Innovation in Mexico's forest communities for life sustainability

Abstract

Biodiverse ecosystems play an essential role in the planet's environmental health by generating the processes necessary for our survival. This article focuses on their importance as a source of resources for the communities that depend on them directly. It also underscores the role of design when it co-participates in guiding innovation processes that contribute to preserving local biodiversity and maintaining our planet's socio-environmental balance. The article reports on empirical research with the participation of fifteen communities involved in timber and non-timber forest appropriation-harvesting activities in Mexico. The study identified the perceptual and symbolic aspects of innovation that drive innovation at the local level. These can be improved through collaborative design. By supporting communities in improving how they use, transform, and market their non-timber forest resources, they can achieve sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the battle against climate change and environmental protection.