Meet José and his work in Mexico

José María is the latest addition to ABC Futures, expanding the program to five research countries, now including Mexico. He started his academic journey with a bachelor’s degree in plant population ecology but is now shifting his focus to power relations in protected area governance. This transition from purely ecological research to incorporating social science was sparked while he was studying declining plant trends and discovered they were caused by local cattle herding. By engaging directly with the cattle owners, José María realized he needed to integrate a social dimension to tell the whole story. This turning point led him to a master’s in conservation, where he developed multidisciplinary skills spanning both qualitative and quantitative methods.

It was during his master’s thesis fieldwork in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve Mexican biosphere reserve where the foundation for his current research was formed. By speaking with displaced people experiencing tensions with park authorities and the government, he witnessed firsthand how conservation initiatives can produce contrasting outcomes, often bringing negative consequences for local communities. He learned that the decision-making processes in protected areas frequently exclude meaningful community participation, leaving local voices unheard.

Now embarking on his PhD, José María is applying a political ecology lens and a mixed-methods approach to social-ecological systems across three Central American countries. His project investigates how power dynamics shape decision-making processes and ecological outcomes in protected areas. During his fieldwork, he will live within the communities to learn from their experiences and perspectives, while also engaging with institutional actors. With this diverse toolkit, he aims to uncover hidden discourses and highlight whose narratives are prioritized over others in environmental decision-making.

The urgency of his work is underscored by the Mexican government’s plan to expand protected areas by 50 million hectares before 2030, a decision frequently made without proper local consultation. Through his project, José María hopes to contribute to the empowerment of marginalized groups in protected area governance by amplifying their voices through research and cooperation.

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