(Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, 2023-12-12) Carmona Motolinia, José Ramón; Tetreault, Darcy
Based on an analysis of the struggles of the Nahua peoples of Milpa Alta in Mexico City, this article addresses the following question: How has it been possible to conserve large extensions of forest and agricultural land in a demarcation that is part of one of the largest cities in the world, in rapid expansion since the middle of the last century? The explanation articulates two key categories: reconfigured communality in Milpa Alta through historical struggles that continue to unfold to date; and the social metabolism of human-nature exchanges mediated by the work of various agencies, whose projects come into conflict at different times. We argue that the re-creation of indigenous forms of organization and collective practices have made it possible to curb the extraction of raw materials (wood and water) and land-use change for development projects promoted by government agencies and private companies; in addition to contributing to the conservation of small-scale agricultural practices. The analysis is based on semi-structured interviews that were carried out between 2016 and 2020 with inhabitants of Milpa Alta and on a systematic review of bibliographic, newspaper, statistical, and online sources.
