Participatory diagnosis for the management of degraded forest areas in the Sierra de Guadalupe State Park, Mexico

Participatory diagnosis is the methodological process through which society participates to undertake and achieve sustainable development with the contribution of science and collective knowledge. The objective of this research is to analyze the current situation of the Sierra de Guadalupe State Park (SGSP) in Mexico from the natural, historical, economic, and social aspects, through participatory research and thus influence the selection of trees and shrubs of multiple uses for reforestation that have the potential to establish agroforestry and silvopastoral systems. This study was carried out with the help of the following tools that are commonly used in a participatory diagnosis: participant observation and transects, SWOT analysis, timeline, and identification and classification of natural resources. To determine the current problems of the state park (SGSP), the "problem tree" method was used. A participatory workshop was held to identify solutions to these problems, assigning positive actions to negative conditions. In addition, 141 interviews were conducted with social actors involved in the study area using the "snowball" methodology. There are 72 and 44 species of wildlife and plants, respectively. Through participatory mapping, changes in the landscape and land use in the pre-Hispanic, colonial, and modern periods were identified, which allowed for the construction of a timeline. The priority forest species considered to initiate the restoration actions were: Prosopis laevigata, Vachellia schaffneri, and Quercus rugosa. The shrub species were: Opuntia tomentosa, Opuntia hyptiacantha, and Agave salmiana. In conclusion, with this study, reliable technical knowledge was generated with the participation of society, which will be used to carry out actions of protection, restoration, conservation, and productive reconversion.