TF017 IAI

Characterization of three ancestral social-ecological systems (SES): Saqutiw (Madre Vieja), La Cumbre (Patulul) and AjCumatz (Tolimán), Guatemala 

Principal Investigator (PI): 

Gustavo Molina, Centro de Estudios de Resiliencia y Regeneración (CERR) 

E-mail: direccion@cerr-gt.org 

Phone number: +502 40569313 

Duration and amount: 

(April 2025–April 2026) USD 30,000 

Co-funding: 

USD 147,760.38 

Participating countries:  

Guatemala 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Currently, the State of Guatemala promotes one-size-fits-all environmental policies that simplify the interactions between social and natural systems, with limited results in adapting to global change. Nevertheless, there are ancestral social-ecological systems (SES) in the country that achieve solid adaptation results under their own socio-cultural logic. However, the contributions made by these SES to the country’s adaptation to global change are not recognized, nor do they receive public subsidy support. Therefore, this research sets out to characterize three SES to provide a theoretical basis for recognizing, systematizing and protecting SES in their capacity to adapt to processes of global environmental change from their own socio-cultural logic. For this, this study aims to implement a transdisciplinary research approach (in pluri-epistemic contexts) with participatory mixed methods (community mapping, transect walks, in-depth interviews and KAP surveys, among others) to characterize the key adaptation components of SES based on the Ostrom’s framework of analysis of socioecological systems (2007; 2009) and integrating categories of analysis of biocultural heritage territories (Boege, 2008; 2021) and Territories of Life (AATIAM and CEMI, 2023). The research also has an action component to fund the initial implementation of recomendations to strengthen SES. The results are expected to improve the knowledge and adaptation practices of the SES, promoting their recognition by public agencies as subjects of knowledge and mandatory beneficiaries of national and international environmental programs.