Practices for sustainable local development in rural candelilleras communities, the case of two localities of Coahuila, Mexico

Abstract

The candelilla plant (Euphorbia antisyphilitica) is a Non-timber Forest Resource endemic from the Chihuahuan Desert. Coahuila is the main state that exploits this resource is, where around 95 ejidal communities subsist due to the exploitation of this and other resources. The candelilla plant is covered with wax, which is extracted and sold to refiners in the region who commercialize and export it, however, it represents a precarious income due to such hard work. Candelilla wax is a high-quality, natural wax, important for its wide variety of uses. The objectives of this research were to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the Candelilla system, as well as to identify the practices that contribute to sustainable local development of the rural Candelilla communities of localities of Coahuila, Mexico. The research process was carried out in two stages: the first based on documentary research and observation and the second on the application of semi-structured interviews to key actors. The results obtained were the elaboration of a diagnosis of the Candelilleras communities, a matrix of strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats, and the identification of practices that contribute to sustainable local development of these ejidos. These results represent tools that provide an updated overview to visualize the status of the Candelilleras communities which can serve as a basis for making decisions and strategic actions that benefit their development, highlighting in a greater number the areas of opportunity to the application of sustainable local development practices in their economic and social dimensions.