Irreversible loss of ecological reserves. The authorized illegality in Amalucan hill

Abstract

The Amalucan hill is one of the main green lungs of the Municipality of Puebla, Mexico and despite having been declared as an ecological area, in 1994, it has lost more than half of its natural surface over the last 25 years. The objective of this paper is to show how despite environmental regulations for the protection of natural areas these have been sacrificed in favor of, mainly, the real estate developers. Thereby, we want to contribute to the reflection on the main causes of these depredations and the role of the conscious collective action to prevent them. Our methodology was based on field trips to observe the user activities, and the deterioration and changes of use of the land; on literature review (publication, press and official legal sources on the protection of green areas) and on semi-direct interviews and informal talks with users.

Keywords:
Natural areas; environmental legislation; environmental management; Amalucan hill; Citizens organization