Organización comunitaria para la producción e innovación sustentable: el caso de la Unidad Comunal Forestal Agropecuaria y de Servicios de Ixtlán de Juárez Oaxaca

Abstract

In the state of Oaxaca there are several examples of community forestry activities managed by rural communities. The main purpose of the Community forestry activity is to improve the living conditions of the people and to ensure the preservation of the environment. Despite rural areas are attributed to the lack of organization and innovation, Unidad Comunal Forestal Agropecuaria y de Servicios de Ixtlán de Juárez (UCFAS) is an example of a strong organization that has led innovation with sustainable features. This thesis explains the elements of community organization for the production related to sustainable innovation regarding organization, process and product, by adopting the longitudinal case study methods. The data were gathered from structured and semistructured interviews, direct observation of field visits. The information obtained was analyzed with the theoretical framework composed of Peasant Economy, New Rurality, New Institutional Economics, Ecological Economics and sustainable innovation approach. The results reflect the elements involved in sustainable innovation organization, process and product, are self-management, decision making, traditional knowledge and the knowledge gained. The results that are related to sustainable innovation are the customer preferences, the exchange of experiences with other communities and regional market information and national wood furniture. The interaction of these elements reflects the capacity of rural based organization with sustainable innovation. UCFAS has achieved a diversification in wood furniture certified by good forest management and establish itself as an outstanding example among the community forest enterprises, demonstrates the ability of rural areas, based on your organization to innovate sustainably.