Paper short abstract:

In the Sierra Tarahumara of Mexico, forests have been historically used as refuge spaces and engines for regional development. This paper explores new conditions framing these woodlands' transformation and their possible significance for community life projects of indigenous and mestizo people.

Paper long abstract:

In the Sierra Tarahumara of Mexico, the increasing flow of international trade, the influence of non-state actors in environmental governance, and global environmental threats like climate change are the new conditions framing the dispute over forest use. Since the 17th century, a historical dialectic emerged from the forests embedded in the mountain and canyons of this region. On the one hand, forests served as the engine for development through the mining and logging industry. On the other, the difficult access to Sierra Tarahumara landscapes created refuge spaces for the indigenous people escaping the subsequent hegemonic projects. During the 20th century, the extractive features of forests have been emphasized while their condition as potential refuge spaces has been severely eroded. In this context, as non-state actors like multilateral organizations, private corporations, non-government organizations, and drug cartels gain influence over the future of these woodlands, community life projects fade with the loss of refuge spaces. Although the discourse of environmental governance in Mexico has turned towards the sustainable use of forests in recent years, the significance of novel social arrangements associated with the sustainable framework remains to be explored. This paper delves into forests as a historical condition enabling community life projects and regional development in Sierra Tarahumara. This analysis aims to provide key elements to understand the transformation of this historical dialectic according to the new conditions shaping forests and their relevance for future community life projects.