Landscape Democracy 2015 Working Group D - Case Study 1
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New road access vs natural reserve conservation
| Place name | Loma de Sta Maria | |
| Location | Morelia, Michoacan | |
| Country | Mexico | |
| Author(s) | Damayanti Piñon | |
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Rationale: Why have you chosen this case for the landscape and democracy seminar?
- I choose this case of study, because it is the perfect example of a challenge in landscape democracy. This project consist in built a new road to connect the upper part of my city but doing it right in the middle of a natural reserve, that has been the oxigen provider of the city. This conflict has been going on for almost 9 years without a proper solution. For one point of view, that new development of the city is for rich people and they want an easy and less crowded access that the one that exist now; this side is supported by the goverment that wants to build the panoramic road and tunnel (conflict of interest). On the other side there is the society and environmental groups that want to conserve the place as it is. There has been manifestations, stoping the construction process and many studies on the impact of the construction. But until now, no proper solution. However the constrution is still in process
Representation of your observations
- you are basically free to use one or a mix of different presentation techniques
- possibilities are: analytical drawings, graphical representations, collages, video clips, comic/graphic novel, written essay/visual essay
- please add any visual material to the gallery, videos can be placed below, you may add text as you like
- Obeservations
case representation
case representation
case representation
case representation
Reflection
What are the major challenges for changing the situation?
I think in this case and others that have take place in my community, the challenge is to generate a better and dinamic public participation. Most of the decisions about infraestructure are already made and the people only hear about them when they are being constructed. It requires an effort on both sides, in one hand the willingness of the government to make decisions together but multiple stakeholders and also the public awarness of being able to change their environment and living conditions.
What could be a starting point for democractically-based change?
A starting point could be, realize the power of the public. It is important to inform people and guide them to every process of environmental changes. Make them care, involve them in their communities and their surroundings. If they believe something is theirs, it is more likely they will protect those things and places. I believe is a matter of access to information, education, justice and participation. And the government should be able to get the community interested in the process and provide experts on the fields to get close to the people, so they couldunderstand better to make inform decisions and participate more.
- Please add approx. 150 words for each questions
Stakeholder Mapping
Create a visual representation of the stakeholder groups that are involved in your case. Try to cover the following aspects in your representation: Power (high, medium, low) / Support (positive, neutral, negative)/ Influence (high or low)/ Need (strong, medium, weak)+ also map the relationships between the stakeholder groups
- Stakeholder Map
Stakeholder Map
Change Scenario
Look at the various methods and tools available and think how they can be applied creatively. Think about the needs of different stakeholder groups - you may need a methodical mix to address them all. Visualize a scenario illustrating how these methods/tools can be applied within an imagined time frame
- Change Scenario
Change Scenario
Cross cutting theme
Community participation. One of the question that comes to mind regarding our cases of study is: Who has the decision? It may seem that the community participation was not taken into account to develop these projects, from road constructions to change in land-use and how to handle the municipal waste. Or the public is not interested or their reaction comes too late, so there comes another question: How to involve active social participation? The challenge resides in that process, to develop the infrastructure people needs using their proposals in order to get closer to a landscape democracy. In my case of study, the road construction going through a national reserve; few things can be changed involving the community now but this may lead to a process of consultation first about the oncoming projects to later on work in a partner ship along with the government and the develop institutions.
Concluding reflections
A topic like this one is very challenging, because they are part of national plans of infraestructure which do not contemplate public consultation. However the main objective here is to obtain people's awareness to their surrounding landscape in order to have a voice in the decision making. The proposal I make to change scenario may not be applicable for this particular case due to a late response when the construction has already begin but it may be the starting point for future developments, plans and infraestructure where the people and future users can have the option to modify and arrange the upcoming projects.
References
* Please make sure that you give proper references of all external resources used.
UNAM-SCT, Final report "Estudio geólogico geotécnico del ramal camelinas del Libramiento Sur de Morelia", Junio 2012.
H.Ayuntamiento, Manifestacion de Impacto ambiental "Vialidad panorámica y túnel vial en la loma de Santa María, Morelia, Michoacán.
SCT-SEGA, Executive Resume "Segunda etapa del libramiento sur de Morelia, tramo ramal Camelinas, municipio de Morelia, en el estado de Michoacán de Ocampo.
* Do not use images of which you do not hold the copyright.
* Please add internet links to other resources if necessary.
http://salvemoslaloma.blogspot.de/
http://sinat.semarnat.gob.mx/dgiraDocs/documentos/.../16MI2007FD009.pdf
http://www.cambiodemichoacan.com.mx/nota-218350
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