In the study of the groundwater system in Yucatan, we found that technical solutions to groundwater problems are of importance; however, local stakeholder involvement is crucial. We agree with the relevance of models, but we offer a much more comprehensive view and approach to local groundwater problems since we involved stakeholders during the research process. This is a reliable and versatile methodology that meaningfully contributes to groundwater sustainability and literacy. It can be adapted to the specific social, economic, political, and environmental setting of different regions. A real transformation is required in how we value, manage and characterize groundwater systems since hydrological-only models and single- discipline approaches seemed to have failed. The proposed toolbox, framework and approaches help to identify the patterns of changes in biosphere leading to changes in inequality, as a driver of resource use patterns. To implement SDG 6, our toolbox specifically supports the following Targets 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, and 6.6 (a & b) by: facilitating examination of hotspots of pollution, distribution of flows of hazardous substances, minimizing release of chemicals, ensuring sustainable withdrawals, revealing water extraction trends and sectors with major consumption, strengthening participation of local communities, and safeguarding the ecosystem by recognizing traditional ecological knowledge as an informal norm of monitoring. Our results support the current global monitoring framework of SDG 6, by acknowledging the importance of community participation and that groundwater literacy is essential to effectively address SDG 6 and its water related targets.

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Citation: Lopez-Maldonado, Y. 2018. Understanding Socio-Groundwater Systems: Framework, toolbox, and stakeholder efforts for analysis and monitoring groundwater resources. PhD thesis. Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München. URL: https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/21697/

Thesis Title: Interest of inhabitants of Sisal, Yucatan on the community development as a tourist centre through the use and management of its cultural and natural heritage.

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This thesis analyzes the current dynamics and the phenomenon of the tourism in Sisal, a coastal area where there are natural and cultural attractions with great tourism potential. These sites maintain the beauty of the landscape and provide for the cultural identity of the local people. We could identify the factors included in the evaluation of tourism potential of a Yucatan Peninsula’s coastal community and its proposals that can provide a framework for the creation of tourism activities, promote environmental conservation and improve the quality of life of local people. Sisal was the main commercial port of the Peninsula until the XIX century’s last third and now there are resources with tourism potential on it, that we analyzed from the human ecology perspective, considering the relationship between society-nature. Nowadays the settlement has 1672 inhabitants and their main economic activities are artisanal fisheries and beach tourism. The fieldwork was conducted in May, and from October to December 2010, using a qualitative approach, with techniques such as participant observation and semi-structured interviews. The results allowed identify the use and handling that people makes to its own tourism resources, the interest that people have in the diversification of tourism activities through the site’s tourism potential assessment, emphasizing the combination of natural and cultural attractions of the study area. Also, in a first encounter with the inhabitants of the community we found that they are interested in the protection and management of their own natural and cultural heritage. The opinions of the participants permitted identify the tourism resources of the population such as sinkholes, springs, historical buildings and archaeological sites; analyze their potential attraction, their inclusion in tourism activities as alternatives, and the people’s attitudes towards tourism. An appropriate tourism resources management, with a local people active participation, would play an important role in the conservation of these goods and in the promotion of the place. We remarked the importance of involving local people in the planning of tourism development of the port. The diversity of attractions and its relationship with management, would allow include communities in the processes of tourism activities development.

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Citation: Lopez Maldonado, Y. 2011. El interés de habitantes de Sisal, Yucatán en el desarrollo de la comunidad como centro turístico a través del uso y manejo del patrimonio cultural y natural. MSc thesis. Cinvestav-IPN. DOI: 10.17605/osf.io/sm4pt