Understanding drivers of local forest transition in community forests in Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca, Mexico

The Mixteca Alta region in Oaxaca, Mexico is characterized by its severely degraded landscapes. In the last three decades, the region has experienced a remarkable local forest transition. This paper reveals the drivers that favored local forest transition in five communities of Mixteca Alta. Three questions were addressed: how much forest cover was gained during the last three decades? What were the drivers triggering local forest transition? And what lesson can be derived for public policies aiming to restore forests? A cartographic analysis assessed forest recovery between 1990 and 2018. Community workshops, interviews, participant observation, and the review of historical sources helped reveal core drivers. During the period studied, forest cover increased by 71% (2640 ha), with an annual change of 2.73%. The increases are the result of reforestation and natural regeneration. Drivers of local forest transition include outmigration and new forest policies, as well as endogenous drivers, such as communities' social capital, local institutional efforts, and socio-ecological awareness. The prevalence of endogenous drivers suggests a strong community-based local forest transition pathway. Forest policies that promote local forest restoration need to recognize local land use land cover trajectories and support those that encourage active and passive recovery pathways. Community-based local forest transition could be important for providing environmental benefits to local people, and it may also contribute to global environmental goals.