., 2017. "Private property and Mennonites are major drivers of forest cover loss in central Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 474-484.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:69:y:2017:i:c:p:474-484
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.09.048
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Wenseslao Plata-Rocha & Sergio Alberto Monjardin-Armenta & Carlos Eduardo Pacheco-Angulo & Jesus Gabriel Rangel-Peraza & Cuauhtemoc Franco-Ochoa & Zuriel Dathan Mora-Felix, 2021. "Proximate and Underlying Deforestation Causes in a Tropical Basin through Specialized Consultation and Spatial Logistic Regression Modeling," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Špirić, Jovanka & Ramírez, M. Isabel, 2022. "Looking beyond the conflict: Everyday interactions and relations between Maya and Mennonite farmers in the state of Campeche, Mexico," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    4. Skutsch, Margaret & Turnhout, Esther, 2020. "REDD+: If communities are the solution, what is the problem?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    5. Jurjonas, Matthew & Aldana, Lesly, 2020. "The Flyer’s dilemma and the Logger’s case for climate justice," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    6. Ellis, Edward A. & Castillo, David Chacón & Gómez, Irving Uriel Hernández & Madrid Zubirán, Sergio & Cuervo Vega, Sara María, 2025. "Agricultural subsidies augmented tropical deforestation in the state of Campeche, Mexico," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    7. Alpuche Álvarez, Yair Asael & Jepsen, Martin Rudbeck & Müller, Daniel & Rasmussen, Laura Vang & Zhanli, Sun, 2024. "Unraveling the complexity of land use change and path dependency in agri-environmental schemes for small farmers: A serious game approach," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 139.
    8. Douglas O. Onyancha & Hellen Ipara & Johnstone K. Kimanzi & Maaike A. Versteegh & B. Irene Tieleman, 2025. "Determinants of Local Residents’ Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Wildlife Conservation in Rimoi National Reserve, Kenya," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(9), pages 1684-1705, September.

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