Perspectives of the socioecological approach in the preservation, utilization and the payment of environmental services of the temperate forests of Mexico

Abstract

The temperate forests of Mexico represent the southernmost distribution of this ecosystem in the Northern hemisphere and constitute about 20% of Mexico's forest cover, making them the most widely distributed type of forest in the country. In spite of the importance of its geographical extension, studies of this type of vegetation with a socio-ecological approach are rare. The silvicultural scientific approach has been the predominating type of studies in this ecosystem, guided by the vision of maintaining a continuous flow of timber for the market and paying regard to the income of forest owners, without considering the provision of ecosystem services and other benefits. This study recommends the integration of a socioecological approach that promotes the integration of the society-nature dependencies that occur in temperate forests. In this context, it is imperative to understand: 1) the influence of temperate pine and oak species on the structure and functioning of these forests, particularly on primary productivity; 2) the impact of soil, regulated and unregulated biomass harvest on the structure and functioning of the ecosystem and 3) the social and economic aspects related to different conservation tools (natural protected areas and payment for environmental services), which represent schemes of society interaction with nature. It is discussed how research and evaluation under this approach can contribute to reducing the enormous deficit in timber production that persists in Mexico, protecting biological diversity and maintaining the provision of ecosystem services for human well-being.