79
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. Lucatello et al. (eds.), Stewardship of Future Drylands and Climate
Change in the Global South, Springer Climate,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22464-6_5
Chapter 5
The Socio-Ecological Systems Approach
to Research the Integrated Groundwater
Management in an Agricultural Dryland
in Mexico
M. Villada-Canela, R. Camacho-López, and D. M. Muñoz-Pizza
Abstract Strengthening integrated and sustainable water management is one of the
most important objectives of 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Mexico’s
water policy, especially in drylands where the groundwater is the primary source of
water. However, 18% of the total aquifers in the country (653) are overexploited,
5% with presence of saline soils and brackish water and 3% with marine intrusion.
In this regard, there are still multiple challenges in facing dryland socio-ecological
systems (DSES): land degradation, desertification, climatic variations, population
growth, water supply and demand, economic activities and land-use changes, cultural perceptions, water policies and governance and management practices that
threaten the availability and quality of groundwater. These aspects affect land livelihood systems and the sustainability of human communities. Based on this, we
explore a way to research the integrated groundwater management in Maneadero
Valley, an agricultural DSES in Baja California, Mexico. We conducted 52 surveys
on farmers with a concession for groundwater supply to gain clear understanding of
the current water management and farmers’ participation. We found a need for real
involvement from farmers as stakeholders, better knowledge exchange mechanisms
and possibilities to integrate local knowledge in groundwater decision-making.
Finally, we make recommendations to improve the groundwater management in the
agricultural DSES of Maneadero Valley.
M. Villada-Canela (*)
Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
UABC, Ensenada, México
e-mail: mvilladac@uabc.edu.mx
R. Camacho-López
Programa de Maestría en Manejo de Ecosistemas de Zonas Áridas, Universidad Autónoma de
Baja California UABC, Ensenada, Mexico
D. M. Muñoz-Pizza
Programa de Doctorado en Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo, Universidad Autónoma de Baja
California, Ensenada UABC, México
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. Lucatello et al. (eds.), Stewardship of Future Drylands and Climate
Change in the Global South, Springer Climate,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22464-6_5
Chapter 5
The Socio-Ecological Systems Approach
to Research the Integrated Groundwater
Management in an Agricultural Dryland
in Mexico
M. Villada-Canela, R. Camacho-López, and D. M. Muñoz-Pizza
Abstract Strengthening integrated and sustainable water management is one of the
most important objectives of 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Mexico’s
water policy, especially in drylands where the groundwater is the primary source of
water. However, 18% of the total aquifers in the country (653) are overexploited,
5% with presence of saline soils and brackish water and 3% with marine intrusion.
In this regard, there are still multiple challenges in facing dryland socio-ecological
systems (DSES): land degradation, desertification, climatic variations, population
growth, water supply and demand, economic activities and land-use changes, cultural perceptions, water policies and governance and management practices that
threaten the availability and quality of groundwater. These aspects affect land livelihood systems and the sustainability of human communities. Based on this, we
explore a way to research the integrated groundwater management in Maneadero
Valley, an agricultural DSES in Baja California, Mexico. We conducted 52 surveys
on farmers with a concession for groundwater supply to gain clear understanding of
the current water management and farmers’ participation. We found a need for real
involvement from farmers as stakeholders, better knowledge exchange mechanisms
and possibilities to integrate local knowledge in groundwater decision-making.
Finally, we make recommendations to improve the groundwater management in the
agricultural DSES of Maneadero Valley.
M. Villada-Canela (*)
Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
UABC, Ensenada, México
e-mail: mvilladac@uabc.edu.mx
R. Camacho-López
Programa de Maestría en Manejo de Ecosistemas de Zonas Áridas, Universidad Autónoma de
Baja California UABC, Ensenada, Mexico
D. M. Muñoz-Pizza
Programa de Doctorado en Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo, Universidad Autónoma de Baja
California, Ensenada UABC, México